Village Court Proponents Release Point/Counter Point Document

We received a document from proponents of the Village Court today outlining the issues surrounding the March referendum. We’ve posted the full text of the document here.

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE NO TO SAVE OUR VILLAGE COURT

Liberty Public Library Celebrates Quilts!

During the month of March the Liberty Public Library will be holding its 12th annual celebration of National Quilt Month. This year’s quilt exhibit will be on display from Thurs. Feb. 24th through Weds. March 30th. The public is encouraged to stop by and visit the beautiful quilts any time during our open hours: Mon, Weds, Fri 10:00-5:00 pm., Tues/Thurs 10:00-7:00 pm, and Sat. 10:00 – 4:00 pm. The quilt pictured is won of many that will be on display from local quilters. It is a Breast Cancer Quilt that was made by Lisa Schmidt and professionally quilted by Lori Nixon of Northern Star.

An opening reception will be held from 10:00 am – 11:30 am on Thurs. Feb. 24th on the main level of the library. Come and meet members of the Sullivan County Calico Geese Quilt Guild who will be demonstrating quilting techniques, and answering questions about their gorgeous masterpieces. Light refreshments will be served compliments of Friends of Liberty Library. This exhibit and event is free and open to the public. We hope you will take the opportunity to come and meet our talented local quilters!

Notes from the Feb 14th Village Board Meeting

Just some notes from the February 14th Village Board Meeting:

Our Way taxi service commenting on medicaid badge for taxis to free up taxis… looking for more medallions – reserve some medallions just for medicaid service.

Paper ballots for the election.

Permit issued for 5k race at liberty high school

Red meat processing plant discussion. Board approves transfer of land waste tank is on to IDA.

Shoprite to take/expand into blockbuster space and liquor store.

Sneaker World from Monticello is expanding into Liberty and looking for space

Jazz Festival Electrifies Cold Liberty Night

All who attended the Liberty Jazz Festival last night were treated to an amazing show! Jazz ensambles from Liberty Middle School, Monticello Middle School, Liberty High School, and Monticello High School all participated in the concert.

The Festival featured professional trumpet player Freddie Jacobs. Mr. Jacobs is a professional trumpet player, composer, educator and producer. He has toured with such jazz greats as Lionel Hampton and Buddy Rich.

The school bands played 3 rounds, 12 songs in total – and ended playing Louie Louie as one big band. Louie Louie featured solos from all 4 band leaders (teachers) and Freddie Jacobs.

Louie Louie at the 2011 Liberty Jazz Festival:

Liberty Director of Music Gary Siegel and Liberty High School music teacher Daniel McConnell:

Before the show, students involved in the concert participated in a clinic featuring Mr Freddie Jacobs. The clinic gave students “a non-competitive, constructive format” to become better musicians according to festival co-chairman and Director of Music Gary Siegel.

Thank you to everyone involved for putting on a great show! Can’t wait for next year!

Main photo: Music Director Gary Siegel and Jazz Musician Freddie Jacobs

The Birchbumble Family Reunion: A Hog-slappin’ Good Time

“Gardenia, you are the chewin’ tabaccah betwixt my teeth”

This is what I had to plead to Gardenia after being pulled from the audience at the Birchbumble family reunion on Saturday night at the Liberty Firehouse.  Of course, I was distant cousin, Elvis Birchbumble, upon entering the reunion.  In fact, everyone who came to the reunion was a cousin and given a name tag to boot.  My wife, I mean cousin -in this family it’s the same- was Opal Mae Birchbumble.

According to Huck and Gardenia Birchbumble, this is the 15th  annual Hilarious Hillbilly Massacre written by Peter DiPietro.  When asked what to expect at the reunion, Gardenia said, “When you git all the cousins together you never know what’ll happen.” Huck was more succinct: “Mayhem.”

When Clementine Serendipity, an IRS agent, is murdered after charging Huck Birchbumble with tax evasion, Clementine’s twin sister, Patty, an FBI agent, comes to the family reunion to find the killer.

