I FINANCIAL SERVICES supplement1ns1de Stern taskmaster Library neighbor voices concerns over lot plan By Peter Hanson and Bethlehem-Central school district, hut the Katherine McCarthy school board does not authorize library At the Bethlehem school board's Feb. expenditures. 11 meeting, a woman who lives on Residents will vote on the library's Borthwick Avenue in Delmar criticized request for a one-time budget increase of the board for approving a Bethlehem $250.000 May 19. Most of that money, Public Library proposal to expand its $150,000, is allocated for the purchase of parking lot. the house and land at 45 Borthwick. and Anne P. Moore said the proposed new the rest will pay for construction· of a entrance to the parking lot, which would parking lot expansion that will add about be built on the 45 Borthwick Ave. lot 36 spaces. where a house currently stands, would In addition to naining concerns she has decrease property value on the residential about the proposed expansion, Moore street and create intrusive traffic. The new criticized the board's methods. "I cannot entrance would be next door to Moore's tell you how disappointed I am that (the house. board) made this expensive decision, The board approved the library's which will affect immediate residents proposal in its Feb. 4 meeting, but the greatly and the parking lot minimally, approval was a formality. The board is without input from residents," she said. tangentially involved in the process Susan Birkhead, president of the­ because the library is part of the D LIBRARY/page 19 Pilot pays $34K in fines t0'1eds to recover plane Private aircraft was seized after trip to Cuba By Peter Hanson A complex drama involving a local man, an illegal plane hnding in Cuba and an aggressive response by various United States Government agencies ended last week when Delmar resident Millard Harmon agreed to pay a $34,000 settlement in exchange for the return of his private plane, Ten Romeo. Ten Romeo was confiscated 10 months ago by the U.S. Customs Woodworters Doug Gilluley and Keith Childs attach wooden supports to the front of the Service because after he left Cuba. from Cuba are normally inspected. Friendship being constructed at the Scarano shipyard. See story Page 12. Doug Persons Harmon did not land in Miami or West Palm Beach, Fla., where planes arriving Instead, Harmon flew over West Palm Beach and activated his previously filed flight plan to Albany County Airport. Between entering Florida's airspace and landing in Albany, Harmon's plane BC board begins '98·'99 budget talks was joined by two Air Force jets that flew By Katherine McCarthy percent, to $162,549. The finance line teaching, special totaled $95,663, a 3.11 beside Ten Romeo for 1,100 miles and The Bethlehem school district began actually showed a decrease of 2.50 percent increase. witnessed his landing. Upon touching its budget process last Wednesday, percent, to $335,069. Special apportionment programs, down in Albany, Ten Romeo was presenting its fundamental operating Staffing costs increased 15y 19.97 which are for students with disabilities and confiscated by government officials and budget as well as suggested priority one percent to $218,951. Central services, occupational education, came to locked in an airport hangar. and two additions. which include operation of plant and $3,720,938, an increase of 4.93 percent. After negotiating with the Customs The total proposed 1998-99 budget thus central data processing, increased by 0.25 Instructional media, which includes Service for nearly a year, Harmon. 72. far is $42,032,920, an increase of 2.01 percent to $3,048,912. Special items, such school library and audiovisual costs, as decided last week notto pursue a jury trial percent or $827,780. The fundamental as unallocated insurance and refund on well as computer assisted instruction, because he didn't want to spend any more operating budget is the amount of money real property taxes, increased by 2.17 went up 5.01 percent to $1,129,943. Pupil time caught up in bureaucracy. His lawyer. necessary to continue things exactly as percent to $452,350. services, such as guidance, health Terry Kindlon, got the government to they are now. Instruction, administration and services, cocurricular activities and reduce the $110,000 in fines it wanted to improvement totaled $2,347,154, an interscholastic athletics, went up 3.3!). $34,000, which led to last week's There were no increases in the board settlement. of education section, with costs remaining increase of 1.96 percent. Regular school percent to $1,926,104. steady at $6,805. The central . teaching totaled $15,677,271, a 3.70 "I think the message (of this story) is PILOT/page 5 administration line increased. by 0.84 percent increase, while special schools D BUDGET/page 32 D PAGE 2 February 18, 1998 THE SPOTLIGHT Eight from .. group home · taken to hospital By Peter Hanson Eight people were taken to St Peter's Hospital after a plastic spoon melted in a dishwasher, cre­ ating a foul odor in a state-run group home for the mentally dis­ abled Feb. 11. At about 7:30p.m., someone at the Residential Opportunities fa­ cility at 80 McCormack Road in Slingerlands called 911 to report the odor, which was not yet iden­ tified. 