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Local History by Karen Cuccinello - 13 Hobart Road, Stamford

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 4/6/25 | 4/6/25


                                                    1900's stamford athletic grounds 

 


 

 

This property was a portion of the Athletics Grounds that encompassed land from Hobart Rd./Rte. 10 and across West End Ave., and had a race track for horse and bicycle racing, ball games and a Stamford Fair 1894-1898. The Athletics Grounds turned out not to be profitable so John P. Grant bought it in 1900. Hobart Rd. was sometimes referred to as Lake St.

In 1920 John P. Grant sold 13 Hobart to Eugene F. and William S. Govern; 1926 Govern to Caroline Deyoe and Deyoe to Anna C. Keeveny;1945 Keeveny to Paul M. Weeden; 1947 Weeden to Adolph L. Brignoli;1955 Brignoli to John & Frances Brignoli; 1959 Brignoli to George & Peggy Marcus and Marcus estate sold it in 2015.

John P. Grant (1853-1932) became a lawyer in 1880, married Carrie E. Powell (1855-1935) 1884 and built The New Grant House boarding house1890. They had two children Leslie P. (1886-1914) and Helen Rae/ Mrs. George D. Taylor (1888- 1962).

Eugene F.(1873-1963) and William S. (1876-1967) Govern were brothers and contractors who built many houses in Stamford and area. I suspect they built the house at 13 Hobart Rd.

Caroline “Callie” (VanValkenburgh, 1890-1986) and Harry L. (1890-1952) Deyoe. Burial in Westkill.

Eugene D. (1873-1941) and Anna Celest (Scott, 1879-1957) Keeveny, and children Thomas, Helen and Marian, lived in NYC. They visited Stamford summers starting in 1913 and moved to Stamford 1933. Burial in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Stamford.

Paul M. Weeden was a farmer from South Gilboa and lived in Stamford on and off. His sister Georgia/Georgiana lived with him. In 1936 he got a ticket in Albany for running a red light on the way to the dentist. He was listed as a temporary resident of Albany from Stamford and tried to get out of the ticket due to his toothache/swollen face but was fined $3.

In December 1951 firemen were called to the home of John Brignoli on the Hobart road when an overheated furnace scorched the floor limbers. Only damage was from smoke.

1974 - Adolph Louis (Babe) Brignoli, 55, of Haines Falls, died July 11 at Veterans hospital, Albany. Mr. Brignoli, in association with his brothers and late father, operated The Eagles Nest 1950's-60's, well known restaurant in Stamford. Mr. Brignoli was born June 2, 1919, son of Stephen and Matilda Medici Brignoli in NYC. He is survived by his wife, Marian of Haines Falls; one son, Daniel of Stamford; two brothers, John of Windham and Louis of Wantah. Mr. Brignoli had been employed at the Villaggio Italia, Haines Falls. He was a veteran of World War II and a member of Bunt Brewer Post, Tannersville.

December 1978 - Mrs. Marion Brignoli, 53, of Lake St., Stamford, died Nov. 29, at Bassett Hospital, Cooperstown, after a lengthy illness. She was born Sept. 9, 1925 in Stamford, a daughter of John and Neta (Harris) Barthelmes. She was married to Adolph Brignoli, who died 1974. Mrs. Brignoli lived in Stamford for most of her life and was a waitress and did restaurant work in the community for many years. Burial was in Stamford Cemetery.

John D. (1915-1994) and Frances J. (1918-2008) Brignoli are buried in Ashland Cemetery.

George and Peggy (Schiffman) Marcus moved to Stamford in 1950 and first lived in the Mt. View apartments. George became a full partner in the Stamford law firm Rushmore and Mason in 1951.

George was born September 21, 1924 in Plainfield, NJ. George was a First Lieutenant in the Air Force during WWII and earned many awards including a Purple Heart. After the war he received a law degree from Cornell University then married Peggy, who also attended Cornell, in 1947. They had daughters Debra and Lynn.

