Democrats Endorse Stoddard and Alvarez Reelection Bids in Liberty Elections
The Liberty Democratic Committee has endorsed Village of Liberty Trustees Joan Stoddard and Luis Alvarez in this year’s elections to be held on Tuesday March 20, 2012.
“We will continue to protect taxpayers and work to revitalize Main Street,” Stoddard and Alvarez said. “Among our top priorities will be to continue to work with our police department to ensure a safe and secure Village.”
Stoddard’s vast budget experience has been a major asset to the Village of Liberty. She has been the Accounting Office Manager for the Villa Roma Resort for the past 30 years. Stoddard and her husband Bill have two children Matthew and Taylor.
Alvarez has been employed by the Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office since 1983. He currently holds the position of Sergeant and is respected throughout the County for his work as a D.A.R.E. Officer. Alvarez also worked with Liberty police for one year. He is married for 36 years to wife Ida, and has two children Luizelle Bohan, married to James, and son Julio married to Katy.
Concert to Benefit Team Skate, Friday Feb 10th
Get ready to for the “valentine to rock your mind” concert in Liberty on Friday, February 10th. The $5 (at the door) concert will benefit Liberty’s Team Skate as they near the end of the skate park project. The concert features Greg Castro, The Up and Coming, other live bands, a dance off, a raffle, and lots of prizes. The show starts at 6:00pm at the Liberty Elementary School Gym.
Where: Liberty Elementary School Gym 201 North Main Street
When: Feb 10th, 6:00pm-10:00pm (snow date 2/24)
Cost: $5 at the door
Come on out and support Team Skate! More information can be found about Team Skate on their facebook group page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/157226597654238/
Santa Comes to Town, Huge Crowd Celebrates Arrival
It was a cold Saturday night in the Village of Liberty, but the air on Main Street was warm with anticipation as hundreds turned out to witness Santa Claus’s arrival. The Santa Express was last seen earlier in the evening out in Bethel and it was on it’s way to greet the crowd in Liberty.
Santa and his sleigh came swooping in to Liberty at about 7pm to the delight of children and adults alike. His sleigh was lit up bright with hundreds of lights that lit up the smiles of children waiting to say hello to Santa. The Santa Express brought a few friends along for the ride too including Rudolph, Frosty, Elves, and more!
A crowd of a couple hundred people surrounded the side of the Santa Express where old saint Nick was waiting to hear Christmas wishes. The waiting crowd was treated to candy canes handed out by his elves. Eventually all had a chance to greet and take a photo with Santa.
Soon there was children returning to their families car with a smile as bright as the Santa Express, knowing that their Christmas wishes were heard by Santa himself. All were looking forward to hopefully seeing Santa on Main Street Liberty again next year.
Proposed Recycling Center on Exit 99 Drawing Fire
The proposed car recycling center on Exit 99 is drawing fire from critics calling it a ‘dump’ and asking town politicians to stick with the comprehensive plan.
The recycling center will be located next to the blacktop plant off of exit 99. The facility would be used to process crushed cars, most of the materials will only stay on site temporarily according to reports.
Critics are citing that the proposed facility would be an eye sore, the land is zoned residential, and would impact your property value. While others say it would bring much needed jobs to the Village and would be in an area where there’s natural noise suppression. The facility would be located on approximately 11 acres.
We’ll be following this story closely, information is very thin right now and we’ll pass more along as it becomes available. But if you’d like to have your say on this project – there is a public hearing tonight at the Liberty Town Hall at 6:45pm.
Three Men Arrested for Burglary in the Second Degree
On December 14, 2011 State Police in Liberty announce the arrest of Brian Hendrickson, age 21, Christopher Wallace Hill, age 23, and James McDonnell, age 21, all from the Village of Liberty, for the felony charge of Burglary in the second degree.
State Police in conjunction with the Village of Liberty Police Department conducted an investigation into residential burglaries in the Town of Liberty and the Village of Liberty. Investigation revealed that Hendrickson, Hill, and McDonnell would drive around the Town and Village of Liberty during the weekday to select a residence from which they would gain entry and steal property.
The subjects were arraigned before Town of Thompson Justice Miller and committed to the Sullivan County Jail in lieu of $75000 bail. They are due back in the Town of Liberty court on December 15, 2011.
Village Officers Awarded for Meritorious Service
The Village of Liberty Police and the Village board of trustees awarded three Liberty Police Officers for Meritorious Service at Monday nights Village Board meeting. The Officers were commended for their actions after they responded to a building collapse on North Main Street in the Village this past October. Two construction workers were trapped and seriously injured in the collapse. Officers who received awards were Sergeant Scott McAfee, Officer Martin Gonzalez and Officer Devin Brust.
Provided By:
Det Sgt Scott Kinne
Commanding Officer
You Better Be Good, Santa is Coming to Town – Saturday 12/17
Attention children of all ages and you grown up kids too! Santa Claus is coming to the Town of Liberty on Saturday, December 17th! Santa’s Sleigh will be gliding onto Main Street in front of Town Hall (120 North Main Street) at 7pm.
