HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Schoolhouse No. 1 A.P. Fulton Road and Butrick Road

Schoolhouse No. 2 Stewart’s - Schoolhouse Road - (privately owned)

Schoolhouse No. 3 Hurd Road and Jim Stephenson Rd

Schoolhouse No. 4 West Shore and Best Road

Schoolhouse No. 5 West Bethel – Rt. 17B & Gabriel Rd

Schoolhouse No. 6 White Lake - Route 17B

Schoolhouse No. 7 Route 17B and Airport Road

Schoolhouse No. 8 Plank Road

Schoolhouse No. 9 Mt. Hope Rd and Hurd ‘n Parks Road

Schoolhouse No. 10 Briscoe Schoolhouse, Briscoe Road – (privately owned)

Schoolhouse No. 11 Hurd Road & Route 17B

Schoolhouse No. 12 Birch Ridge Road

Schoolhouse No. 13 Ranger McKay Road

Schoolhouse No. 14 Forestine School (Black Lake), Moscoe Road – (private residence)

Schoolhouse No. 15 CR 173 and Tony Dworetsky Lane

Schoolhouse No. 16 West Shore Rd & Horseshoe Lake Rd

Only the schools listed as privately owned are still standing. Look for more Bicentennial moments in next month’s newsletter.

Bicentennial Commemorative Calendars

The 2009 Bethel Bicentennial Calendars have just been released! The calendar features a description of each hamlet in the Town with historical in addition to the interesting historical dates listed throughout. Calendars are on sale at the Town Hall, Country Bum’kin, Bridgewater, Delaware Valley Arts Alliance, SC Historical Museum, Tom’s Treasures and Canal Towne Emporium for $10.00 each. We will also have them for sale next year at the Bethel Historical Museum. This does not just make a great calendar but something to read and enjoy, a conversation piece and a keepsake. Log on to the town website for a sample page. The calendar is our major fundraiser and 100% of the proceeds will help support all Bicentennial events. Please make checks payable to Bethel Local Development Corporation (BLDC). This is the link for the order form: www.town.bethel.ny.us/Bicentennial/calendarorderform.pdf

Community United Methodist Church

Beginning on Sunday, January 4, 2009 worship services will be held at the Community United Methodist Church (formerly United Methodist Church in the Town of Bethel) in Kauneonga Lake at 10 a.m. All are welcome to attend services.

Dogs!!! What Should You Do???? What We Do!!!!

We love our pets!! But when it comes to finding them when they are lost you may not know what to do. First thing, call the Town Hall, Animal and Control Officer if you have lost or found a dog. If the dog has been picked up we may have it or some one may have found it. Call the radio stations for a free announcement. If you leave near the border of another Town we will attempt to call the Animal Control of that Town.

All dogs are required to have rabies at the age of four months and licenses in the Town you live in, this is State Law. When licensed you will receive a tag that is issued by the New York State Agriculture and Markets with a unique number that is registered and can be tracked by us on the Internet through a secure State website to find ownership if your dog is lost or found. Licenses are renewed yearly.

If your dog is picked up by Animal Control, by State Law we are only required to hold the dog for seven days. After the seven days your dog could be surrendered to the Humane Society for adoption or euthanasia, the unclaimed dog could also be adopted directly from the Town of Bethel pound. We go to strenuous lengths to find owners when animals are found, but if they are not licensed it is impossible! Please make our jobs easier and for the welfare of your animal, license your dog!

Delaware Valley Eagle Fest

The Delaware Valley Eagle Alliance will be holding EagleFest on January 17, 2009 from 9:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at the School Auditorium, Tusten Theater, Firehouse, River Gallery, Town Hall and on the Deck on Main Street. Live bird demonstrations, observation sites, guest lectures, films, poster auction, eagle art, ice sculpting and more. For more information contact 252-6509 or visit them on the web at www.dveaglealliance.org or www.naturesartllc.com

Bethel-Smallwood Senior Club

Meetings are held 1^st Wednesday monthly. Two play days a month. Open All Year. Dues are $2.00 at January meeting. Call Manny Safer at 583-7971. Nutrition site on every Monday, Wednesday exercise and Thursday art. Cancellations will be announced on radio station 102.1.

