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New Webmaster Appointed

Paula Litwin was appointed webmaster as of January 1, 2008. Paula and her husband Joe have been residents of Boston since 1987 where they raised three sons and have had many opportunities to participate and volunteer in the community. Mrs. Litwin brings 15 years of computer knowledge to the Town and is looking forward to continuing this Newsletter as a way of staying in touch with the residents, community organizations and businesses here in Boston.

From the desk of Councilwoman Maghran

I would like to take this opportunity to fulfill one of my obligations and look into traffic safety issues throughout the Town of Boston. I am requesting that anyone with concerns about road and traffic safety issues send me a letter with their thoughts and ideas. All concerns will be presented at the next meeting of the Traffic Safety Board for the Town of Boston. Thank you.

Please address your letters to:

Cathy Maghran – Town Council of Boston

c/o Traffic Safety

Boston Town Hall

8500 Boston State Road

Boston, New York 14025

Spotlight:

Sherri Pluta, Boston Historical Society

In the fall of 2006, Sherri Pluta began researching the John Love murder because it had fascinated her since childhood. She wanted to discover who John Love was, and if any evidence of the trial proceedings from 1825 could be found.

She decided to visit Boston’s Historical Museum on Boston State Road to see what records they might have on the subject. What she found there was discouraging. Since the Museum opened in the 1970s, very little had changed in the displays. There were several occurrences of light damage, rodent damage and an office that still housed a computer so old, it belonged in a display of antiquated machines. The office needed to be better organized and the whole cataloguing system for the collection of artifacts needed to be updated.

Now, Sherri isn’t the kind of person who sits back and waits for someone else to fix something. She prefers to take the bull by the horns. She offered to serve as the Historical Society’s Vice President, and the current Historian, Connie Crossan, was ready to step down from her position due to medical reasons. So, Sherri took on the Historian’s job.

Mrs. Pluta enlisted help in learning how to document, protect and restore the Museum’s collections from Melissa Brown, the Director of Collections at the Buffalo Historical Society. Ms. Brown walked through the Museum and pointed out simple solutions to some of the problems that exist.

Ultraviolet filtering plastic film to cover the windows in the Museum in order to stop the damage caused by sunlight on the valuable textiles, documents and photographs was purchased.

New software for the Museum’s new computer will attach a photo of each artifact to its record, along

with documentation of all the pertinent information

about that artifact.

Contracted Arcadia Publishing in New Hampshire to publish a pictorial history book about Boston that will be available in local bookstores by the end of this summer. The book will include chapters on our early pioneers, the Love murder, the Typhoid fever found in the tavern well in North Boston, and Ellen Beach Yaw’s life, just to name a few.

Sherri Pluta has lived in Boston all her life. She takes great pleasure and is proud to volunteer her time and talents to protect the history of its people. Sherri says, “Boston is a great community and it takes all of us working together to keep our community moving forward, as well as stopping periodically to smell the roses.”

Summer Recreation

School’s out and you don’t know what to do with the kids! Here’s a great way to curb the “I’m bored” blues! Check the website from time to time for updates and printable forms. New information will be coming soon!

Don’t forget sunscreen and hats!

Recreation Program Info!

Brush Pickup for 2008

It’s a sure sign of spring when residents trim, prune or clear the plants, trees and shrubs around their yards. To comply with the Town’s procedures for brush pickup, please click on Pickup Schedule for more info. Click here for a list of Town, County and State Roads

Attention Town of Boston Residents

The Boston Town Board is seeking volunteers to fill positions on the Assessment Board of Review, Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Conservation Advisory Council.

The Assessment Board of Review reviews the grievance of property assessments and makes final approval. They will meet the 1^st Tuesday of June. Basic knowledge of market values a plus. Attendance at a training class is required. Candidates needed ASAP.

The Planning Board reviews site plans, rezoning, special use permits and makes recommendations to the Town Board. They also review and have final approval over sub-divisions. The Planning Board meets the 2nd and 4^th Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.

The Zoning Board of Appeals reviews and has final approval over variances. They meet the 1^st Thursday of each month at: 7:00 p.m. provided there is an application pending.

The Conservation Advisory Council coordinates Earth Day, the fishing derby, the annual Boston beautification contest and looks for ways to improve town parks. They meet the 3^rd Thursday of each month at 7:00p.m.

Interested Boston residents may submit a letter and resume specifying the board of interest to Town Clerk David J. Shenk, 8500 Boston State Road, Boston, NY 14025. Any questions please call David Shenk 941-6113 x0.

Conservation Advisory Council Take our Tree Survey!

The Town of Boston CAC is looking for your input about the trees on your property in order to preserve the future of the Trees in our town! Print off the form on the "Take Our Tree Survey" link above and answer the questions in the survey. Your help is greatly appreciated!

You can mail or drop off your answers to us at

Conservation Advisory Council

Boston Town Hall

8500 Boston State Road

Boston, New York 14025 Click for more info!

Ideas?

The mission of this newsletter is to promote the positive aspects of the community and provide information on the many activities that take place in the Town of Boston.

If your group, club or organization would like to promote an event, please contact the webmaster@townofboston.com to have it posted on the www.townofboston.com website and published in this newsletter.

Thank you!