T
IMES
Legoland decision due
WALLKILL VALLEY
Vol. 34, No 21 3 WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 2016
3
ONE DOLLAR
Playoff
berth
clinched
My school
color
run
Page 48
Page 26
www.WallkillValleyTimes.net
Montgomery, Town of Wallkill sites still on the table
By RACHEL COLEMAN
It’s been several months since
executives from Legoland stirred up
Orange County with talk of building a
park within its borders.
Now, according to Orange County
Executive Steve Neuhaus, they will likely
move forward with a site in the next
couple weeks.
“We’ll know in a very short period of
time,” said Neuhaus.
After town officials in Haverstraw sent
Continued on page 4
Saluting Walden’s finest
Fire Dept.
in crisis
Walker Valley FD
faces financial woes
By RACHEL COLEMAN
Walden Police Officer Dustin James (R) exchanges salutes with Police Chief Jeffry Holmes at last week’s awards ceremony. James received
five awards during the program. Story and complete list of awards on page 35.
“We’re heading down a crash course,”
said Shawangunk Town Supervisor John
Valk, Jr. “Something has to change.”
Caught between the tax cap, a
poor economy and less than optimal
investments, the Walker Valley Fire
Department and Shawangunk Town Board
are facing some tough decisions.
“If we have to drop the budget by
$10,000…we’ll have to lock the doors and
say goodbye,” said Tony Fiorillo of the
Walker Valley Fire Department.
On Thursday, the Shawangunk Town
Board gathered members of the volunteer
fire department as well as the financial
advisors managing the department’s
service rewards program in an effort to
find a solution.
The program awards points for service
which translate into a small monthly
stipend (about $400) after a couple decades
of service. In order to make the program
work, a set amount needs to be paid
into the program, much like retirement.
The goal of the program is to help fire
departments retain their volunteers.
“Last year was difficult for a lot of
investors, and we weren’t immune to
that,” said Dave Rodgers of RBC Wealth
Management. “I see us muddling through.
The environment out there is bad.”
Rodgers, a financial advisor, is tasked
Continued on page 2
SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL