Maybrook plans for the holiday season

- Audeen Moore
Posted 11/11/20

Halloween went so well in Maybrook, village officials are hopeful the Christmas tree lighting goes equally well — assuming Gov. Andrew Cuomo or County Executive Steve Neuhaus do not ban such …

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Maybrook plans for the holiday season

Posted

Halloween went so well in Maybrook, village officials are hopeful the Christmas tree lighting goes equally well — assuming Gov. Andrew Cuomo or County Executive Steve Neuhaus do not ban such gatherings, given increasing COVID infections in Orange County (as well as the state).

“As of now, we’re having the Christmas tree lighting ceremony,” Mayor Dennis Leahy said at Monday’s Village Board meeting. “I hope the State or County will not ban it. The numbers are rising.”

Leahy pointed to the county’s increasing number of COVID cases, with “an average of 75 cases a day over 15 days” in Orange County.

“The Town of Montgomery COVID-19 numbers are less than surrounding communities,” Leahy said, “but please keep in mind these numbers today have doubled since our last Village Board meeting.”

Leahy encouraged residents to continue to wear face masks and socially distance. Deputy Mayor Robert Pritchard, who just returned from a weeks-long stay in California, noted he followed the rules Cuomo outlined and took the required two virus tests as well as self-quaranteeing.

“A lot of people out there can’t be bothered,” he complained, “and that’s wrong. That’s just wrong.”

The village’s tree lighting, given all goes well, will be held Sun., Nov. 29, with some modifications from prior annual celebrations “for the safety of residents”. Face masks and social distancing will be enforced.

The recent Halloween Drive Thru at the Frederick Myers Veterans Memorial Park replaced the usual village Halloween party. More than 125 children participated as they drove through the park with their parents to receive treats.

In other business, Leahy announced that information on the Maybrook’s process to comply with the N.Y.S. Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative is posted on the village website: www.villageofmaybrook.com. Residents interested in joining the required Collaborative Action Committee can submit an application by 12 noon on Fri., Nov. 13. The committee will help create a plan to improve the relationship between the police dept. and the community. The application is on the website. A survey on public safety and law enforcements for all residents and business owners to complete will be on the website soon. In addition, the schedule of required community meetings will be announced soon.

The Village Board approved posting a newspaper legal notice announcing Village elections on March 16, 2021. Trustees Kevin Greany and James Barnett are up for re-election as is Village Justice William Schimpf.