In the years that I first moved here to Highland I lived on a small remote dirt road in Yulan. It was a lovely spot but fairly treacherous in winter as the house was on a hill. When winter came roaring into that desolate spot and me not being the best of drivers in snow, I really kept a close watch for the plow truck. When that red truck would come through the storm, usually I would go out on the deck and wave. When my family was visiting me, they would do the same thing. The little kids would always ask me “is the man in the big red truck coming soon?” That man was Tommy Ebers and yes, he always came and made sure I and everyone in Highland could use the roads safely. As of last month, after sixteen years driving that truck on the eighty-four land miles of the Town of Highland and fifteen miles of County Roads through floods, blizzards microbursts (a storm that almost is a tornado) and ice storms Tommy Ebers has retired from the Highland Highway Department. For ten of those years Tommy was the Superintendent of the Department and through each of the elections he ran for Superintendent, Tommy Ebers always got the most votes of any local candidate on the ballot. “I know these roads like the back of my hand and always liked the challenge of plowing out the roads during storms he told me. I had a great crew at the Highway Department, and they always did an excellent job of really taking care of the roads and fixing any other Highway problems we had.”  Tommy was born and raised in Highland, and everyone knows he is always ready to help people with a problem-Highway related or not. Whether it is a mailbox taken out by the plow, helping a disabled resident chop his firewood, clearing a downed tree or replacing a culvert that has been washed away Tommy and his crew were on it in a flash. I asked him what he will miss the most about his job and he told me” It is the people who live here who have been so supportive of me through all these years. I really do appreciate their support and it means the world to me and want to thank them for that and wish them well. Two people I have to thank are the former Town Supervisor Andy Boyer who helped me so much through all these years and also the former Highway Superintendent Norm Sutherland Sr. who showed me the ropes when I was first elected superintendent and taught me about the job and everything else that came with it.”

Local businessman and community activist and volunteer Johnny Pizzolato said “it has always been a pleasure working with Tommy and he has been very generous with every project we have worked on together whether it was for the Scenic Byway or the Barryville Chamber of Commerce. Tommy has a good heart, and he will be missed at the Town of Highland Highway Department.”

As to what is next. Tommy told me he will still be around and does plan to spend more time at his house in Florida and maybe do a little fishing and visit with his family. We wish him well and congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for everything he has contributed to the quality of life for our community and to the Highway Department through all his years of hard work and service to the Town of Highland. Enjoy your well-earned retirement, Tommy.