Good morning, residents and community members.
I hope everyone has had a wonderful week and is enjoying the beautiful fall season here in the Town of Black Brook! With the fall colors surrounding us, several important Town meetings underway, and some wonderful community events just around the corner, there is certainly plenty happening in our little town.
As always, I would like to take a few moments to share some updates, upcoming meetings, community events, and a few well-deserved thank-yous.
We started this week with our public hearing and regular monthly Town Board meeting, both held on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.
I am pleased to see the continued interest in our monthly meetings and the engagement from our residents. It is encouraging to see community members taking the time to attend, ask questions, and stay informed about the decisions and discussions taking place within our local government.
Community involvement is an important part of maintaining an open, accountable, and transparent local government. Whether you attend in person, join virtually, or take the time to review our meeting minutes afterward, your interest and participation are greatly appreciated.
For those who were unable to attend, the meeting minutes are available for review below:
As many of you know, we are currently in the midst of budget season, and I would like to take this opportunity to share the Town of Black Brook's 2027 Tentative Budget with our residents.
Preparing a municipal budget is one of the most important responsibilities of the Town Board. It requires careful consideration of departmental needs, anticipated revenues, operating expenses, infrastructure maintenance, and the essential services our residents rely upon.
Like households and businesses throughout our community, the Town continues to experience rising costs associated with health insurance, fuel, utilities, materials, and everyday operations. These increases present challenges as we work to maintain the level of services our residents expect while remaining mindful of the financial burden placed on taxpayers.
I want to assure our residents that the Town Board recognizes these challenges. We understand that every dollar matters, and our budget discussions reflect the responsibility we have to balance the needs of our municipality with the financial realities facing our community.
Transparency throughout the budget process is important to me. I believe our residents deserve the opportunity to review the proposed spending plan, understand where their tax dollars are being allocated, and have a voice in the process.
I encourage everyone to review the document below and attend our upcoming budget workshop and public hearing.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOWN OF BLACK BROOK'S 2027 TENTATIVE BUDGET
Please remember that this is the tentative budget. It remains subject to further review, discussion, and potential adjustments before final adoption.
The Town Board has several important meetings scheduled in the coming weeks. I encourage residents to attend and participate, particularly as we continue working through the 2027 budget process.
2027 PRELIMINARY BUDGET WORKSHOP
Tuesday, October 20, 2026, at 6:00 PM
The Town Board will continue its review and discussion of the proposed 2027 budget. This workshop provides an opportunity to examine anticipated expenditures, revenues, and departmental appropriations as we work toward developing the preliminary budget.
PUBLIC HEARING: PROPOSED 2027 TOWN BUDGET
Monday, November 9, 2026, at 5:30 PM
The Town Board will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2027 Town Budget. This hearing provides residents with an opportunity to offer comments, ask questions, and share their thoughts regarding the Town's proposed financial plan before final adoption.
REGULAR MONTHLY TOWN BOARD MEETING
Monday, November 9, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Our regular monthly Town Board meeting will follow the budget public hearing. As always, residents are welcome and encouraged to attend to stay informed about Town business, ongoing projects, and matters affecting our community.
MEETING LOCATION
Town of Black Brook Town Hall
18 N Main Street
Au Sable Forks, NY 12912
VIRTUAL MEETING PARTICIPATION
For those unable to attend in person, all three meetings may also be accessed virtually using the following information:
Join from your computer, tablet, or smartphone:
https://meet.goto.com/488936285
Join by telephone:
United States: +1 (872) 240-3311
Access Code: 488-936-285
Community participation is strongly encouraged. Attending these meetings, whether in person or virtually, is an excellent way to stay informed, understand the decisions being made, and have an active voice in our local government.
AU SABLE FORKS FIRE DEPARTMENT POP-UP MARKET
Saturday, October 17, 2026: 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Au Sable Forks Fire Department
2456 Route 9N, Au Sable Forks, NY
Looking for something fun to do this weekend? The Au Sable Forks Fire Department will be hosting a Pop-Up Market tomorrow, Saturday, October 17th, and it sounds like a wonderful opportunity to get out, enjoy the fall season, and support our local community!
The event will feature more than 30 vendors, offering a great variety of handmade gifts, home décor, jewelry, crocheted items, quilts, clothing, soaps, skincare products, candles, baked goods, canned goods, specialty drinks, and much more!
And of course, come hungry! Our Au Sable Forks Fire Department will be serving up hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and fried dough!
The event will take place rain or shine!
Events like these are a great reminder of what makes our small community so special. They bring neighbors together, provide opportunities for local artisans and small businesses, and support the organizations and volunteers who do so much for our area.
I encourage everyone to stop by, browse the vendors, grab something to eat, and show your support for our local fire department and the many talented individuals participating.
