By Heather Skinner

ESPERANCE- On the evening of November 10th, the regular monthly Esperance Village meeting was held. Mayor Royce Gage, Clerk/Treasurer Michelle Parks, and Trustee Paul Roberts (who had just been up for re-appointment in the November 4th election), welcomed new Trustee, Rachel Jeffers. Dan DeFilipps resigned on October 21st, and Jeffers was Mayor-appointed on October 30th to finish out the term. Also recently sworn in was new Deputy Clerk/Treasurer, Leslie Price, as of November 6th.

No Esperance Fire Department representatives were present at the meeting due to the about 6 and a half hours spent that day fighting a multi-dwelling structure fire at 115 Main Street. A total of about 45 fire personnel from Fire Districts in Esperance, Central Bridge, Carlisle, Cobleskill, Sharon Springs, Rural Grove, Canajoharie, Schoharie, Middleburgh, Delanson and Quaker Street worked together and established a large tanker operation because there are no fire hydrants within the Village. Ambulances from Esperance, Scho-wright, and the County were on stand-by and food and warm beverages were supplied to firefighters from auxiliary members, Stewart’s shop, and community volunteers.

So, Parks & Gage delivered Fire Department and Playground Committee updates usually supplied by Fire Chief, Matthew Deffer. Deffer asked them to report that Halloween went great; kids had a lot of fun coloring and participating in activities. The Fire Department served hamburgers and hot dogs and offered lots of fun giveaways. 

A follow-up to the Esperance Fire Department Pancake Breakfast on November 9th; every second Sunday of the month Breakfasts will continue at 115 Church Street from 7 AM - 11 AM. Breakfasts are by donation, cash & Venmo accepted, and Gage believes these breakfasts will run until March or April.

The Fire Department and Esperance-Sloansville United Methodist Church would like to invite you to walk, sip, and give during their Esperance Community Turkey Stroll on November 16th from 1 PM - 3 PM. This event will help with food pantry donation collection and fundraising to provide turkeys in Thanksgiving meal baskets for local families. Donations they are especially in need of include, “Shelf-stable mixes, juice, coffee, laundry detergent, & other non-perishable goods.” They will also be accepting monetary donations and pantry items, “(No peas or beans, please!)” During the event you will be able to, “Enjoy: Coffee, cocoa, & cookie decorating; Take part in: A short, fun stroll with a “real” turkey!” And, “Support: Our neighbors in need this Thanksgiving.”

Price’s first focus as Deputy Clerk/Treasurer will be to work on obtaining a grant for getting updated playground equipment.

Parks gave a shoutout of appreciation for Michael Jacobson & Deffer, who continue, “Doing an excellent job keeping the Village looking great.” This month, that was in regard to mowing.

During communications, Verelyn Robertson read a report for the Beautification Committee. The committee wants to thank Boice Smith, who Robertson said doesn’t get enough thank-yous, “For removing and disposing of Barrel #5 in front of Justin Miller’s property on Main Street. The barrel was broken and somebody was dumping their trash all around it and in it.” The numbered barrels recently held flowers that the Girl Scouts helped fill, and the committee got approval to decorate the barrels on Main Street with pine boughs, red bows, and solar lights.

Jeffers updated on behalf of the Esperance Historical Museum/Society with a reminder of all the fun to be had on December 6th when you visit 123 Church Street for Christmas in Esperance 2025. Head to the Museum at 10 AM for the magic of an old-fashioned Christmas filled with decorated trees, homemade cookies & hot cocoa, the North Pole mailbox to drop your letters to Santa, and more!  In preparation, you can stop by the park on Church Street to grab a free ornament from the red mailbox to take home, decorate, and bring back to the Museum during the December 6th event to hang on their tree.

Another added bonus will be enjoying the new heating & air conditioning unit that Gage confirmed has been installed in the Museum’s library. 

Just in time for 5-minute privilege of the floor, Justin C. Miller arrived at the meeting and introduced himself as, “Born and raised in Esperance, my grandfather is from Esperance; a lot of you know me.” He also included that his father was previously the mayor, he likes to keep a read on things, and he noticed that zoning seemed to change in the Village that directly affected his property. He also voiced a concern about where Village taxes are sometimes applied and wondered, “How us members of the Village benefit from those taxes. I know a lot of the money goes to the Fire Department.” 

Parks offered to print a budget to show him and started to explain where on the sheet of last month’s minutes vouchers are detailed. Miller cut off Park’s sentence to say, “I don’t want to get wrapped up in any of that.” Then he said he wanted to reintroduce himself, which he started by saying, “Literally, probably 10 minutes ago I jumped in the shower and got dressed and came out here because I wasn’t sure when the meeting was. But, I want to get more actively involved, I’m thinking about running for mayor next year.” 

Parks gave Miller a chance to explain what his zoning concern is, but he instead seemed to stay on the conversation of running for mayor, sharing a concern of not wanting to be misunderstood and promised he has good intentions. He didn’t have anything to add to that and the meeting adjourned.

The Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) are both still looking for members, and the Fire Department is in need of Auxiliary Volunteers. Gage said to get in touch with (Esperance Fire Chief) Deffer if you are interested in helping with auxiliary. On the Schoharie County ny.gov site, Deffer’s email shows as chief7011@gmail.com. If you are interested in any of these opportunities, you can also attend monthly Esperance Village meetings to let them know, which happen every 2nd Monday of the month at 7 PM in the Village Meeting Hall at 115 Church Street. Next month that meeting date will fall on December 8th. Esperance Town Board meetings take place every 3rd Thursday of the month in Esperance Town Hall at 104 Charleston Street, also with a 7 PM start time; this month’s will be on November 20th.