Middleburgh Quarterly Newsletter-- Feburary 2014 Edition

The following was sent out in the February water bills.

Village of Middleburgh Community Newsletter

January 2014

The Village has been hard at work on multiple projects to make the community a better place. Included in the list of projects are the following:

• After cooperation between the Village, Department of Public Works, and the Fire Department the skating rink in Bagley Park is open for the first time since 2003. The rink is open from dawn till dusk.
• The Village is encouraging residents to drop off their unused skates at the Village Hall at 309 Main Street for a skate loan program.
• The Village applied for a grant to improve lighting near the Elementary and High Schools to make the area safer.
• The Library held its first annual Health and Wellness Fair January 11th.
• The Village added another business, Valley Tax and Accounting at 296 Main Street. Their number is 827-3311 and email is ValleyTaxMB@gmail.com.
• The Timothy Murphy monument is on track to be opened this year. The stone and design will be done exclusively in the United States. Anyone willing to donate to the project or purchase a specially designed commemorative brick paver can call Trustee Morton at 827-4343.
• Miracle on Main Street was its largest yet-- with approximately 800 people packing Main Street with its most exhibits yet.
• The Village was reimbursed $1,933 for the cost of the 2013 dissolution vote which originally was spent out of local taxpayer dollars.
• The Schoharie News (www.theschoharienews.com) opened an office at 308 Main Street and can be reached at 231-1465. This and the accountant are businesses number seven and eight to open since the Village launched its business program in April 2012.

Our Board members have been hard at work. Some of their projects include:

• Trustee Sheryl Adams (quebec@midtel.net) and the Renaissance Council was able to successfully plan Miracle on Main Street and worked on the final touches of the Main Street Grant program, which aided over a dozen businesses and provided for local projects like the Baker Avenue pavilion and the wildflower project.
• Mayor Matthew Avitabile (avitmw@gmail.com) worked on proposals for solar energy for the community. He convinced Valley Tax and Accounting and the Schoharie News to open in Middleburgh and is working on multiple other business and municipal projects.
• Trustee Tom Gruning (gruning@midtel.net) also worked on a potential solar project.
• Trustee Bill Morton (wbmort911@gmail.com) worked with SUNY Cobleskill's Department of Landscape Architecture on a draft plan for the Timothy Murphy Park. The design, done by Middleburgh native Dessa Shaul will serve as a template for future projects. Trustee Morton also suggested the skate loan program and is working on the Timothy Murphy Park.
• Trustee Bob Tinker (rtinker@nycap.rr.com) has been aiding multiple projects, including the Joshua Project's plans to rehab the old ARC building on River Street.

Anyone with questions can contact the Board members above. 2014 is looking to be a year of ramping up the local recovery. The local community blog is www.middleburghny.blogspot.com.