Peggy was born on December 26, 1923, in Brooklyn and was a professor at SUCO Oneonta for 28 years. The Marcus's were involved in many community groups. Peggy died June 3, 2012, at home, and George died January 15, 2015, burial in Temple Beth El Cemetery, Emmons, NY.

 

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Ag in the Classroom Comes Alive In Roxbury

By Liz Page

ROXBURY – A virtual tour with his fourth grade classmates during Covid, sparked a young boy's interest in maple syrup production that stirred his dad into bringing back some of his youth experiences as well. KBub Maple Syrup is a small family operation high in the hills of Roxbury.

And the fourth grade class at Roxbury Central School remains part of this small operation.

A J Vamosy was boiling syrup last week in the shed (sap house or sugarhouse) he and friends built around a small evaporator in the Vamosy family's backyard. 

"My son, Kaleb, did a virtual tour of a sugarhouse in Vermont with his fourth-grade class, during Covid. He came home from school with a spile the teacher had handed out to each student in the class and I said, ‘why don't we hook it on a tree.’"

They did just that, but after a few days of buckets that kept falling off the hook, Vamosy made a trip to Shaver Hill Maple in Harpersfield where he got real sap buckets and some tubing. They added some taps and  boiled the sap they gathered in a large cooking pot on the front porch. "We spent a fortune on propane to make that first batch of syrup," Vamosy recalls.

It was a good family project. So Vamosy's friend, Tim Powell, researched the feasibility of syrup production from the back yard. To be cost effective they mismatched some stuff together and it worked. Now they have built a sap house around the 2 x 4 evaporator they started with and have since added on to the small sap house. "We boiled for one year in the small 12 x 14 foot sap house and then added another six feet." It is now 12 x 20 and as Vamosy puts it, they make "a decent amount of syrup."

They now have about 300 taps out and use a combination of buckets and pipeline.

Each night that he boils, Vamosy finds a different one of his four sons to help him. "I get a different kid each day, working around sports and homework. They all come out the sap house for the free samples."

He also gets help from Powell, who enjoys seeing the results of the little operation he helped develop. He boils when Vamosy is busy collecting sap, during the bigger runs. He is also a good source of knowledge for the fourth graders, along with running the evaporator and showing them how it works while Vamosy shows them the finishing and bottling process.

This is the third year the RCS fourth graders have entered their syrup in a taste competition. They took first place in the first year, second last year and this year they are hoping for another first place finish. A number of schools enter the competition, according to Vamosy. The competition is based on quality and requires using  all of the fundamentals that go into producing maple syrup. Judging includes density, clarity and taste. They receive 20 bonus points if they can show how the product was made and post a video about it.

They continue to do maple syrup production  as a part of their Ag in the Classroom project for the fourth grade. The kids learn all about making syrup, tapping trees, testing for sugar content and other aspects of the process. "I go out and talk about it at school and they spend a day at the sugarhouse, learning how the sugarhouse works. They all get a sample to take home.

"If we can get one kid interested in making maple syrup, it's worth it," said Vamosy.

His great uncle and grandfather produced maple syrup on their farms in Harpersfield and he helped them as a kid. As a teenager, he helped the Powell family at their Greenbriar Farm maple syrup production. "It's a part of me too," said Vamosy.

The name KBub comes from Kaleb's nickname. You can sometimes find him at a booth with his dad, selling their prize-winning KBub Maple Syrup or helping out with its production in the backyard.



Fourth graders

Tim Powell (in the doorway) and AJ Vamosy (to his right) posed with the fourth grade class at Roxbury Central School that inspired them to build the backyard maple syrup operation known as KBub Maple three years ago. It continues to be a part of their Ag in the Classroom curricula.


Kaleb Vamosy (aka KBub) inspired the idea of making maple syrup. He  pumps sap from the gathering tank on his dad's truck to the holding tank at the  sap house where his family produces KBub Syrup.


 

Donny VanEtten and Tim Powell help out at KBub Maple. VanEtten (left) was canning syrup, while Powell (seated) was boiling it. He was the guy who created the backyard system that is working so well.


 


Paul Vamosy works on the roof of the small sap house the Vamosy's built around the evaporating pan where they boil sap to make KBub maple syrup.


