Letters to the Schodack SCENE

Please Note: All letters to the Schodack SCENE are subject to editing for length, taste and accuracy. Only letters submitted exclusively to the Schodack SCENE will be used, and only if the writer's name can also be published. To be considered for publication, letters must include the writer's name, address and daytime phone number. Letters published on the Schodack SCENE be posted as a new post.  Letters to the Schodack SCENE do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editor.

~Below is a letter from resident Leonard Bates to the Planning Board and Town Board Members

He has questions  ~ 

I am writing to you as part of the open public comment period and wish to express some views that you may have already heard, but also things that you may not have. My name is Leonard Bates and I am a resident and taxpaying voter at 1684 Julianne Dr., Castleton, NY. I bought my home in July 2001 with my wife and 5 month old son. Since then, we have added a daughter to our family. I have been a life long resident of Schodack which spans 37 years. I attended Schodack Central Schools and worked my first few jobs in various Schodack businesses. Growing up in this town, I always knew I would most likely end up raising my own family here. What kept me in this town was the community and the semi rural nature of town. You are secluded and away from the hustle and bustle of city life, but yet still close enough to all the things you need (stores, shopping centers, gas stations, etc). When my wife and I set out to buy our first home, we wanted to find a home and neighborhood we could settle into and live a life like you would see in a TV Land sitcom from the 50's. Kids running around and riding their bikes with their friends. Adults walking up and down the road, stopping to chat with their neighbors. Multi-family BBQ's in someone's backyard. The list can go on and on. Well, Julianne Dr. and the Richwood Dr area, for us, was that neighborhood! It wasn't soon after we moved in that we hosted our first house party with some neighbors. We just knew we made the right choice. We never regretted our decision...until now.

Suddenly everyone is interesed in Schodack?!

 

Schodack now Dollar Tree's top choice for distribution center

So far, Schodack is winning a bid to land a 1 million-square-foot distribution center for Dollar Tree Inc., a chain of discount retail stores.

Read more... 

Suddenly everyone's interested in Schodack.

Castleton Library Board Meeting

As a reminder, our annual organizational meeting of the Castleton Public Library Board will be held next Tuesday, January 17^th at 7:00 pm, Castleton Village Hall.

In addition to regular business, we will also hold officer elections.  I encourage all members to strongly consider running for an officer position.

Schodack Schools

•  International Dessert Night 

• Join the Community Budget Advisory Team 1/11, 6 p.m.

• Reorganization Feasibility Study Community Advisory Committee Meeting - 1/12 at 6:00 p.m.

• Student Performs in Annual Tuba Christmas Concert 

• Maple Hill Booster Club Bottle Drive - January 15 - 28

Comments

Note: All comments are read and approved before they are displayed.

Comments with profanity or personal attacks will be rejected. Be respectful.

Thank you,
Catherine Sager

What To Do

DO SOMETHING...

• EMPIRE STATE PLAZA ICE RINK OPEN IN JANUARY
• CASTLETON PUBLIC LIBRARY BOOK DONATIONS
• JANUARY THAW” SPECIAL DINNER in TROY
• FESTIVAL at GRAFTON LAKES STATE PARK
• WINTERFEST 2012 CHILI CONTEST!
• ROAST BEEF DINNER
• TROY WINTER FARMERS' MARKET
• CIRCLE THEATRE PLAYERS PRESENTS: 

“THE LEGACY OF HUMAN PROPERTY

• COFFEEHOUSE
• ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BREAKFAST

Photo contributed

Dollar Tree

Read more about upcoming meetings. 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED PROJECT AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE RELATING THERETO

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree plan uprooted by angry residents

Posted at: 01/05/2012 11:49 PM
By: Dan Levy

SCHODACK - Two hundred new jobs and a huge boost to the community's tax base; who could possibly be against that?

In the Town of Schodack, there are plenty of people who would just as soon see the Dollar Tree plant its warehouse roots some place else. That was the view expressed by many in the community Thursday night at a well attended town meeting at the Schodack Valley Fire House.

It was at that fire house where company executives from Dollar Tree ran into a thick forest of opposition from many angry residents.

Many times during the evening, skepticism and cynicism boiled over.

"You're here to address our concerns," Don Wood, another Schodack resident shouted toward White. "Our concern is noise. What are the pros and cons? There are no pros for us. That's what you're missing."

Wood, interrupted White several times as the company officials tired to speak, an uncomfortable exchange for many in attendance.

"I don't like this project at all," said a man standing in the back of the fire house. "But I'm resigned to the fact it's going to happen. So I want to know what's going on and I can't hear because you (directing his comment at Wood) got your mouth open. So sit down and shut up!"

I missed this meeting ~ What I want to know is:
1 - who was the land owner at exit 12 who took their land off the market? Why?

2 - will Schodack REALLY get any tax money from this project?

3- How will the PILOT program be broken down?  50% the first year with and incremental increase over the life of the program? 

4 - why does Schodack only make the news when there is angry controversy?

5 -Does this report mean the project is dead? If so, who is the winner?