To the Editor:
This month property owners are asked to vote for or against their school budget, either for the Berlin or the New Lebanon school.
The Berlin total school budget is $18,757,983 for 901 enrolled students. With a decreased enrollment this year they are still asking for an increase of 1.7%, staying just under the state legal 2% increase. This comes out to the significant amount of $20,819 for each student’s education.
The New Lebanon total school budget is $12,634,633 for 507 enrolled students. With fewer students this year and a 2.1% decrease in the budget, they are still asking the taxpayers for a 1.48% tax increase. This comes to a whopping $24,920 for each student and is $4,101 more per student than what the Berlin District spends.
Since both school districts do an equal job of education, the New Lebanon budget appears to be way over the top by about $2,000,000. These facts should not be ignored when voting up or down for this year’s school budget.
Sincerely yours,
Lucille Salitan
New Lebanon
Charlie Dog Fund Raiser
The Petersburgh Fire Auxiliary is having a Charlie Dog fund raiser on Friday, May 21, beginning 4 pm and will last until the dogs are gone. Our previous sales have been a big success, and we’ve sold out in about 2 hours. They’re $ .75 ea., a ½ dozen for $ 4.75 and a dozen for $9. Pre-order your dogs ahead of time by calling Janet at 658-3053. We ask the community to continue to support us in our fund raising efforts and allow us to cook dinner for them.
Stephentown Summer Youth Program
The Stephentown Summer Camp/Swim Program will run July 6 through August13, a six week program for children who have completed kindergarten through the completion of fifth grade. The camp will be held at the Stephentown Elementary School. Camp registration packets will be available at the Stephentown Town Hall, the Stephentown Memorial Library and on the Town website, www.townofstephentown.org. [Read more…] about Stephentown Summer Youth Program
The History Of The 125th New York Volunteers At The Taconic Valley Historical Society
Michael Barrett, Civil War historian, and Joseph Stickelmyer, author of Friend Jennie, will be the guest speakers at the May 17 meeting of the Taconic Valley Historical Society. Barrett will talk about the history of the 125th New York Volunteers.
Friend Jennie, by Mr. Stickelmyer, is a compilation of Civil War letters written by Lt. George Bryan of the 125th New York Volunteers, to his friend Jennie. Please join us for this very special evening.
The meetings will be held at the United Methodist Church, South Main Street in Berlin at 7:30 pm.
The programs is free and open to the public.
Stephentown Library Scholarship
The Stephentown Memorial Library is offering a $750 scholarship to a graduating senior who plans to enter a two or four year college in Fall 2010. The student must be a resident of Stephentown. Applications are available at local schools and at the Stephentown Memorial Library. There is information about the scholarship requirements on the Library web site at www.stephentownlibrary.org. Completed applications should be mailed to the Library no later than May 24.
The Gladioli Are Back In Berlin!
The Beautification of Berlin Committee’s third season of beautiful gladioli planting along Route 22 in Berlin has begun.
In the first year (2008), the program was launched with only one test bed which was expanded in 2009 to three beds. With this 2010 planting there will be ten gladioli beds lining both sides of Route 22 through town.
Planting will be done on May 20 (21st if the weather is bad, on the 20th) and a full display of color is expected in mid-August.
[Read more…] about The Gladioli Are Back In Berlin!
Difficult Times In Mid-19th Century Grafton
The Grafton Historical Society will hold its May meeting at the Grafton Town Hall on May 19 at 7 pm. The Society will host Rensselaer County Historian Kathy Sheehan who will present a talk on the letters of the Tilley, Littlefield, Huntley families. The letters of these longtime Grafton families include descriptions of the Littlefield daughters working in the silk mills of western Massachusetts, in an ice harvesting business in Grafton and other daily life issues including a two day carriage ride to Troy during a snowstorm. They tell a compelling story of the difficulties faced in the mid-19th century. For more information please contact Dorothy Surprise, public relations contact, at historicgrafton@aol.com or at 641-9660.
Petersburgh Turkey Shoot
The Petersburgh Rod and Gun Club will be holding a Spring Turkey Shoot on May 16 and May 23 at 12 noon. The Club is located on Scriven Road. Spend an exciting afternoon with your family. There will be homemade chili, hot dogs, hamburgers, baked beans, homemade pies, soft drinks and much more. We are holding a summer-wide 50/50 raffle will have some other raffles those days. Shotguns and .22 rifles only, no 10 gauge shotguns.
Call 283-4890 for more information. Come and bring your family! A turkey is waiting for you!
Llamas Visit The Stephentown Memorial Library
If you have young children at home, we invite you to join us for stories, songs and an art project each Thursday at 10 am. This is a great opportunity for children to socialize and parents to connect with other parents.
On Thursday, May 20, at 10 Aam we will have some furry visitors at our Story Time. Isabel Krebs and Lynne Drumm will bring their friendly, furry llamas to meet the children and introduce them to this valuable animal. Our stories and craft will relate to llamas, and there will be ample time to pet the llamas and ask questions about them. Please join us for this fun opportunity to learn more about llamas.
Catering Class Picnic For Seniors
Senior Citizens are invited to a pulled pork and pulled chicken picnic at Berlin High School on Wednesday, May 26, sponsored by the HS Catering Class, Cookie Monster Catering. The picnic will begin at 11:30 am and include food, fun and sunshine! (Well – food and fun are guaranteed!)
Please reserve your place by calling 658-2515 ext. 241 or emailing dmosher@berlincentral.org. There will be a donation basket passed to cover expenses.