One and Done Monthly Town Board Meeting
by Michelle Van Horn
Councilmember Bill Jennings reports that the Transfer Station took in $10,659 for the month of July, which is up by $1,000 from last year and sticker sales starting early are the presumed reason. The purple bag purchases accounted for about half of this month’s revenue. Looking toward future upkeep, the landfill will need a good brush-hogging for next year. The town will go to bid during the same time it requests lawn-mowing bids.
Property Assessments
There are six thousand corrections that need attention on property assessments and Stephentown’s town assessor Jennifer Van Deussen has been making her rounds to assess and re-assess values, with notes and pictures of said properties. Van Deusen reports mostly positive interactions, with only one woman shoe-flying her away, and two mishaps with solar lights in someone’s driveway. Whoops (and not the cheap ones, either).
Action item For Stephentowners
The Census Bureau reports that 52.3% of Stephentown has answered the Census, which means that 47.7% of Stephtowners have yet to answer. At just above the 50% mark, it’s time for residents to kick into gear and follow through on their American duties. Reminder: More residents counted in Stephentown means more funds allocated to Stephentown.
Roof Repair Bid Awarded
Robert (Bob) Hinton of CMV Construction has won Stephentown’s Town Hall roofing bid. Out of curiosity, Superintendent Larry Eckhardt asked Bob how long he thought it might take to complete the task at hand. To Eckhardt’s surprise, Hinton responded with two days, and maybe even just one full, long day if no one was in the building. And, with practically no one using the Town Hall building currently, Council member Jennings pointed out that starting sooner rather than later would be the best option.
Library News
Kim Roppolo from Stephentown Memorial Library reports that about 15 kids are being fed each week, and the Summer Food program will end Wednesday, August 26.
Also, the virtual Summer Camps programs are hit or miss, with 2-3 kids joining during the morning sessions, and 0-1 kids joining in the afternoon sessions. Bags of supplies for Summer camp activities are still being picked up by participants, and Kim is hopeful that kids are actually doing these activities, perhaps with parents, guardians, or older siblings.
Want an activity to do with your kids? Head down to the Corkscrew Rail Trail off Wyomanock Rd. and do a Story Walk! What is a story walk you ask? It’s a walk-through-the-woods-while-reading-a-story experience. Each page of the chosen book has been laminated and placed on posts, trees, and along the sides of the trail. Meander down the path with the kids until you happen upon the next page. Read to them, or take turns reading as a family while taking in the natural settings throughout this 17 page journey in the woods!
A big thank you to everyone who volunteered and came out to the blood drive through the American Red Cross at the Fire station, where people were being turned away (sorry Larry Eckhardt.) The Library is hopeful of hosting another event in October.
Speaking of events, the library is holding a Curbside Bake Sale on Sunday, August 23. Ordering happens online with curbside pickup. Scroll down the SML’s page to find the long blue button that says “click here to go to the bake sale page” and order your fun, yummy, homemade goodies. In addition to this event, the Historical Society is holding a car wash the same day, 10 am to 4 pm. So head on down for a fresh, clean car and freshly-baked goods for a fantastic Sunday in Stephentown! www.stephentownlibrary.org