 


Chase Vamosy, with his friend, Collin Oliver, pump sap into a holding tank at KBub Maple  in Roxbury.


 


Logan Vamosy works at labeling the KBub Maple syrup inside the sap house.










 

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Harpersfield Historical Society Issues Appeal: We Need Members to Continue

By Liz Page

HARPERSFIELD – The few remaining members of the Harpersfield Historical Society are issuing an appeal to town residents and others with an interest in local history that they need to get involved. Their notice reads: "We desperately need members willing to take positions on our board for the Historical Society to continue."

The society has worked hard to obtain property and erect a museum and barn where people can visit and view displays and artifacts of the town's history. "We have a wonderful museum and research library and we hate to see it closed due to a lack of active members," states the press release. "We are asking the community to get involved, especially those who have lived here for a long time.

"Our next meeting will be on April 8 at 3 p.m. at the Harpersfield Historical building located just behind the Harpersfield Post Office."

Like many other organizations, the lack of new members to carry on the hard work and dedication is a problem. Members have worked hard to establish the museum which is filled with artifacts and town history. It is a place for research,  with books, manuscripts, papers, photographs and other records and materials available. The barn now houses historic farm machinery and large historic artifacts.

Many of the current board members are "aging out" and are no longer able to serve in an active capacity. Others have passed.

The once active group has done much to preserve and provide access to a great deal of  history. They would like to see that carried on.

Chris Santimossano, secretary for the group, said someone is going to have to step up or the buildings will revert back to the town and the historical society will no longer exist. Serving as secretary for many years, she said it is time for some younger members to come on board and get involved in preserving the town's history.

Not long ago, the HHS erected 10 new commemorative markers at various locations of historical significance throughout the town, such as the Sugar Bush Raid and McKee Family Massacre. Those locations have been mapped out for a driving tour. They invite visitors to do further research on the Sugar Bush Raid and many other topics of interest at the museum, where you can learn how to research with the historical society's online newspaper collection, tour the museum and barn exhibits.

Members have worked to keep the museum open each Saturday during the summer months.

The purpose of the HHS, which was organized in 1976 and re-organized in 2003, is: To promote and encourage original historical  research; To disseminate and encourage a greater knowledge  of the history of the State of New York, Delaware County, and particularly the  Town of Harpersfield and its environs; To gather, preserve, display and make available  for study artifacts, relics, books, manuscripts, papers, photographs, and other  records and materials relating to the history of the State of New York and  particularly the Town of Harpersfield and the surrounding area; To encourage the suitable marking of places of  historic interest; To acquire by purchase, gift, devise, or  otherwise; the title to or the custody and control of historic sites and  structures, and preserve and maintain such sites and structures.

 

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Spring 2025 - Week 1 South Kortright Central School Trap Team Scores


                                  Round 1      Round 2

Kyle Alexander         19                 18

Charleigh Brown        17                 13

LiamBullock               16                 16

Adam Cargill              19                 15

Thomas DAvis            15                 11

Levi Flannery                3                   2

Annlyse Haynes           12                12

Kendell Howard            8                  5

Daniel McClure            23                23

Noah Pedrick               18                 21

Pace Popp                     13                15

Andrew Sander              7                 12

Anthony Sarter              7                  4

Evan Smith                    9                 9

Patrick Terk                  24               25

Brian Warner                22                20

Zachary Weber             12               11

Devon Zambri               15              10

 

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Is Spring Just Around the Corner?



By Liz Page

CATSKILL REGION –  There are times I wonder why people love springtime so much. I get the idea of renewal, things coming alive and growing and all that, but do the Daffodils really have to be frozen  and snowed under to make them appreciated more?

Maple syruping season is drawing to an end, the Snow Drop flowers have run their course and the daffodils are blooming in some places, but not in others. There are reports that some have seen crocus in bloom. They are said to appear as soon as the snow melts and warmer temperatures arrive. Well, they are a little late this year, even though spring is official on the calendar (March 21). 

There was a taste of what lies ahead on Monday as temperatures soared into the 60's locally. But, so far, there have been only a few brief bouts of nice warm weather. 

