Hello residents and community,
I hope everyone had a good week and is enjoying the stretch of nicer weather we’ve been seeing lately.
We started off this week early Sunday evening with our Comprehensive Plan public hearing for public review. While attendance was sparse, we are getting very close to finishing the plan.
Monday was, as usual, a busy and productive day for Renee and our dedicated volunteers with Fresh Food Monday. The program continues to hold strong, currently serving 46 families each week with fresh food boxes.
Renee and the Town of Black Brook would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers for their time and effort throughout the month of April. Your support truly makes a difference.
We are also very grateful for the continued donations of food, clothing, and household items to the food pantry and Community Cares shelves. These contributions help us meet the ongoing needs of our community members.
In addition, the JCEO office is now offering several new collection initiatives:
Thank you all for your continued generosity and support.
Saturday, May 9 from 10:30 AM- 5:00 PM at VFW Post 125 (Boynton Ave, Plattsburgh) for a great cause!
Enjoy eat-in or take-out Michigan platters, participate in raffles and 50/50 drawings, and support local rescue and adoption services.
Donations are always welcome!
A special thank you to Renee, along with other community members, for their active involvement in supporting this fundraiser.
There's been some activity at the River Park. Fred, who leads our Parks and Grounds Department, along with assistance from the Highway Department, has been working on preparing for the hookup of our new electrical service. We’re hopeful this will be completed within the next couple of weeks, followed by installation of new cameras and public Wi-Fi.
In addition, John, a dedicated member of our Parks and Grounds team, has been hard at work preparing the parks for the season. Just to name a few, he has set up hammocks, placed picnic tables, prepared the fire pit with wood, and positioned planters ready for flowers, creating a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy this summer.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be preparing the tennis courts for pickleball by adding court lines and installing two pickleball nets for community use.
Additionally, the restroom at the children’s playground will be opened by next weekend. With the warmer weather, we’ve had several parents ask about access. We didn’t want to open it too early with the colder evenings, but we’ll be turning the water on and begin cleaning so it’s ready for use.
Septic system pumping has begun, with North Main Street currently being serviced. As soon as we know when the septic company is scheduled to return, we will notify residents which street will be next.
Baseball, Softball & T-Ball:
By now, most families should have heard from their child’s coach. If you haven’t yet, you can expect to hear from them this weekend. Practices are set to begin next week, with games kicking off the week of June 11.
We would also like to thank the Town of Jay for their continued partnership in youth sports and for preparing the fields and facilities for a successful season.
Football Sign-Ups:
AFL Patriots football sign-ups are now underway. Registration will take place on select dates throughout May and early June at various locations. Programs are available for grades K-6, including both flag and tackle football. We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity and get involved in another great youth sports season, please refer to the posted schedule for full details.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/478213345546262
We understand that recent increases in property assessments may raise questions and concerns. The purpose of this message is to explain why assessments change and why maintaining a 100% equalization rate is important for fairness and transparency in our community.
We also want to acknowledge something more personal. Many households are feeling the strain of rising living costs, utilities, fuel, groceries, insurance, and other everyday expenses continue to climb, and it’s understandable that this creates both financial pressure and frustration. These challenges affect everyone, and we recognize the real impact they have on families and individuals in our community.
At the same time, the Town is experiencing many of these same cost increases in maintaining services, such as infrastructure, public safety, and essential operations. We want to assure you that we are committed to managing these pressures responsibly and will continue to make every effort to minimize the impact on residents while maintaining the services our community relies on.
Why Assessments Increase
Property assessments are meant to reflect the current market value of your property. Over time, real estate markets change, home values may rise due to demand, improvements, or broader economic factors. When assessments are updated, they aim to align with these market conditions so that each property is valued fairly relative to others.
It’s important to note that an increase in your assessment does not automatically mean your property taxes will increase at the same rate. Taxes are determined by multiple factors, including the town’s budget and tax levy, as well as county, school, fire district, and ambulance district taxes, not just assessments alone.
