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Updated 03/14/08
Feb 8, 2008
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Updated 03/14/08
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Elementary school to start registration
Chester — Chester Elementary School kindergarten registration for the 2008-09 school year will be held the week of April 7-11.
Parents of children who will be entering kindergarten in the fall should contact Debra Lys at Chester Elementary School at 469-2178 ext. 2202 by Friday, Feb. 29, to request their registration packet.
Children must be five years old on or before Dec. 1, 2008, to be eligible to enter kindergarten in Sept. 2008. The schools is asking that people share this information with neighbors who have a young child eligible for school enrollment.
Major development proposed for Chester
By Pamela Chergotis
Developer wants land annexed to village
Chester — One of the biggest development projects proposed for the Village of Chester in recent years would put 438 new residences on a stretch of land west of the ShopRite plaza.
The problem is that the land is not yet part of the village. The developer, BT Holdings, represented by Tim Millar Associates, wants the village to agree to annex the 60-acre site so that it can tap in to the village’s water and sewer systems.
The land is in the Town of Chester, which would not be able to accommodate the development’s water and sewer needs. Village Planning Board Chair Richard Ramsdell said the development would require about 155,000 gallons of water per day.
The town and village will hold a joint public hearing on the annexation at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, at town hall, located at 1786 Kings Highway.
Henry Christensen, the lawyer for the village, warned the board of trustees Monday night to proceed with great care. The development is “likely to have a substantial environmental impact,” he said.
At his suggestion, the village became the lead agency on the project. The public hearing is necessary whether the village ultimately agrees to the annexation or not, he said.
Ramsdell noted that the development would be “about half a Whispering Hills,” an established development with 700-plus residences.
Plans for the BT Holdings project call for two senior citizen apartments buildings, each with 50 apartments, Ramsdell said. The rest will be townhouses. A new road for the development would be built with access onto Route 17M/Brookside Avenue, he said.
The village board first heard of the project in 2006, under the administration of Mayor Susan Bahren, who complained that the town’s master plan put all of its high-density zoning on the village border. She had recommended annexation because it would allow the village to control the project’s density.
A year and a half later, the plans are still in the early stages. Ramsdell said he’s seen two versions of a “presentation brochure” on the project along with some materials from the first part of the Environmental Assessment Form, information provided for the state’s environmental review.
Bring your old flags
Anyone with old flags to discard may bring them to village hall (47 Main St.), town hall (1786 Kings Highway), or the town highway garage for a “respectful disposal.” Local veterans will hold a flag-burning ceremony at dusk on Saturday at Community Park. Flags brought after Saturday will be held for the next ceremony.
In other business
• Property owners may protest their tax assessments from 4 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, at village hall.
• Highway Supervisor Tom Bell said the village has used up almost all its salt fighting the season’s exceptionally icy conditions, and is now mixing salt with sand. Mayor Philip Valastro said property owners “did not help much” in the last storm, urging them to keep the sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses clear or ice and snow, as required by village law.
• The board scheduled registration day for village elections on Saturday, March 8, from 9 a.m. to noon on at village hall. Rose Bono and Norma Stoddard were appointed election inspectors. The village election will be held from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, at village hall. Eugene Collins and John Deshler will run unopposed for two open trustee seats.
• Opening day for the Chester Little League will be held on April 12 at Chester Commons Park. The board announced its intention to fix the ventilation problem at the Commons’ concession stand, calling it “a top priority right now.”
• The board hired two part-time village clerks: Betty-Jo Bono, who will work at village hall from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, and Trish Thaw, who will work from 1 to 5 p.m.
• The board accepted the resignation of Mark Thomas from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Thomas is moving outside of the village. David Stevenson was appointed in his place.
• Trustee John Deshler, reporting for the town and village Parks and Recreation Department, said a new theatrical group for Chester is in the works. It will be limited to 30 people, ages 14 to 21. The program will be held at the Lycian Centre for the Performing Arts in Sugar Loaf from July 8 to Aug. 27. For more information call Thomas Kelly at 469-7000 ext. 8.
The flashing signs are back on West Avenue in Chester. For the second time over the past year, West Avenue will be closed under the Route 17 highway overpass, starting Monday, Feb. 25. The closure is due to work by the New York State Department of Transportation to replace the old highway overpass west of the new interchange.