There will be cookies, candy, and toys. The Santa Express’s 50 feet of magic lights and music will delight! See Santa, Mrs Claus, Frosty, and more. Don’t forget your letters to Santa!
7pm, Saturday, December 17th, 120 North Main Street (Main Street will be closed in that area)
Red Meat Facility: We Talk With Supervisor Elect Charlie Barbuti
The red meat processing facility slated to be built in Liberty has been a topic of discussion lately after a similar operation opened it’s doors in Delaware County. To get a wider prospective on the plant, it’s future, and impact on Liberty we thought it would be ideal hear what our newly elected politicians had to say about it.
Today we heard from Town of Liberty Supervisor-elect Charlie Barbuti. He was kind enough to answer a few questions:
LibertyIndy.com: What is the purpose of the meat processing facility?
Charlie Barbuti: The purpose of the Red Meat Facility to be located in Liberty is to give all farmers in the region a more economical process to get their product to the market. It is the hope of the Sullivan County IDA that the availability of processing facility so close to the farm will encourage our farmers to raise more meat which will create an additional or expanded revenue stream for the farmer. In short while we hope that farmers that already raise meat will take advantage of the new plant and save themselves the expense of going over 100 miles away to process their meat the plant will also encourage them to expand their operations as well as encourage other farms to begin raising meat. Farmers have strongly expressed a need for this facility.
LibertyIndy.com: Does Liberty need it?
Charlie Barbuti: The construction of the facility will create jobs for the short term as well as permanent jobs in operating the plant. Liberty needs more jobs. The many farmers that will travel to this facility will stop at the local gas stations and restaurants. Liberty’s businesses need the extra revenue. Having farmers travel in to town from other areas in the region will expose those folks to the many businesses and services Liberty can offer. Liberty needs more exposure. Do we need this plant? We sure could use the boost.
It seems at this time that almost all the hurdles that have held up this plant have been addressed and it looks like construction should begin in the short term.
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Thanks to Mr Barbuti for taking a few minutes out of his day to answer some questions. In the following weeks we’ll be adding more input from community leaders.
Liberty Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Delights Crowd
The First Annual Holiday Parade and Town Tree Lighting took place on Friday, December 2nd. Sponsored by the Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Department, this new parade featured many of the town’s fire trucks decked out in holiday lights. The Swan Lake Fire Department even added a holiday themed float to the procession and the Liberty Fire Department Ladies Auxillary marched up main street as elves, presents and even Santa Claus and a reindeer.
There were several floats in the parade made by local civic organizations such as 4H, Boy Scout Troop 95, Girl Scouts, Liberty Public Library and New Hope Community as well as individual families. Other organizations walked with their members, like the Cub Scouts of Troop 17 decked out in reindeer antlers. Also in the parade were local radio station Thunder 102, a vintage truck carrying the reigning Sullivan County pageant winners and another antique truck driven by newly-elected Town of Liberty Supervisor Charlie Barbuti with his beloved model trains circling in the bed. Closing out the parade were members of the Boys & Girls Club’s Liberty chapter who made a gingerbread house themed float that was followed by dozens from the organization in handmade gingerbread men masks handing out candy.
Despite the cold evening weather, the mood on main street was warm and full of holiday spirit as a significant number of citizens came out to watch and participate in the parade. Even managers from the Liberty Shoprite donned Santa hats and handed out free candy canes to children waiting for the parade to start.
Following the parade the Town of Liberty tree was to be lighted on the lawn of the town hall building. Although there was a delay in between the end of the parade and the actual tree lighting the still blocked off street filled with anxious onlookers. After a countdown the tree was lit with lights all of the way to the top and decked with ornaments made for free by local children at the Liberty Fitness Center.
Friday: Liberty Tree Lighting and First Annual Holiday Parade
The Town of Liberty Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting its first annual Town of Liberty Holiday Parade in conjunction with the Town’s annual Holiday Tree Lighting ceremony. Join in the fun to celebrate the holiday spirit by entering a float, decorate a vehicle, or march with your group/organization.
The parade will be held Friday December 2, 2011 at 6:00 pm. Line-up will begin at 5:00 pm at the municipal parking lots behind the Elks Lodge. The parade will commence through Main Street and end at the Liberty Elementary School. The snow date will be December 3rd.
Following the parade the Annual Tree Lighting will take place at the Town Hall and Liberty Main Street Stage. Light refreshments will be served. Bring your children to the Liberty Fitness Center Nov. 28th – Dec. 1st from 3-6:00pm to decorate ornaments for free that will be hung on the Holiday Tree. The Liberty Chamber of Commerce will also be announcing the winners of the Liberty Merchants Holiday Window Decorating Contest.
For further information or to register a float please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at845-292-7690.
Release provided.
