Rough neighborhood
Neighbors have complained of gang activity on Skyline Drive for some time now. On April 22, a man fired a sawed-off shotgun at his girlfriend in the presence of her three children. Police later found an indoor marijuana-growing operation in the girlfriend’s apartment. As a result of this and other incidents, police have stepped up...
Lighthouse TV23 now streaming on the web
Not that long ago, if you wanted to watch a local program, you’d have to catch it when it aired on channel 23. This month, the channel added online streaming to its website, which allows anyone with an internet connection to tune in from anywhere. The system also allows storing programs on the cloud –...
Vision of the future
After two years of work, the volunteer Comprehensive Plan Committee voted May 7 to adopt the third draft of a plan meant to serve as a vision of the future for the town and village. Since the first draft was released late last year, significant revisions have been made, particularly to sections relating to casino...
Building community
The scene was similar to an old fashioned barn raising, as between 20 and 30 volunteers grabbed tools and put the siding on the barn behind the Kiersted House. The actual raising of the barn was completed last year, but on Saturday, April 27, the barn siding went up, and it was nearly completed within...
Police merger a success, says panel
For decades, Saugerties leaders talked about merging the town and village police departments, but it took a fiscal crisis in the village to make it happen. In the years leading up to the merger, which took effect Jan. 1, 2011, village residents expressed concern that the loss of the department would mean diminished service. Other...
Diminished credit, should Saugerties sweat it?
While the discussion of a Town Board resolution on gun control has dominated discussion over the past two board meetings, the recent reduction in the town’s bond rating has not been forgotten. The reduction from A-plus to A-minus, announced last month by Standard and Poor, was based on a lack of financial reserves and increasing...
The kids are alright
The sarcastic phrase, “good news is no news” doesn’t take into account the Saugerties Youth Awards, which highlight the good deeds done by area students. Two students were honored at the Town Board meeting on March 20. Ryan Curran, 8, is a second-grade student at Morse Elementary School. He was nominated by Cathy Averill. For...
Saugerties residents suspicious of master plan
Casinos, housing, the role of government, and whether a plan created by an unelected committee should shape town policy were among the concerns raised at a public hearing on the town and village Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Plan is particularly significant because the town’s laws, especially the zoning laws, are required to be in compliance...
Town campaign season starts early
Town elections are nearly eight months away, but Saugerties already has plenty of candidates. Greg Helsmoortel, who served as supervisor for 12 years before being defeated in 2011, has announced his candidacy. He’s expected to cruise to the Democratic nomination. Incumbent Supervisor Kelly Myers hasn’t decided. She said she’s concentrating on the demands of the...
The gun rights debate in Saugerties
About 30 supporters of gun rights, many of them from the Saugerties Fish and Game Club, attended the regular Town Board meeting March 6 to urge the board to pass a resolution supported by Town Supervisor Kelly Myers opposing the state’s gun control law. Myers said the resolution was written in response to many requests...
Food Pantry’s Richardson honored
Marilyn Richardson, the coordinator of the Saugerties Food Pantry, received thanks, flowers and praise at the Town Board meeting on Wednesday, March 6. Richardson has been working with the pantry for 20 years. “When everybody heard that you would be retiring, there was a big community sigh, because we were sad,” said Supervisor Kelly Myers....
School budget up $1 million
Superintendent Seth Turner is predicting this year’s school budget will increase taxes by about 3.5 percent. On the face of it, that exceeds the state’s two percent property tax cap, but the law allows some items to be left out of the calculation, so this budget would not exceed the cap. A budget that exceeds...