Greens of Chester plan revived
20-year-old project seeks OK to cluster homes
By Raja Abdulrahim
Times Herald-Record
February 25, 2008
CHESTER — A long-dormant housing subdivision that has been in the planning for more than 20 years is making another go at realization.
The Town Board will hear the new plans for The Greens of Chester, a proposed development of 436 condos and houses, at 7 p.m. tomorrow.
The project is so old, only one member of the board has served long enough to remember when the subdivision was last seeking approvals.
Now, instead of building throughout all 118 acres, the developer wants to cluster the homes on less than half the land.
For the developer, this would mean less infrastructure and fewer roads to build. For the town, it could mean fewer roads to patrol. And it would mean more open space.
But the Town Board has not looked fondly at cluster plans in the past. Supervisor Steve Neuhaus remembers four proposed in the last few years and all were rejected. He said that sometimes clustering development is less about open space and more about being the only option, such as when parts of a property cannot be built on anyway.
"We're not there to do the developer a favor," he said. "We're there to do the best thing for the town."
But he said board members are staying open-minded on the issue.
The proposed subdivision is located off Route 94 beside Whispering Hills, a 690-unit condo development that sparked controversy when it opened decades ago.
The Greens has already been before the Planning Board but requires final cluster approval from the Town Board. Once it is approved or rejected, it will go back to the Planning Board. It already has preliminary approval and is getting approval from other agencies as well, like the state Department of Environmental Conservation, said Planning Board Chairman Raymond Johanson.
"Putting the icing on the project if you will," he said.
February 25, 2008
Taxes made easy — and free — for seniors
By Linda Smith Hancharick
Chester — Senior citizens are eligible to receive free, simple tax preparation with no income requirements through the Orange County Office for the Aging.
Anne Coon, district coordinator for the Annual Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program through the Orange County Office for the Aging, said people 60 and older may have their income tax prepared for free, as long as it is a simple situation.
“It has to be a simple return,” said Coon. “There cannot be a lot of stock trading, rental properties, or business expenses.”
The program, which has been inexistence for over 30 years, is co-sponsored by AARP and the IRS, along with the Office for the Aging. Volunteers are trained by an IRS-certified instructor before they can actually prepare the returns, according to Coon.
“The training is very stringent,” said Coon. “The training takes place in January and all must pass an IRS exam, which sometimes takes up to 30 hours or more to do.”
Many of the volunteers are current or former professionals—bankers, teachers, even accountants—who volunteer their time to help seniors. The volunteers must train and be tested every year since tax law changes from year to year.
“Especially for our tax professionals, this is a big sacrifice for them during tax time,” Coon added.
In Orange County alone, the Tax Counseling for the Elderly Program helped over 2,000 seniors last year.
Coon stresses this program is for those who will file simple returns.
“If you have a simple situation, seniors shouldn’t have to spend money on having their taxes prepared,” Coon said. “If it is a complicated return, they should have a paid preparer.”
And, while many seniors may no longer have to file income tax returns, in order to get their STAR benefit for school taxes, they actually do. Ditto for the economic stimulus package just passed by Congress that can put between $300 and $600 into the pockets of single seniors. Married couples filing jointly get even more.
Everything is confidential. Coon said her office keeps no files. And the program is nationwide. People do not have to be from Orange County or New York to have their taxes done here.
And the program will stand behind any errors. Coon said their error rate is very low.
“We have a very good record,” she said. “But if there are problems later, if it is our error, we will stand behind it.”
Coon said this program has quick access to the IRS and New York State Taxation if there are any issues.
“We have resources beyond the average taxpayer,” she said.
Appointments are necessary. Tax volunteers are situated throughout the county, including Warwick, Goshen, Chester, and Monroe.
In Warwick, the tax preparers are at the Warwick Reformed Church on Thursdays between now and April 15. Those wishing to have their taxes prepared there must call 988-9517 to arrange for an appointment in advance.
In Chester, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is the site and tax preparation happens on Tuesdays. Call 469-3171 to arrange for an appointment there.
In Monroe, call 783-9486 to set up an appointment at the Monroe Senior Center. Returns are done here on Tuesdays and Thursdays, through the tax season.