Some said last winter was a more typical winter, due to the snow and especially the cold temperatures.  "It's been more like the winters we used to have...."

So, maybe this spring will be more typical of the ones we used to have. We won’t jump from winter to summer, but will have spring, a period of uncertainty weather-wise.

I celebrate my birthday in April and more than once, I was cold, or snowed on, or freezing rained on for my special day. I remember one  birthday when my friend Doris Thayer bought me a kite for my birthday and said she wanted me to show her how to fly it. It was a ruse to get me out of the house so they could prep for my birthday party. We started out in warmth and sunshine, but as soon as we got the kite as far out as it could go on the string, we were hit with a snow squall. By the time we got the kite reeled back in and got back to the house we were both soaking wet and freezing. That is spring weather. 

Next up is Easter, which falls late in the month this year. Easter brings the promise of spring as well.  More than once as a child I remember getting all of my Easter finery. In those days you got a new dress for church, patent leather shoes, white socks, a nice little spring jacket and sometimes a hat and little white gloves. Some people are laughing now, because a lot of the people reading this probably don't remember the times when people actually got dressed in "their Sunday best". You didn't want to wear those nice new shoes in the snow and that little spring jacket wasn't going to cut the frigid cold breeze. Sometimes you had to hold your Easter finery for another time and revert back to cold weather  gear.

I also don't remember Easter egg hunts, when I was a child but I would have loved them. We probably didn't have them because mom and dad couldn't find any good hiding spots with a cover of snow. Easter egg hunts now have a rain date and several are scheduled around the region. And those were the springs of old. This year may be more like them. At least the temperatures are coming up gradually, with a few blasts of wind chilled cold air to remind us not to put the heavy clothes away just yet.

Tuesday was April Fool's Day, April 1, which used to be the opening day of trout season. You can now catch them all year, however, you can't keep them, you have to release them.  The state Department of Environmental Conservation now calls it Spring Trout Season. Now you can keep them if they are legal size. Alex Roberts caught a 16-inch trout on Tuesday near Delhi. He said there were just a few fishermen braving the cold with him. Cliff Mueller gave it a 10-minute shot it was so cold, with wind chills in the morning making it feel like single digits.

So as we check off each milestone of spring, many of us are hopeful some warmer weather is not far off into the future and  that soon all the daffodils will have bloomed and we will be able to wear our "Sunday best" without freezing.

The six weeks more of winter predicted by the groundhog is over, so spring really can arrive anytime. And speaking of groundhogs, they were out and about this week digging out their tunnels and prepping for a new season.

Next up is  Spring Turkey Season, May 1, mowing the lawn and black flies.

 

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Permissive Refrendum Notice Town of Harpersfield

Written By Editor on 4/4/25 | 4/4/25

TOWN OF HARPERSFIELD
LEGAL NOTICE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Town Board of the Town of Harpersfield, at a regular meeting thereof held on the 12th day of February, 2025, duly adopted, subject to a permissive referendum, a resolution which is as follows:

Pursuant to the provisions of the Town Law §64(2), a Resolution authorizing the Town Supervisor to enter into and execute an Easement to New York State Electric & Gas to install electric service facilities at 25399 State Route 23 in the Town of Harpersfield.

The full Resolution and related documents are on file with the Town Clerk’s Office.

BY ORDER OF THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF HARPERSFIELD, NEW YORK.

Dated: February 13, 2025 Heidi Stevens, Town Clerk
     Town of Harpersfield
     25399 State Hwy 23
     Harpersfield, NY 13786


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$676K Tentative Budget Presented - Restricted Street Parking Expected

Written By The Mountain Eagle on 3/28/25 | 3/28/25

By Mary A. Crisafulli

MARGARETVILLE - The Margaretville Village Board presented the $676,102 2025 tentative budget on March 19, an increase of $9,524 over 2024. A public hearing is scheduled before the organizational meeting on Tuesday, April 8 at 4:45 p.m. The proposed budget is just under the state-mandated tax cap increase of 2.25% at 2.24%.