What Is a 100% Equalization Rate?
The equalization rate represents the relationship between assessed values and actual market values. A 100% equalization rate means that properties are assessed at full market value.
Maintaining a 100% rate is important because:
Key Points to Keep in Mind
The Assessors goal is to maintain a fair and equitable system for all residents. Please reach out to the assessor’s office with any questions or to review your property record.
I would like to congratulate the Au Sable Forks Free Library on receiving the National Grant for Small and Rural Libraries. This $20,000 grant will help the library expand services for residents with disabilities. This is an outstanding accomplishment, great work to everyone involved in securing such a valuable resource for our community.
For more information about the grant, please visit:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/13G-c97fUrCy5UmklEiqXxAJ--cMO4UqY/view?usp=sharing
The event will be held at AVCS High School. Be sure to check out the flyer below for full details. It’s a great opportunity for some family fun right here in our community.
The Witness Tree at Union Road - Traveling Exhibition
Join the library on Saturday for a free community event featuring local artist Rob Fountain. The day begins with a pastel painting workshop from 9:00-11:00 AM, followed by a presentation by Robin Caudell from 11:00-11:30 AM. A great opportunity to enjoy local art and connect with others in the community.
Sponsored by the Clinton County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Beekmantown Highway Department, this event is a great opportunity to properly dispose of old tires at no cost. We encourage residents to take advantage of this service if you have tires to dispose of.
All Clinton County residents welcomed!
If you can’t make this event, a future Tire Round Up event will be held in the Town of Black Brook.
Stay tuned for updates!
Town Justice Notice:
Please be advised that the Town Justice Court, which is normally scheduled for Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, will be closed next Wednesday, May 6th. Judge Aubin will be away for training.
I'm excited to try something new by highlighting a local business, organization, or community group each week to help support and promote those that make up our community.
Our first spotlight is Stephanie’s Little Luxuries, located right here in Black Brook. Many may already know this hidden gem, my wife often stops in during the holiday season or when putting together donation baskets for benefits to find the perfect touch or gift.
You’ll find beautiful hand-painted items created by Stephanie herself, including wine glasses, Christmas ornaments, and many other unique and thoughtful gifts. There are also a variety of handcrafted items available that make perfect gifts year-round.
I reached out to Stephanie to learn more about her shop, here’s what she had to say:
“Embracing my passion for art, Stephanie’s Little Luxuries opened in 2004 and built its permanent home in 2008 at 223 Silver Lake Road.
What makes my gift shop unique is my hand-painted glassware, stemware, and Christmas ornaments. Many of my pieces reflect the beauty of the Adirondacks, featuring pinecones, loons, bears, and moose. My collection includes a wide range of designs, including seasonal, special occasion, and custom pieces with personalization available upon request.
Patrons can also find Leanin’ Tree gift cards and puzzles, candles, hand-poured soap, jewelry, and small décor items.”
Store Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM – 6 PM
Phone: (518) 647-8223
Email: theglasspainter@gmail.com
You can view examples of Stephanie’s work here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StephaniesLittleLuxuries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanieslittleluxuries/
Thank you, Stephanie, for taking the time to speak with me and share your story.
Be sure to check out Stephanie’s Little Luxuries, you won’t be sorry.
Shop local to support local!
This week’s Photo of the Week is once again credited to Julie Evoy Photography, featuring a snapping turtle spotted at Fern Lake.
Thank you, Julie, for continuing to share such great local wildlife moments with our community, we appreciate it.
Have a great photo from around town? We’d love to see it, feel free to share it with us.
I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing weekend. Thank you, as always, for staying informed and engaged.
Supervisor Jon Douglass
Town of Black Brook
PO Box 715
AuSable Forks, NY 12912
Tel: 518-647-5411
Meetings
2nd Monday at 6pm
Office Hours
7:00 a.m. - 2:30pm