In Goshen, call 294-1106 to see someone at the Northgate Manor site. The dates available in Goshen are March 4, 14, 18, 28, April 1, 7, and 15.
E-filing is available at all four of these locations.
If the days at your local site are not convenient or if appointments are not available, there are sites throughout the county, including Cornwall, Hamptonburgh, Highland Falls, two in Middletown, Montgomery, Newburgh town and city, New Windsor, Pine Bush, Port Jervis, and Washingtonville.
For more information, call Coon at 615-3705.
“Seniors should take advantage of it,” Coon added.
And did we mention it’s free?
Do you want to serve on the school board?
Chester — Residents of the Chester School District who are interested in serving on the board of education may call for or pick up a nominating petition from Debra Lys, school district clerk.
Chester Elementary School, located at 2 Herbert Drive, or call 469-2178 ext. 2202 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There will be one seat open for the May 20 election. The term is for three years.
Interested candidates:
a) Must be able to read and write;
b) Must be a U.S. citizen;
c) Must be at least 18 years of age;
d) Must be a legal resident of the district for at least one year prior to election;
e) May not be an employee of the school district;
f) The only member of his/her family (that is, cannot be a member of the same household) on the Chester School Board;
g) May not simultaneously hold another, incompatible public office;
h) Must not have been removed from a school district office within one year preceding the date of the election to the board.
Petitions must be returned to Lys at Chester Elementary School with at least 25 signatures by 4 p.m., on Friday, April 18.
For more information, call contact Lys at 469-2178 ext. 2202.
PBA egg hunt set for March 15
CHESTER — The Town of Chester Police Benevolent Association will host its ninth annual
Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, March 15 at 11 a.m. at the Chester Common Park, 77 Laroe Rd. in Chester, located behind the Town of Chester Highway Department, about 1/4 mile from Kings Highway.
This free event, for all children, is made possible by donations from various local businesses.
The hunt will be organized by age group and special eggs will contain certificates for larger prizes. The event is organized with the goal that no child will go home empty-handed. Children are requested to bring their own bags or baskets for collecting the eggs.
For additional information, call the PBA 469-7000, ext. 363.
Easter egg hunt at The Castle
Photo from last year’s Easter egg hunt by Leslie Smith.
Chester — The Youth Group of the Orange County Pastorate (St. Paul’s in Chester, St. David’s in Highland Mills, and Grace Episcopal Church in Monroe) will host its annual Easter egg hunt from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 8, at The Castle, 107 Brookside Ave., Chester.
All children ages 3 to 10 are invited. The event is free, although donations to cover costs will be gratefully accepted. Children must be accompanied by an adult and should bring their own basket.
For more information, call The Rev. Alon White at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Chester at 469-2616.
Spring roast beef dinner
Chester — The First Presbyterian Church of Chester will hold its spring roast beef dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, March 15, at the church, located at 94-96 Main Street.
Take-outs will also be available at that time.
The menu includes tomato juice, dinner rolls, the church’s special coleslaw, green beans, Harvard beets, roast beef, and mashed potatoes. Coffee, tea and milk are served along with homemade applesauce cake and whipped cream topping for dessert.
Tickets are $10 for adults, $9 for senior citizens (65 years and up), $5 for children ages 6 to 12), and free for children under five.
Advanced reservations are recommended for this sell-out dinner. To reserve a ticket, call 469-4311.
School board gives 8 percent raise to superintendent
By Linda Smith Hancharick
Chester — Helen Ann Livingston is finishing her second year as superintendent of Chester schools. This is her first gig as superintendent, and the school board likes what it sees.
“The board felt she did a good job,” said John Pascinyk, president of the board. “We have good people and we want to keep them.”
Incentive to keep Livingston included the board okaying an 8 percent increase for the 2008-09 school year, raising her salary $10,000, up to $135,000.
“Chester has the second lowest paid superintendent in the area,” Pascinyk said. He also said that the 8 percent is not excessive if you look at the big picture. “There is more to it than just the money aspect.”
Livingston started her tenure in Chester in 2006 with a salary of $120,000. Last year, her pay increased to $125,000.
Pascinyk said the process to find a new administrator is very costly. And, because most of the board is pleased with the job Livingston has done over the past two years, there was no reason to look elsewhere, he said.
