Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

Webutuck BOE holds organizational meeting for 2022-23 school year

WEBUTUCK — With school out for summer, the Webutuck Board of Education (BOE) wasted no time in preparing for the upcoming 2022-23 school year at its annual reorganization meeting on Tuesday, July 5.

Starting at 7 p.m., the meeting was held in the Webutuck High School library. In addition to attending the meeting in-person, members of the public were invited to tune in via Zoom.

After the meeting was called to order, Webutuck District Clerk Tracy Trotter administered the oath of office to newly elected BOE members Nichole Reyes and Anthony Robustelli.

Current BOE President Judy Moran was re-elected president for the 2022-23 school year with Rick Keller-Coffey as vice president. Trotter administered the oath of office to both Moran and Keller-Coffey, as well as to Superintendent of Schools Raymond Castellani.

Turning its attention to appointments for the coming school year, the BOE appointed Trotter as district clerk; Gabriella Lejeune as treasurer; Mary Clinton as deputy treasurer; Kim Coon as visitor/security badge system administrator; Louise Giewont as claims auditor/property control manager; and Dawn Marie Klingner as tax collector.

Girvin & Ferlazzo was appointed legal advisor for the North East (Webutuck) Central School District (WCSD) while The Workplace was appointed as the school physician. The Workplace was later appointed as the transportation department physician and school physician as needed. It will also run the new, in-house school clinic for the WCSD (for more on that story, go to www.tricornernews.com).

Barclay and Damon LLP (formerly Hiscock & Barclay) was appointed as bond counsel while Fiscal Advisors, Inc. was appointed as the district’s fiscal advisors; the firm Sicker, Torchia, Allen & Churchill was appointed as independent auditor.

The BOE authorized Castellani to participate in the New York Schools Insurance Reciprocal (NYSIR) and Moran to sign the agreement so Webutuck would become a subscriber and be afforded the coverage underwritten by NYSIR for the policy period that began Friday, July 1.

Tammy Nethercott was appointed director of special education and Committee on Special Education (CSE) chairperson; Cara Tomasetti was appointed alternate CSE chairperson, alternate chairperson for the Committee on Pre-School Special Education (CPSE) and as school psychologist.

Webutuck Elementary School Principal Jennifer Hengen was appointed Random Moment Time Study coordinator.

After assigning BOE members to standing committees and making emergency planning committee appointments, the BOE authorized Castellani to employ Complete OT/PT/SLP Services, PLLC as the district’s consultant for the coming school year.

For the Dutchess Educational Health Insurance Consortium representative designations, Business Administrator Robert Farrier was designated as DEHIC trustee, with Castellani as the DEHIC trustee alternate.

The BOE authorized Castellani to designate M&T Bank, Bank of Millbrook, Key Bank, Fleet Bank, Citizens Bank, Bank of New York, HSBC, JP Morgan Chase and M&T Bank (NYLAF New York Liquid Asset Fund) and Salisbury Bank as official bank depositories. The Millerton News and Poughkeepsie Journal were named the official newspapers.

Latest News

Harding concedes State Senate District 30 to Zimmer

Just as polls close, Former District 30 State Senator Stephen Harding greets supporters at his election watch party at The Abby Restaurant & Bar in New Milford, CT, Nov. 3.

Patrick Stachniak

In an unprecedented midterm election the evening of Nov. 3, Democrats across the country flipped battleground races for federal and local representatives in what has been described as a blue tsunami. The results in Connecticut were no different.

Keep ReadingShow less

Small trout, big lasagna and bad movies

Small trout, big lasagna and bad movies

The Men of CACA. From left, the author, Steve DeSimone, and Tom Gallucio.

Gary Dodson

I recently convened the fall meeting of CACA, which stands for Cinema, Angling and Culinary Appreciation.

This takes place in Phoenicia, New York. We fish all day, make a bountiful dinner, and watch the world’s worst movies.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sharon ambulance captain carries on family tradition of service

Thalia MacMillan

Ruth Epstein

SHARON ­— Whether it’s in her professional work or her community volunteerism, Thalia MacMillan strives to advocate for others. She developed that instinct from her many family members who also have the same calling.

Many in the region know her dad, Stanley MacMillan, who served for decades as a building inspector and fire marshal. Her mother, Grace Kandefer, was a longtime nurse at Sharon Hospital. Both were active volunteer first responders. Her brother Stanley MacMillan, Jr., is a member of the Sharon Fire Department.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Sharon plans replacement of West Cornwall Road bridge

SHARON — The Board of Selectmen and Planning & Zoning Commission have approved new plans to replace the West Cornwall Road bridge over Pine Swamp Brook, just south of the historic covered bridge over the Housatonic River in West Cornwall.

The project has been in the works for three years after a survey determined that the structure was nearing the end of its intended life-span. After passing the P&Z commission, the project now only needs approval from four property owners near the site to begin the bidding process.

Keep ReadingShow less
Salisbury Forum links science, religion and Earth’s future

From left, Sam King, Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim discuss how religion and science can be used to address environmental challenges on Oct. 30.

Patrick L. Sullivan

LAKEVILLE — Religious scholars Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim and environmentalist, writer and former Hotchkiss teacher Sam King delivered a presentation at The Hotchkiss School Friday, Oct. 30.

Sponsored by the Salisbury Forum, “Change the Story, Change the World: A New Vision for an Ecological Era” explored how religious tradition and modern science can be used together to address environmental and spiritual challenges.

Keep ReadingShow less
Backgammon group adds ‘Pizza and Play’ at White Hart

Playing backgammon at the Saturday session at Le Gamin in Sharon are front, Jennifer Dowley and Harding Bancroft. Behind them are Michael Lonergan and David Dabill.

Ruth Epstein

Like pickleball enthusiasts who just can’t get enough of the game, those who love backgammon are eager to play as often as possible.

With interest growing, Backgammon of Northwest Connecticut has added a third location for its weekly gatherings.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.