The budget includes an overall salary increase of 3%. Insurance rates are expected to increase a few thousand dollars and the budget includes roughly $25,000 for the fees. Another increase was included for the lighting district as NYSEG bills have grown and are not expected to decrease. 

Expected revenues have increased due to the anticipation that the village will use NYClass, a municipal investment bank. The institution holds 4.2% interest rates compounding daily. Current interest rates for the village's CDs are at around 3.2% and investments are locked in for one year. NYClass allows municipalities to remove funds immediately if requested before noon.

Bookkeeper Beth Bush reported Middletown recently invested in NYClass and raised hundreds of dollars in just a few weeks.

In another discussion, the board agreed to refine a letter to be sent out to village residents and businesses regarding parking restrictions. The letter limits parking to one side of the street on all village roadways. Particulars on enforcement and what violators can expect will be detailed. If the village decides to tow vehicles they will be brought to Stamford, Delhi, or Tannersville. The board is expected to finalize the letter by Friday, March 28. 

Trustee Sarah Hubbell noted a main issue with double-parked vehicles is that it causes limited access for emergency service vehicles. 

In other news

A memorial bench is being planned for Gary and Willis Marks who were greatly involved in the Rotary Club. 

All future down payments on cemetery plots at the annex are required to be paid off in one year.

It is expected the board will begin reviewing all local laws for potential updates. 

Margaretville will join forces with Middletown and Fleischmanns in sending out an RFP (request for proposals) to develop a joint comprehensive plan. The committee tasked with assisting plan development is expected to have three residents from each municipality. 

Trustees approved the liquor license application for a New Kingston resident seeking to update and open the old pub at 814 Main Street as a restaurant. Applicants will still need the liquor authority and State Department of Health to review.

 

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American Association of Critical-Care Nurses recognizes Intensive Care Unit at Bassett Medical Center with Beacon Award for Excellence

COOPERSTOWN The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) recently conferred a silver-level Beacon Award for Excellence on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown.

The Beacon Award for Excellence – a significant milestone on the path to exceptional patient care and healthy work environments – recognizes unit caregivers who successfully improve unit outcomes and align practices with AACN’s six Healthy Work Environment Standards. Units that earn this award with a gold, silver, or bronze designation meet specific criteria established by the AACN that represent the characteristics and components of the unit environment that nurses can influence to achieve nursing excellence.

“The silver-level Beacon Award recognizes the highly effective systems in place at Bassett Medical Center’s Intensive Care Unit. We appreciate AACN awarding us for this honor,” says Christina Curcio, MSN-RN, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Nursing at Bassett Medical Center. “A key component of this award is continual learning, which we encourage in all of our units. 44 nurses work at Bassett Medical Center’s ICU and more than 36 percent of them carry specialized certifications in critical care, elevating them professionally and showcasing the expertise they bring to each patients’ bedside.”  

AACN President Jennifer Adamski, DNP, APRN, ACNP-BC, CCRN, FCCM, applauds the commitment of the caregivers at the ICU at Bassett Medical Center for working together to meet and exceed the high standards set forth by the Beacon Award for Excellence to achieve a silver level designation. These dedicated healthcare professionals join other members of our exceptional community of nurses, who set the standard for optimal patient care.

“The Beacon Award for Excellence recognizes caregivers in outstanding units whose consistent and systematic approach to evidence-based care optimizes patient outcomes. Units that receive this national recognition serve as role models to others on their journey to excellent patient and family care,” she explains.

This designation was awarded to the Bassett Medical Center ICU in 2024 and is valid through 2027.

 

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MUSINGS OF A LOCAL by Iris Mead - RESTAURANTS, THEY COME AND GO

Everyone knows the restaurant business is one of the hardest businesses to navigate and stay afloat. Why then do people keep opening (and closing) them so often?  Trying to open and maintain a strong footing in the business climate today requires more than an ability to cook.  It requires more money than one would think to open an eatery after finding the right location.  As they say, when opening any kind of business, it’s location, location, location.  Why then do people keep doing it? 