Announcement from the Club at Smallwood

Just like the bears, The Club at Smallwood is hibernating for the winter. June will be here before you know it and the club will be in full bloom. We’ll have the summer entertainment all lined up and be getting our beautiful pool ready for a summer of fun. The Club at Smallwood is on Andrew Brucher Road right next to Friend’s Restaurant. The Highway Dept. put a deer crossing sign right across from the club and we hope the deer can’t read because we have enough trouble keeping our new landscaping safe from these hungry reindeer.

Visit our new website at: www.theclubatsmallwood.com You’ll see what fun is in store for you next summer and get a glimpse of our pristine pool and summer parties. For membership information please call Sue at 845-583-4939. In the meantime, enjoy your winter, wherever you are, and think of the Bethel people you left behind to enjoy the snow.

Non-Profit Group to Help Senior with Repairs

Two local nonprofits will get a share of $3 million in new state funds to help senior citizens make repairs to their homes.

The Rural Sullivan Housing Corp. will get $75,000 and the Shandaken Revitalization Rural Preservation Council $125,000 from the state Division of Housing and Community Renewal. The funds are given through the Residential Emergency Service to Offer Repairs to the Elderly.

The program offers seniors who own and live in homes with one to four units up to $7,500 for repairs. The RESTORE grants can be used to pay for repairs such as leaking roofs, frozen or broken water pipes, failed septic systems, flooding, leaking gas lines and inoperable furnaces. For more information call 794-0348

Bethel First Meeting

January 6^th 7:00 p.m. at the Bethel Senior Center. Meetings held monthly on the 1^st Tuesday.

Message from Debra Gabriel, Bethel Tax Collector . . . .

This year the County is trying something new for your January County and Town Taxes. You can make installment payments! If you choose to pay in installments, 50% of your bill must be paid by January 31, 2009 with no interest. Then you can pay 25% of the bill in February with the 1% interest and 25% in March with the 2% interest. You must make the first payment of 50% by January 31^st to be in the payment plan otherwise no partial payments will be accepted.

Please make a note of the new website for school and property tax bill information: www.taxlookup.net

The Property Tax Bills for 2009 will be sent out on approximately January 2^nd. Everyone will receive a tax bill whether your have an escrow or not. Escrow Account Holders: This bill is for your records only; your bill has been forwarded to the bank electronically. Everyone will get a pink receipt whether they are escrow or not after their payment has cleared.

Debra Gabriel, Tax Collector, phone number (845) 583-4740 ext. 18, fax number (845) 583 4710 and my e-mail betheltaxcollector@hvc.rr.com

Mailing address: P.O. Box 561, White Lake, NY 12786

Physical address: 3454 Route 55, White Lake, NY 12786

Taxes paid by January 31^st will receive no interest. Tax bills paid in February will receive a 1% interest, March will receive a 2% interest. All bills must be paid by March 31, 2009 to avoid further penalty by the County. An additional $2.00 penalty will be added on or before March 1st. All unpaid 2008 School tax bills will be added to the January 2009 Property Tax Bill.

You may be eligible for the STAR school tax exemption if your primary residence is the Town of Bethel. You have until March 1, 2009 to apply for exemptions. If you are turning 65 and qualify for STAR you must see the Assessor for the Enhanced Exemption. The STAR exemption is for school taxes only (bill comes out in September). For more information on exemptions contact the Assessor’s Office at 583-4713 ext. 13 or 14.

Stacy and Friends' Great Sullivan County Food Raiser

Saturday - January 24^th, Mr. Willy's Restaurant, Forestburgh Rd-Rt. 42, Monticello 4pm - 11pm or ? Great music all evening long. Some of the best musicians around will be there. Dance. Listen. Play or sing along. Enjoy the sounds while supporting our community. Cash Bar - Food available at your own expense.

ADMISSION: Your donation! The absolute minimum cost of $5 to feed one person for one day.

Sponsor someone for a day, a week or a month or more. This can be applied to any pantry in Sullivan County.

Call Steve / Suz @ 845-583-4808 for more details.

Citizens’ Energy Assistance Program (CEAP)

This winter the Bethel Local Development Corporation (BLDC) is offering energy assistance to Bethel residents who are in need and do not qualify for the County HEAP program. This effort was initiated by a group of Bethel residents and is fully funded by private citizen donations. The program is named Citizens’ Energy Assistance Program (CEAP). “We are concerned for the well-being of our residents and this is one thing we can do to help our neighbors during these difficult times,” said Town Supervisor Daniel Sturm. The program will provide a one-time supplement for heating needs to qualifying Bethel residents.