“It was not unanimous but the majority of the board feels Ms. Livingston is doing a great job,” he added.
Board member Mary Luciana voted against the pay increase for the head of the district. Instead, she said the money should go toward new educational programs in the district since last year’s budget and this year’s do not include any new programs.
Board member Wendy Murray was not present for the vote.
Livingston’s performance is reviewed each year. This year, however, the board has to notify the superintendent by April 1 if they do not intend to renew her contract, which expires in July, 2009.
Last month, with Livingston’s evaluation on the executive session segment of the agenda, many teachers came to the board meeting and spoke in favor of keeping Livingston with the district.
“It would be a disservice if the board didn’t keep Ms. Livingston with us,” said Christine Aliventi, a Spanish teacher and cheerleading coach.
Chester considers sports participation on out-of-school teams - Costs could shift completely to parents
By Linda Smith Hancharick
Chester — The Chester School District is considering changes to its athletic participation policy.
According to the school’s current policy, a student may, with approval from the district, participate on a neighboring school’s team on behalf of Chester Academy in a sport that Chester does not offer.
The district is responsible for providing a uniform; league, section, or statewide competition fees; and the required physical examination. The player’s family pays all other expenses, including supplies and equipment, transportation to practices and games, insurance, and coaches.
A new policy proposed for the district would require a player’s family to cover all costs associated with participating in the sport: fees, insurance, transportation, supplies, equipment, uniforms, officials’ fees, and the physical exam. The player will have to retain a New York state-certified coach. And parents would be required to apply in writing to the superintendents of both Chester and the host school requesting participation in the sport.
Last year, one Chester Academy student asked to participate on another high school’s swim team. Chester does not offer swimming, and the student has a physical disability that prevents her from participating in high-impact sports. The district approved a “swim team of one.” The girl’s parents, Dina and Tim Simpson, incurred $2,300 in expenses, while the district paid $800 to cover the league fees, the uniform, and the physical.
This was not the first time a Chester Academy student has played for the Hambletonians on another school’s team. According the board member Mary Luciana, four students ran track a few years ago on John S. Burke Catholic’s team.
“I’m not sure why the policy is being revised,” Tim Simpson told the school board. “This was very beneficial to my step-daughter. This is very beneficial for a small district to have.”
Board president John Pasichnyk said that if the policy is revised, it would not preclude Simpson’s daughter from swimming next year. Since the Simpsons are making the request now, the policy change wouldn’t affect them since it wouldn’t be implemented until next school year.
“I know costs are an issue,” Tim Simpson said. “But I understand things are in place for a wrestling team. It’s not less than five digits to get that in place. I think (the policy) should be left in place for the benefit of the students. We took on the lion’s share of the costs. It’s not like 10, 15, 20 students participate. It won’t be a burden to the district, especially when you’re adding a wrestling program.”
The Simpsons had several supporters in the audience. Resident Diane Mancuso asked why the board was revising the policy. “Policies are periodically reviewed and revised,” Pasichnyk told her. “That’s the job of the board.”
Mancuso persisted. “Why are you reviewing it at this time?” she asked. “Students in the past benefited. Eight hundred dollars seems like a minimal cost.” Marilyn Liscinski, who recently joined the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee for the 2007-08 school year, agreed. “If the school district is going to allow this, they should pay for it,” she said. “Budget for a certain number of students. There are so many overages in the budget. Allow money in the budget for this.”
Luciana agreed that paying for fees and uniforms has not been a hardship for the district. “This policy goes back to 1995,” said Luciana. “This has not been a financial hardship on the district. It is looking personal because of the timing of everything. I think we should check with our lawyer.”
Pasichnyk agreed. “We don’t want to exclude kids,” he said. “I feel we should work with our attorney on this. I don’t want to put an unnecessary burden on parents or taxpayers. I hope to come back with something more palatable.”
To catch a thief - Police are looking for pellet-stealer
Chester — The Town of Chester Police are attempting to identify the subject pictured regarding the larceny of bags of wood pellets from a private residence on Kings Highway.
The thefts occurred on several different dates during the past few months from the same location before the subject was captured on camera.
Anyone who has any information about the thefts or who may be able to identify the suspect is asked to contact the Town of Chester Police Department at 469-7000.
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