Thanksgiving fire displaces five

WESTERLO — A home caught fire on Thanksgiving evening on County Route 408 in Westerlo.

The Red Cross is helping five people displaced by the fire, according to a release from the Northeastern New York Chapter.

The Westerlo Volunteer Fire Company is holding a drive-through, drop-off fundraiser for the family on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 4 to 9 p.m. at two different locations:

— The South Westerlo firehouse at 157 Route 402; and

— The East Berne firehouse at 792 Helderberg Trail.

As well as monetary donations “gift cards are encouraged so that the family can specifically shop for what they are in need of,” the fire company’s Facebook page says.

These clothing items are requested: Women’s shirts, leggings, and underwear in size 2X and size 9 shoes and socks; and men’s large, extra large, and 2X shirts and jackets, pants sizes 36x32, 32x32, large sweatpants, and shoes in sizes 8.5, 9, and 9.5.

“Please do not bring anything besides the specific items on the list,” the fire company says. “As of now household items will not be accepted as they do not have storage room. We will hold a separate event when they are ready for that step.

“We are looking to have totes with lids donated for organization and storage at both locations. Due to the children being special needs, gift cards are encouraged for supporting Christmas funds.”

More Hilltowns News

  • The town of Berne has filed an Article 78 proceeding against Governor Kathy Hochul in an effort to make her appoint someone to the town board, creating a quorum that the board has now lacked for months. 

  • The Rensselaerville Town Board gave a town attorney the go-ahead to draft an agreement with the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region to create a non-endowed fund from which the town can use up to 90 percent of the interest earned off the $830,000 Kuhar Endowment Fund.

  • Normally, a town’s reorganizational meeting is when it affirms salary schedules and other important town business for the year, but without a quorum on its town board, it’s unclear how the town of Berne has proceeded.

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