Applications are currently being accepted and are available through the Town of Bethel website at www.town.bethel.ny.us or can be picked up at the Bethel Town Hall, 3454 Route 55, White Lake. To qualify for CEAP you must have a HEAP denial letter. Mail completed application and supporting documentation to BLDC, Attn: CEAP, P.O. Box 300, White Lake, NY 12786 or drop-off at Town Hall. Applications will be confidentially reviewed by the CEAP program administrators. Supervisor Sturm will arrange for the assistance to qualified applicants.

Tax-deductible donations can be made to: BLDC, c/o Runnels, P.O. Box 732, Smallwood, NY 12778. Assistance will be provided to Bethel residents until all funds have been exhausted.

2009 King of the Ice Fishing Contest

No information at this time. The lake is not frozen, yet!

Skiing Registration

Registration will be $25.00 per Bethel resident

Registration form can be downloaded off the Town Website at www.town.bethel.ny.us under the recreation page.

Skiing Dates are for Big Bear Masthope:

January 3^rd 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

January 11 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

January 24^th 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

February 1st 9:30 am - 4:00 pm

February 21st 4:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Fees for Youth 21 and under:

Saturday evenings:

Rental $15.00

Lift Free

Sundays afternoons:
Rental $16.00

Lift Free

Fees for Adults over 21:

Saturday: Lift $15.00 and Rental $15.00

Sunday: Lift $25.00 and Rental $16.00

The Town of Bethel will pay for lessons for first time skiers only. There will be no refunds. Fees must be paid weekly for rentals and lessons. Please be at the hill at the Scheduled Time

If you have any questions, or for cancellation information, please call Jannetta MacArthur @ 292-4025 or email @ jmacarthur1@hvc.rr.com

Christmas Tree Recycling

The Town Transfer Station will be taking used Christmas trees as part of their recycling program for free. Please place in designated area. The Transfer Station is open 7 days a week from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Closed major holidays.

Bethel First Luminary

The Christmas Eve Luminary has been rescheduled for New Years Eve. Bethel First will be hard at work on New Years Eve setting up the luminary for all to see. Start either on Hurd Road at the Woodstock Monument and go down West Shore or start at the Bethel Veterans Park at Kauneonga Lake Town Square and go up West Shore Road. The luminary can be seen starting at dark until the candles approximately 11 p.m. This year, Bethel First announces a Luminary Trivia Challenge! Neighbors and visitors are being asked to guess the number of luminary lights that it takes to extend from the Community Park in Kauneonga Lake, around the Bethel Veterans Park and to the Woodstock monument at the corner of Hurd and West Shore Roads. Contestants can email their guess to swhite4@hvc.rr.com Entries are due by 10:00am New Years Eve morning. A special prize will be awarded to the person who comes closest to the correct number.

If you would like to volunteer to set the luminary, please join Bethel First at 1:30pm on New Years Eve Day at the Indian Lake House on West Shore Road in Kauneonga Lake. Volunteers are also needed to retrieve and store the luminary and will meet on January 1^st at 11am at the Indian Lake House. For information on helping with the luminary please contact Al Frangipane at 845.583.6540.

Yoga

Yoga is still being held each Wednesday at 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. at the Duggan Elementary School gym. $5.00 each class. Instructor: Justine Sutherland. Participation needs to be increased or the program may have to be cancelled. Yoga is cancelled when school is closed or after school after are cancelled. This program is sponsored by the Town of Bethel Youth Board.

Food Drive

The Town of Bethel Clerk’s Office will continue to accept food donations throughout the winter. All donations received will go directly to the Shepard’s Pantry at the White Lake Reformed Presbyterian Church for their food pantry distribution. Thank you to all who have been dropping off groceries.

Coat Drive

The Town of Bethel Clerk’s Office will be accepting coats that are clean and in good condition until January 10, 2009. Please put all coats in a plastic or other suitable bag. All coats will be distributed through the local food pantry.

Websites of the Month:

www.maxsaidyes.com Max Said Yes – a children’s’ book about Max Yasgur saying yes to Woodstock!
Written by Abigail Yasgur (cousin of Max)

Expressions from the Heart - poetry book written Eda LaPolt, our Records Clerk! Congratulations Eda!

A Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

From the Desk of

Rita Sheehan, Bethel Town Clerk