Wallkill Valley Times Jun. 29 2016

TIMES WALLKILL VALLEY Walden board confronts zombie homes Vol. 34, No 26 3 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 2016 College letters Page 47 3 ONE DOLLAR Valley Central graduation Page 24 www.WallkillValleyTimes.net Maybrook looks at security measures By MEGHAN MOORE Maybrook trustees on Monday discussed and finalized initiatives that will play a major role in the village’s security and economic development. The initiative begins with the placement of cameras in certain parts of the village. “Its purpose is to increase security for the residents, make sure we don’t have problems in these particular places, and it’s going to help the police department tremendously and the economic Continued on page 4 SALUTING THE CLASS OF 2016 By TED REMSNYDER The ripples are still being felt from the collapse of the housing market in 2008, and municipalities are increasingly having to make hard choices on how to handle foreclosed and abandoned properties that fall into a state of disrepair. These so-called “zombie houses” have to be dealt with for many reasons, including public safety and the protection of the property values of surrounding homes. At Walden’s Village Board meeting on June 21, the committee took action to address just such an issue at 38 Center Street. The abandoned home, which is now owned by a mortgage company based in New Jersey, features a rickety above-ground pool that could turn into a mosquito breeding ground if water collects on its cover. After a thorough debate over the best course of action, including a suggestion of emptying the pool or possibly even subpoenaing the Continued on page 4 Bond Brungard Confetti falls on the Wallkill Class of 2016 as they celbrated graduation on the campus of SUNY New Paltz. Story on page 23. SERVING CRAWFORD, GARDINER, MAYBROOK, MONTGOMERY, PINE BUSH, SHAWANGUNK, WALDEN AND WALLKILL