First, it looks like fun – community spirit, a place for people to gather and eat good food, showcasing your ideas in design and types of food you offer, playing the role of host and helping the economy by hiring employees. All these things sound great in your head but in reality can be, and usually are, very difficult to achieve. Restaurants have one of the highest risks of failure and usually fold within 1-3 years.  The National Restaurant Association estimates that about 30% of new restaurants fail within a year. Advertising and consistency is key to maintaining your customer base.

So many things play into a successfully run restaurant, especially in small communities like ours. Finding good help, both in the kitchen and wait staff, is key to successfully running any business but especially so in the restaurant business.  Finding that help is hampered by our small population.  In addition, because our area is so spread out how far one will travel to try a new venue and will they go back if they aren’t satisfied with the first visit is another major obstacle.  Usually, a new restaurant has its ups and downs during the first few months and needs a chance to get its footing.  Word of mouth is so important for a new start-up as it can both help or hurt a new business.  And restaurant owners do not start recouping their costs until they are open for a few years.  

One of the villages in our area lost two long-time favorite restaurants and will soon be losing another fairly new restaurant that has garnered good reviews and customers.  But the good news is that one of the long-closed eateries will soon open with new owners that have restaurant experience.  We wish them well and hope that it will become a destination for locals and visitors alike.  

Meanwhile, as the pendulum continues to swing back and forth as the economy fluctuates, there will always be that one person who defies the odds and opens and successfully makes a living serving the public with good food at a reasonable price.  Let’s support them.

 

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Shandaken Exploring Mountain Jam Festival, Town Zoning Permits and Procedures

STAFF REPORT

SHANDAKEN — The Shandaken Town Board held a special meeting on March 13. Topics included zoning permit fees and procedures, the Mountain Jam festival, and other town matters.

The board considered adding a $40 fee to the current abutters fee to cover public hearing notice and legal advertising expenses for projects. Town officials noted that they want the language to be updated in the related code or related documentation to something along the lines of  “fees and related expenses incurred by the town” in order to avoid repetitive changes to the code language over time.

The board discussed the order of applying for permits, with the building permit typically coming first, followed by a floodplain permit if necessary, and then a zoning permit if the floodplain permit is issued.There is currently not a fee schedule for zoning permits.  

A proposal was made to bring in training for the building department, with a suggested budget of up to $1,000, to improve procedures and processes.

Part of the discussion revolved around permit fees for manufactured and modular housing, with concerns about the current fee structure and whether it's appropriate to charge the same fee for both types of housing. The issue of foundation costs was also raised, with questions about whether there should be a separate fee for foundation work and how it should be calculated for manufactured and modular housing.

The conversation touched on the process of issuing building permits, with some on the board suggesting that the current system is flawed and that permits could be issued on a per-contractor basis rather than a single permit for the entire project. Some in attendance suggested doing permits on a per-dollar basis.

The topic of verifying engineered blueprints and ensuring compliance with building codes was also discussed, with questions about who is responsible for verifying the plans and conducting inspections.

The need to review and revise the fee structure and permitting process was discussed, with some suggesting that it's premature to set fees without establishing a clear procedure for issuing permits. The conversation was tabled until the next meeting, with plans to review the proposed changes and hold a public hearing before making any decisions.

Representatives from the Mountain Jam festival attended the meeting to discuss their plans and request support from the town. The representatives noted that it has been difficult to find other agencies to step up as lead agency, which could include the town. This could involve designating a lead agency and completing an environmental review process. There are concerns from the town about the costs and responsibilities associated with being the lead agency, including the need for an escrow account to cover legal fees.

The town board discussed the need for public documentation and review of the project plans before making a decision, with some members expressing concerns about the lack of time to evaluate the documents. The town discussed whether the Mountain Jam event will require a permit, with some uncertainty about the specifics. Concerns were raised about safety and logistics for a potential event, including the number of attendees, traffic, and emergency services. The discussion was tabled.

A meeting is scheduled for April to provide more information and answer questions from the public, with the possibility of voting on the project at a later meeting. According to the Town of Shandaken website, there is a meeting scheduled for Monday, April 7 at 6:30 p.m. that will address the Mountain Jam project.

