Cobleskills Fire Prevention Program 1,500 Stronger

COBLESKILL - On Monday evening, the Cobleskill Town Board heard a brief overview from the Cobleskill Fire Department on how their latest donation has made an impact on getting the community informed about fire safety.

Fire Prevention Officer Heather Henn took to the podium, saying “I’m here to thank the Town Board for their $1500 contribution to our fire prevention program. This allows us to work toward our goal of no child fatalities in any structure fire.”

Elaborating further, she said that the fire department has been able to educate five hundred eighty children across CRCS’s Pre-K through second grade, the SUNY Cobleskill campus childhood care center, the county’s Head Start program, and the Whispering Pines pre-school.

She noted that during their fire safety education, children were able to meet and talk with firefighters to let them know that they’re present during an emergency to help, how to recognize sirens as safe places to run toward, what’s safe to touch during a fire and what’s not, and how to call 911 during a crisis.

But the education didn’t end with those lessons, as Mrs. Henn reported that those children were able to bring homework back to their parents to practice stop drop and roll techniques, make a two-exit escape plan at home, and to make sure their smoke detectors were up to date.

Past teaching the younger generation about fire prevention and safety, the fire department has also released information to some residents as well as the public library, and SUNY Cobleskill students received extinguisher training before their classes began. 

Once her overview came to a close, Supervisor Werner Hampel thanked the fire department, saying “It’s a pleasure to have you present, and that’s money very well spent. Unfortunately, there are fires. But fortunately, people are taking heed through your training.”

In other news, Middleburgh resident Steve Hendrickson stood before the Board to act as a liaison for twenty seven residents on Shad Point Road that are concerned about the proposed development there.

The development in question, which seeks to add seventy six housing units and four storage units, has raised concerns among the residents, but they hope to work with the Board instead of fighting them. 

“We’re not here to pick a fight or make any demands,” Mr. Hendrickson said. “We’re just asking for a bit of fluency between this Board, the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and us.”

Several residents were in attendance with Mr. Hendrickson, with one explaining “We ask that some of our concerns are looked at. We’re just here to work together to achieve a good project in the end.”

The Board seemingly understood their request, with Supervisor Hampel replying “Please stop in again. We appreciate you coming in and thank you all.”

Finally, the Board held a short public hearing for their upcoming budget, but with no comments from the audience and no further discussion between members, they passed a motion to adopt the budget without issue.