Is it Huck Birchbumble, the head of the clan?  Gardenia, Huck’s wife? Sally Mae, the adopted daughter of Huck?  Jethro Brylcream, Sally Mae’s boyfriend and “hair apparent” to the Brylcream Corp. fortune? Or is it Mary Lou Emma Joe Bobby Sue Birchbumble, the biological son or daughter of Huck and Gardenia?

The interactive performance has every cousin on the edge of their seat as they may be the next to be called from audience.  There are riddles to solve, clues to be bribed, moonshine to be drunk, gas to be belched, and The Birchbumble Family Song to be sung.   In the end, “Avarice is surely the key.”

It is a hilarious and raunchy family reunion that helps support The Greater Liberty Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to revitalize businesses and civic life in Liberty.  Heehaw.  Hope to see y’all cousins next year.

Photo: Ma and Pa Birchbumble

Akira Ohiso lives in Liberty with his wife and two boys.  He blogs at the Zinc Plate Press Blog.

UPDATE: Keep the village court or not

UPDATE: We’re bumping this discussion post back to the top as it’s a hot button topic this election cycle. There is also a Village Board meeting this Monday (2/14) at 7pm. Happy Valentines!

Village of Liberty Referendum: “Shall the position of Village Justice be abolished at the end of the current term of the Village Justice?”

By now you should know that the Village Board voted to dissolve the municipal court pending a vote by the people on March 15th. What do you think – do we need the village court or not? Go!

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Village of Liberty Residents: NOW IS YOUR TIME

A major reason why the Liberty Independent was founded was to bring what goes on in Liberty government to the people in a format that’s easy to get to. Both the Village and the Town have time for Public comment during their meetings, but let’s face it there’s kids, work, and so much more that goes on in our daily lives. When does the average resident have time to voice their opinion.

Over the next month we’ll lay out the issues on the Indy. We’ll dissect all of the issues and let you have your say. We invite all of the candidates to come on the Indy and NOT hiding behind an anonymous user name – flush out the issues with you the reader.

Tell your friends, family, and strangers on the street to join us here. If you know somebody that doesn’t have access to a computer let them know they can go to the Library to access the Indy.

Everyone is invited to join conversation. Have your say right here. Uncensored.

So lets go – what is important to you this election?

I do fully disclose that I am running for Village of Liberty Trustee, but I’ll reserve my personal opinions on issues to the comments.

Blockbuster in Liberty Closing

The Liberty Blockbuster location next to Shoprite is closing. They will only be open until March 13th. Wednesday was the last day to rent, today (Friday) they are starting to sell their entire stock.

Blockbuster did offer certain rentals 30 days eariler than the competition. So if you want some earlier releases you can still receive Blockbuster releases by mail or watch in-demand on Time Warner Cable.

Blockbuster filed for bankruptcy protection last year and is closing over 960 stores. RedBox and Netflix have taken a huge bite out of Blockbuster over the last two years.

Munson Diner Closes – Again

 The Munson Diner has closed once again, this time on December 22nd 2010.

…anybody ever watch that Guy Fieri show? Diners, Drive-In’s and Dives? When he visits a diner with history like the Munson it’s usually ‘themed’ for tourists. Everybody dresses/acts like it’s the 1950′s… Just throwing out some ideas…

Village Board Meeting Notes 12-13-2010

 Here are some notes from the Village of Liberty Board meeting on Monday, December 13th:

- Starting in April the Village Board will test having two Board meetings per month.

 

 

-  Christmas decorations will be hung in the Village on the morning of December 14th

 

 

- Chamber Members will offer discounts at their businesses the weekend of the 18th & 19th

 

 

- The Village is ending it’s relationship with Web Developer Ed Washington. The Village sites costs that are not competitive and the Developer has not been responsive to requests. Additionally the developer wants over $30 more per month for the village to add additional e-mail addresses.

 

 

- The Village discussed dissolution of the Village Court. I will expand on this in it’s own post.

 

 

- Trustee McGuire stated that the Village is facing a tax increase because people are just not paying their taxes.

 

 

- Health insurance for Village employees will go up 14% not 10