1 '"'a~_, :::....~-.- 1-Jld. THE SPOTLIGHT February 18, 1998 - PAGE 3 Board makes proQress Storyteller teaches BC kids 2~te~~~ndful of proJects about black history, culture At its Feb. 11 board meet- By lisa K. Kelly ing, the Bethlehem town board A class of fourth-graders at approved the naming of street Slingerlands Elementary School names on GE's Selkirk facility, celebrated Black History Month made the town's interim zon- last Friday by attending a ing code permanent. and ac- storytelling session. cepted an annual report from African-American storyteller the town historian. Kim Harris taught students in The board also announced Maureen Wiltse's class about the that it will hold a public infor- underground railroad and sang mation session at its next regu- period songs. lar meeting on Wednesday, Harris began by asking the Feb. 25. The subject ofthe ses- class what they knew about the sion will be Niagara Mohawk underground railroad. Students Power Corp's proposal to con- responded with "tunnels" and vert the Albany Steam Station "Harriet Tubman." Harris ex- into the Bethlehem Energy plainedthattheundergroundraii- Center. NiMo representatives Allgaier road was actually a network of will make a presentation at the people who helped slaves escape. session and will be available to and national historical recog- Shesangthesong"Wadein the answer questions from resi- nition ofthe Cedar Hill School- Water'' and noted that the lyrics Kim Harris demonstrates sign language to Slingerlands fourth-graders as dents and board members. house Muse~:m ... My intention wereacodeforslavesoraplanfor part of her Black History Month-related presentation. LisaK. Kelly The GE plant named roads is to use this recognition as an escape. "Slaves would use the on its large industrial parcel to opportunity to present a work- songs as a way to remember the She showed a Video,Songs and band,Reggie, who was not present make deliveries and emer- shop in our community (about) plan, ... because most slaves did Stories of Freedom, fuat depicted Friday. gency responses easier, but it State and national Register list- not know how to read and write." historical events and portrayed the 'We travel all over the country needed approvalfrom the town ing." . Harris added that "It was lives of famous slaves such as doing performances based on Af­ board to add the street names In otherbusiness, the board: againstthe lawforaslavetoknow Henry "Box" Brown, who mailed rican-American history," Harris to maps. • Received a report from en- how to read and write." himself in a crate from Richmond, said. Va. to Philadelphia, Pa. "With the 911 system in gineering services administra- The classof24 children partici- Parker had been teaching place ... , it was felt that the town tor Michael Cirillo about the pated in a sing-along, and Harris As a grand finale, Harris asked Wiltse's class about black history should approve the names so ongoing reconstruction project taught them American sign Ian­ student teacher Michael Parker and invited Harris to the school. that no conflicts would occur," on Wemple Road. The town has guage signals which correspond to assist her by acting the part of a slave. 'We've been talking about Af­ John Clark, GE's chiefofemer- spent several months acquir- to the lyrics. rican-American history all week, gency response, wrote in a Jan. ing rights to properties that Sheoftenincorporatessignlan- Harris dressed Parker as an but I think this brings it to life for 20 letter to Supervisor Sheila create visual obstructions on guage into her performances as old woman, a typical disguise for the kids and helps them under­ Fuller. Wemple R~aiL an additional wayoftellinga story. escaping. _She then invited stu­ stand the diversity," Wiltse said. A total of 18 roads were Cirillo reported that prop- For example, Harris said that dents to give him advise on avoid­ ing capture. They told him to stay "I wish everybody in the fourth­ named, including Warehouse erty owners have said they will crossed wrists signify chains and grade could have participated," Road, Boiler Way, Tank Farm accept about $18,000 for·the wristspulledapartmeansfreedom. in the water, travel at night and carry a weapon. said school principal Dan Murphy. Road and Contractor Road. purchase of the several lots of "Slaves wouldn't use sign Ian- "It makes the history of slaves so The interim zoning code has land involved in the project.