The town is waiting for an appraisal report on the Phoenicia School, which is expected to take about 3 days to complete, and they also need clarification on a rental agreement and any limitations on said agreement.

A resolution was adopted for the construction of a natural playground through CREST funding at Glenbrook park.

A resolution was adopted for a policy to fund and facilitate local emergency medical services in the county.

A resolution was adopted to amend contract for Glenbrook Pavilion with Brian Hommel Home Improvement

The town has $50,000 from a NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) grant to purchase an electric vehicle, and they are exploring options such as a Rivian, with the goal of staying within the budget. The town has some extra funds available, including around $25,000 in ARPA funds, which could be used to cover any difference in cost if they choose a more expensive vehicle. The town has until the end of 2025 to complete the purchase of the electric vehicle in order to use the NYSERDA grant funds.

 

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Shandaken Planning Board Talks Hotel, Permits, and Gatherings

Staff Report

SHANDAKEN — A public hearing was held to discuss Robin Cornish's application for a special use permit to construct a single-family residence within 100 ft of a stream bank in a residential three-acre zoning district. Cornish requires a special use permit and has worked with the DEC and representatives to ensure the project is respectful to the environment, with a minimum 50 foot setback from the stream.

A second public hearing is held to discuss the Wellington Hotel restoration project, an adaptive reuse of the existing hotel to create 10 multifamily affordable housing apartments. The applicants,  Wellington Blueberry, LLC and RUPCO, Inc. for administrative reviews under

the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). Residents such as Jan Jaffe, president of Wellington Blueberry LLC and Friends of Pine Hills Historic District, Derk Jackson, a resident unrelated to Wellington Blueberry, Gigi Loizzo, owner of Belleayre Lodge and board member of Wellington Blueberry, and others spoke in favor of it, highlighting its potential to enhance the local community and environment.

There was a discussion about a class two home occupation permit and the resolution of an offsite staging issue, with the applicant agreeing to use a turnaround on route 28 for staging, and the logistics company using a specific address for the pull-off.

The applicant had been having issues with truck drivers coming to the property, but this has been resolved by removing the physical address from the bill of lading, so drivers can only go to the designated pull-off area.

There is a separate issue with a notice of violation for storage of commercial equipment on residentially owned property, which the owner has appealed, but the class two home occupation permit is being considered as a way to mitigate the problem. The owner is required to minimize the time that units are left at the staging area, and Speedy's Towing is used to pick up the units, with the goal of resolving the issue and allowing the business to operate. The Police Department recommended three locations for access, with one being east of the property, and it was discussed that trees must be planted within a certain timeframe. The board discussed the need for a motion to send the application to the county, with conditions such as the planting of trees and the submission of a short form environmental assessment. and the permit being non-transferable to future tenants. Concerns were raised about noise propagation and the potential impact on residential neighbors, with suggestions to minimize noise and create a buffer zone.

The Leeway, owned by Perpetual Space LLC, has submitted an application to host gatherings at its location, 5191 Route 28 in Mount Tremper. Jeremy Bernstein, owner of The Pines in Mount Tremper, supports The Leeway's application, citing the benefits to local businesses and the property's suitability for intimate gatherings. It was noted Patrick McGann, a local resident and business owner, also supports Leeway's pursuit of a special permit, while Jean M. Maloney, an adjacent neighbor, expresses concerns about the potential noise and impact on property values.

The planning board discussed Leeway's application, with some members referencing an Article which states that music should not be unreasonably audible beyond the property line, and considers the potential precedent for other residents in the town of Shandaken.

The town is considering an extension of a special use permit for the Crossroads project, which has been extended multiple times since its initial approval in 2016. Some board members express concerns about automatically extending the permit, citing changes in the town and community since the project's initial approval. A motion to extend the permit for one more year was made, but it did not carry due to lack of support from the required number of board members.  The board discusses the need for a public hearing to gauge community feedback on the project, with some members arguing that it is necessary to consider the community's current thoughts on the project as it has changed since the initial application.

 

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