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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Montgomery man is state Legionnaire of the Year
By JASPREET GILL
[email protected]
“At all post activities and events,
especially our meetings, parades, wakes
and a wide variety of patriotic ceremonies,
this fine Legionnaire follows the first rule
of leadership - he is there,” said Timothy
P. Dempsey, a past commander at Post
521.
Robert W. Santo was awarded the 2017
Legionnaire of the Year award during
last week’s American Legion Post 521
meeting in the Town of Montgomery after
being nominated by his fellow Post 521
members.
“He leads by example in all aspects
of solid, positive leadership and Legion
participation. Our nominee serves his
Post, his comrades and the community
with exemplary integrity, cheerful
enthusiasm, candor, patriotism and
old-school pride in being an American
Legionnaire,” said Dempsey.
Santo first got involved in the post
seventeen years ago when the newly
elected Post Commander was left without
a post adjutant, who resigned from his
position, at his first meeting. Santo
volunteered to step in as the adjutant and
was immediately elected to serve for the
rest of the new Legion year. When the
Post Chaplain resigned from his position
about ten years ago, Santo stepped up to
fill in the position. He is still serving as
Post 521 Chaplain today.
He has participated in several post
Robert W. Santo poses with his certificate proclaiming him New York State’s Legionnaire of
the Year for 2017.
activities, such as placing over 800 flags
on the graves of all decreased American
veterans in seven local cemeteries just
before Memorial Day every year. He’s
been involved in every aspect of Memorial
Day celebrations - from marching in the
annual Memorial Day parade to cooking
breakfast for Post members and their
families.
According to Dempsey, Santo’s
participation with the post is based
on his strong love for his country,
community, fellow veterans and youth.
He’s helped with reviving Boys State
and Girls State programs at the Post.
The programs, which are sponsored by
The American Legion and the American
Legion Auxiliary, are summer leadership
programs for high school juniors.
The American Legion was chartered
and incorporated by Congress in 1919
and is the nation’s largest wartime
veterans organization. The not-for-profit
organization is committed to advocating
patriotism and honor, promoting strong
national security, mentoring youth and
sponsoring programs in communities
and has a continued devotion to fellow
servicemembers and veterans.
“Members of this post are well aware
that Legionnaire Santo can be counted
on to assist every officer and fellow
Legionnaire in any way appropriate,”
said Dempsey. “He steps up when it really
counts. In short, everything our nominee
does contributes tangibly to the success
and betterment of our post.”
Shawangunk presents tentative 2018 budget
Continued from page 1
tentative budget is set for $800,584.
The total recreation budget is $93,495, an increase from
last years $90,698 budget. The town’s youth program
budget is being increased to $36,000. In 2017, the budget
was $29,513.
“The youth program budget increased because
enrollment has increased,” said Valk.
The total general government support budget, which
includes the town board, town vehicles, building
improvements, and elections has increased to $662,845.
The tentative 2017 budget was $646,782 and was amended
to $650,246.
All elected town officials are receiving raises. The
tentative 2018 budget for the su pervisor is $34,043, an
increase from $33,540 in 2017. Every councilman now
receives $12,213, an increase from last years $12,033.
The town’s two justices are receiving $14,855 each. Last
year they received $14,635 each. The Superintendent
of Highways is getting $53,420 while the Town Clerk/
Tax Collector will be getting $50,866. Last year, the
Superintendent of Highways received $52,631 and the
Town Clerk/Tax Collector received $50,114.
During the town board meeting, members of the
Shawangunk community also brought up concerns about
road safety. Richard Brennen requested better speed limit
enforcement and traffic controls in front of his house on
Rt. 208, by the Shawangunk Correctional Facility.
“Over the past two years we’ve seen many destructive
car accidents in front of our house,” said Brennen. “Last
year a car struck our mailbox, destroying it. Less than a
month later a driver crashed into a tree right outside of
our house. Four weeks ago, a car ran into a utility pole.
The wires from the pole went across Rt. 208. In all three
incidents, there was property destruction.”
Brennen says it’s the shape of the road that is causing
accidents and that he would like to petition for a guard
rail.
Both Valk and Councilman Dewitt advised Brennen
that the town board would write a letter to the New York
State Department of Transportation.
Adrienne Gelfand-Perine, an eight-year Shawangunk
resident, brought up concerns with vandalism around
the town.
“As a person who has participated in many local events
and become an active member of the community, it is
very discouraging and upsetting to see defacement of
billboards and have signs ripped and stolen,” she said. “It
has become apparent to me that any tactic taken to stop
this previously has not worked. It’s time to get a separate
committee together to address the problem.”
Gelfand-Perine wants a committee made up of board
members, the Chief of Police, representatives from
nonprofit organizations and businesses and the district
school superintendent to address the vandalism issue.
Valk said a simple solution to the problem would
be putting up cameras in various places where the
vandalism occurs.
In other business, the town board set a date for a
meeting regarding new police chief interviews. The
meeting will be held on October 26 at 7 p.m, where the
town board will give information on interviews being
held to replace retiring Police Chief Frank Petrone.