town gets Calhoun Grant

Central Valley-Assemblywoman Nancy Calhoun presented a $10,000 grant to the Southern Orange County Alliance (S.O.C.A.) Sept. 14 during a meeting at the Monroe-Woodbury High School attended by several homeowners' groups interested in forming new villages in Woodbury, South Blooming Grove and Salisbury Mills areas. "I was pleased to present this grant to the Southern Orange County Alliance in support of their hard work to promote controlled growth," Calhoun said in a press release. "It is very important to recognize grass roots groups that operate in the community and to encourage the type of growth that respects local home rule. It is essential that S.O.C.A. have the resources to accomplish its goals." The Southern Orange County Alliance is a grass-roots, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization whose main goal is to promote controlled and proper growth. The grant is designated to assist with ongoing operating costs. "I congratulate the Alliance for their efforts and look forward to working with them in the future," concluded Calhoun. Part of S.O.C.A's effort is to oppose the proposed $29 million "KJ Pipeline" to the New York City Aqueduct in New Windsor as well as any proposals to annex Monroe and Woodbury property into the Village of Kiryas Joel, already considered one of the fasting-growing communities in the state. For more information about S.O.C.A, visit its Web site at www.socaonline.org.