Shop local, support local, and enjoy a beautiful fall weekend right here in Au Sable Forks!
Saturday, October 24, 2026 : 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
The countdown is on! Our annual Halloween at the River Park celebration is just one week away, and we are looking forward to another fun-filled evening with our community!
Families can look forward to trunk-or-treating, a cozy campfire with s'mores, music, and of course, our spooky trail train ride!
And we have some special treats in store for everyone!
Hot dogs will be provided courtesy of The Dogfather, and delicious hot cocoa will be provided courtesy of The Forks Blend & Brew!
We would like to extend a special thank you to both of these local businesses for their generosity and willingness to be part of this year's celebration. It is wonderful to see our local businesses coming together to help make this event even more enjoyable for our children and families.
Their kindness and community spirit are truly appreciated!
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO THIS WEEK'S HALLOWEEN SPONSORS!
As we continue preparing for this year's celebration, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks and appreciation to this week's generous sponsors, who have once again stepped forward to support our Halloween festivities!
A very special thank you to:
Every one of these individuals and businesses is a returning sponsor, and we truly could not be more grateful for their continued generosity and support!
Year after year, these wonderful members of our community step up to help make this event possible. Their willingness to give back speaks volumes about the kindness, generosity, and community pride that make our small town such a special place to call home.
Putting together an event like Halloween at the River Park takes time, dedication, and the support of many people. We are incredibly fortunate to have local families, residents, and businesses who believe in creating these special memories for our children and families.
To all of this week's sponsors, thank you for continuing to believe in this event, for your generosity, and for helping us make Halloween at the River Park something our community looks forward to each year. We appreciate each and every one of you!
We can't wait to see everyone next Saturday for an evening of Halloween fun!
SOCCER SEASON: THAT'S A WRAP!
Another youth soccer season has officially come to a close!
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our dedicated volunteer coaches, young athletes, parents, and families who helped make this season possible.
Our youth programs are about so much more than just sports. They provide our children with opportunities to develop friendships, learn teamwork, build confidence, and create lasting memories.
A very special thank you goes out to our volunteer coaches. Without your time, patience, dedication, and willingness to give back to our children, these programs simply would not exist.
You are truly the heart of our Youth Commission, and the impact you have on our young athletes extends far beyond the playing field. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do!
I would also like to recognize and thank Paul Benway from the Town of Jay for his efforts throughout the season in making sure our soccer fields and facilities were prepared and ready for our teams and families. Your hard work and attention to these details are greatly appreciated!
To all of our young soccer players, congratulations on another great season! We hope you had fun, learned something new, and are already looking forward to next year.
With soccer season behind us, it's time to start looking ahead to basketball!
Basketball is a sport I am particularly partial to, as my own coaching season with the AVCS Girls Varsity Basketball program will be getting underway in mid-November.
It's always an exciting time of year for me, both as a coach and as someone who strongly believes in the importance of youth athletics. There is something special about watching young athletes grow, develop their skills, learn to work together, and gain confidence both on and off the court.
For our Black Brook/Jay Youth Commission Basketball Program, we will once again be offering opportunities for students in grades 3 & 4 and 5 & 6.
Here is what families can expect for the upcoming season:
Because practices cannot begin until January, we will be opening registration a little later this year. Please keep an eye on the Town's official announcements and communication channels for registration information as we get closer to Thanksgiving.
We are looking forward to another exciting basketball season and hope to see plenty of familiar faces, along with some new ones, out on the court!
While we are excited about the upcoming basketball and ski seasons, we are still in need of individuals willing to serve as program coordinators.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
Both programs provide important recreational opportunities for our local children, and finding dependable individuals to help organize and coordinate them is essential to their continued success.
If you are organized, dependable, enjoy working with youth programs, and have an interest in making a positive difference in our community, I strongly encourage you to consider one of these opportunities.
For additional information, please contact Jessie:
Office: 518-647-5411, Extension 1
Text: 518-524-9818
Please help us spread the word!
As we move through the final months of 2026, I want to take a moment to thank our residents for their continued interest, involvement, and support.
Between our ongoing budget discussions, upcoming Town Board meetings, youth recreational programs, and the wonderful community events taking place this fall, there are many opportunities to get involved, stay informed, and support one another.
One of the things I value most about our town is the willingness of our residents, businesses, and volunteers to come together. Whether it is attending a meeting, supporting a local event, coaching a youth sports team, donating to a community celebration, donating to our JCEO office, or simply lending a helping hand, these efforts make a difference.
Thank you all for your continued support, and I hope everyone has a safe, enjoyable, and beautiful fall weekend!
Supervisor Jon Douglass
Town of Black Brook
PO Box 715
AuSable Forks, NY 12912
Tel: 518-647-5411
