Drivers traveling through Walden on State Route 208 pass right by the village’s large statue of President William McKinley, but in recent months passersby have also gotten an eyeful of signs posted by political candidates and businesses in the small patch of land around the sign. Historically, no signs have been permitted in McKinley Park, but with some deciding to flaunt the tradition in recent months, the Village Board has decided to nip the problem in the bud.

During its meeting on Sept. 17, the board directed Village Attorney Dave Donovan to draft a local law that would officially ban signs in McKinley Park and the Fireman’s Triangle area outside Village Hall. Since it would be a Constitutional violation to bar political signs specifically, signs of any kind will not be allowed in either public space.

“During the primary election there were a lot of signs there,” Walden Village Manager John Revella said. “Since then, people have been putting signs there for job postings or cash for cars signs, different signs have been showing up there. We’ve been removing them as they come in. Because they’re not only an issue for people driving by, it’s kind of an eyesore. So this will help.”

During his report to the board at the beginning of last Tuesday’s meeting, Revella noted that renovations to the Coldenham Road railroad crossing are slated to begin during the first week of November. Traffic in the area will be closed for approximately two days while the work is underway.

The work will comprise of renovations to both the tracks and the surrounding road. “The Middletown & New Jersey Railroad is in charge of the project, overseen by the New York State Department of Transportation, even though it’s a county road,” Revella said. “The crossing at Coldenham Road is supposed to be upgraded. They’ll be upgrading signaling and the actual crossing itself.”

The board discussed the railroad crossing earlier this year, and now the renovations are finally set to commence. “It’s been kind of hazardous for cars crossing the tracks,” Revella said. “The ties for the tracks are actually kind of weak and it causes big bumps when people are going across. It also has a sightline issue with people going through, and there actually have been a couple of accidents there. So it’s a safety issue.”

On Aug. 20, the board held a joint meeting with the Town of Montgomery board to discuss the potential annexation of the Amthor property into the village. When the two boards voted to close the public hearing on the issue, they had 90 days each to approve the annexation if it’s to be finalized. With the clock ticking and some issues in the deal still unresolved, Donovan recommended the village form a working committee to craft questions for the applicant to satisfy.

Trustees Brian Sebring, Lynn Thompson and John Ramos all volunteered to serve on the committee, which might also include Walden Building Inspector Dean Stickles.

One of the year’s biggest days for Walden is right around the corner, as the annual Harvest Festival will usher in the fall season this weekend. “I’m encouraging everyone in the village to stop by the Harvest Festival on Saturday the 28th, it starts at 11 a.m. at Bradley Park,” Walden Mayor Susan Rumbold said during the meeting. “The committee works 12 months out of the year to coordinate the events and get the day together. It’s just nice if people in the village come out and support it. It is a community effort and it’s nice when people in the community come and participate.” The mayor also added that she’ll be one of the judges in the event’s apple pie baking contest.