Thursday April 18, 2024 
Lost…But Found At Westfall Vendor Corral
Did you visit the Vendor Corral/Flea Market at Westfall Village during the Sand Lake Town Wide Garage Sale? A few items were turned in at the Sand Lake Business Association booth during the weekend and went unclaimed. Maybe you are the owner!
To find out, call 518-674-5143 and ask for Fred.
Rensselaer County’s Annual 4-H Livestock Auction
Rensselaer County 4-H held their Annual Livestock Auction on Labor Day at the Schaghticoke Fair. The animals sold represent high quality animals raised for milk or meat that the youth have worked with this past year. Youth follow ethical standards in animal care, foster an entrepreneurial spirit, and increase communication skills through soliciting buyers and sponsors and talking to the public about their project animals; this project also increases fiscal responsibility.
The auction could not be possible without the support from our sponsors and collaborators: One Still Image, Preferred Solution Supply, Norm Zimmerman, Cambridge Valley Livestock Market Inc., and Rich Betts. Thank you for your support to this program and to our agriculturists of the future.
A special thank you to AgriMark and Ruth McCuin for a Cabot Cheese Basket, purchased by Matt & Kelli Grab, and Diane Benson for a Handmade Quilt purchased by Amanda Benson.
And a big thank you to our buyers!
Champion Dairy Market Hog owned by Aaron Cipperly, purchased by Unc & Kris Brock
Champion Meat Goat owned by Kaelyn Eagan, purchased by Norm Hansen
Reserve Champion Meat Goat owned by Hannah Baker, purchased by Norm Hansen
Champion Turkey owned by Maddie Hurd, purchased by Bill & Kathy Fogarty
Reserve Champion Turkey owned by Maddie Hurd, purchased by Bill & Kathy Fogarty
Blue Ribbon Turkey, owned by Maddie Hurd, purchased by Jeff Wysocki
If you would like more information about 4-H in Rensselaer County, please call 518-272-4210. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an equal opportunity programmer and employer.
Results of 2020 North Greenbush Public Library Annual Budget Vote
The Board of Trustees of the North Greenbush Public Library thanks the voters of the North Greenbush Library District for their overwhelming support for the 2020 budget. The proposed budget received a yes vote on 95% of the ballots cast in the annual election held on September 12, 2019. Visit our website at http://www.northgreenbushlibrary.org/ or our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NGreenbushLibrary/. The Library is located in the North Greenbush Municipal Building, Main Avenue, Wynantskill. Hours are from 11:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Monday through Friday and from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Saturday. Our phone number is 518-283-0303.
Defensive Driving Class at Gilead Lutheran Church, Brunswick on October 5
Gilead Lutheran Church will host a 6 hour defensive driving class on Saturday, October 5, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This is a NYS DMV approved class that will offer a 10% reduction off your auto insurance and up to 4 points off your NYS driver’s license! Exciting and interactive PowerPoint presentation and never a test to pass the course!
Cost of this class is just $30 per person and must be paid at the door. Doors open at 8:30 AM. Lunch items will be available for sale for an additional cost.
Gilead church is located at 308 Brick Church Road (Route 278), Troy, New York 12180. We are handicapped accessible and have loads of free close parking. SPACES ARE LIMITED and will sell out fast -again- at this price!! To reserve your seat please call John at 518-279-9552. Please drive safely!
ALL proceeds from this class will be donated to the church.
France Magnifique
La Fédération Franco-Américaine du NY is sponsoring a trip to France, featuring the 75th Anniversary of D-Day & Normandy, April 23 – May 7, 2020. Rates include round trip air from New York, air taxes and fees/surcharges, hotel transfers, and 20 meals. Highlights of the trip: Paris, River Seine cruise, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Le Mont St. Michel, Loire Valley, 2-night Chateau stay, winery tour, Lyon, Les Halles de Lyon, Paul Boscuse Market, Avignon, Creme Brûlée Cooking demonstration, Nice, Monaco. Plenty of time to explore on your own. For more information, pricing or a brochure, call Lisa at Plaza Travel at 518-785-3338 or lisa@nullplazatravel.net.
EG Fire Company Announcements
East Greenbush Fire Company President Michael F. Lansing II proudly announces the recipients of the Barbara J. LehmannMemorial Scholarship Program for 2019. Through the Barbara J. Lehmann Memorial Scholarship Program, the East Greenbush Fire Company provides scholarship grants to qualified applicants seeking to advance their education in their chosen field of study. The 2019 recipients are Michael Preston, Adam Riley and Nicholas Cullum. Michael is entering The University of South Caroline and will major in Sports Management. Adam will be attending Springfield College majoring in a Physical Therapy curriculum. Nicholas will begin his studies at the College of Southern Maryland majoring in Fire Service Technology. The East Greenbush Fire Company commends these three college freshmen for their admirable academic achievements and pursuit of higher education.
Rensselaer County Recovery Helpline
1-833-467-3123
Do you need help with substance use issues? Are you interested in volunteering for the helpline? The Rensselaer County Recovery Helpline offers information, local resources, and referrals for individuals and their families regarding substance use issues. The toll-free line is available 7 days a week from 9am-9pm. Each volunteer chooses shifts of 4 hours at a time to be on-call. When someone calls the number, a volunteer answers on their own smartphone, and can enter information to a database on their own computer, allowing for easy and quick access to resources. The information is sent to one of the 9 leaders, who will then assist the caller. If you or someone you know needs information, resources, or a referral for a substance use problem, call 1-833-467-3123. For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Renscohelpline@nullgmail.com
Feel Good
Letting Go
Letting go is good….
Or, so they say.
Well, I surely do not want
To let go of summer!
Summer is everything good:
Freedom…Fun…Fishing and, Hot Dogs!
Believe me…I love Fall,
But, I do not want to let go of summer.
Summer is no school;
Kids’ are free…kids rule!
As a grandparent, I share in that freedom;
I participate in that youthful play.
Such play takes me back…
Back to my care free youth.
Fall means back to school…
With early bedtime…and homework!
I will do my best to hang on to summer;
I will drag my feet into Fall.
Give me a week or two,
And I will then embrace Fall !!
-Lloyd Barnhart
West Sand Lake
Letters to the Editor
Who is in Charge in Schodack?
On September 6th, residents on Rt 9 (but not Birchwood) were notified by Maine Drilling and Blasting(MDB), that blasting bedrock at the proposed Amazon site would commence on or about September 12th. A Birchwood resident spoke with Ms. Nadine Fuda, head of Schodack’s planning board and zoning board of appeals, on Sept 9th and was told that Birchwood was not notified because it was out of range of blasting activity, although she had no idea where the blasting was to take place. She was unaware that Section 188-37 Rock Excavation of Town Code section F states that Notification of blasting activity and a timetable to neighboring dwelling units/offices/stores within five-tenths mile of the blast area will be required. Rensselaer Co Local Law 2 Sec 4A states that residents within 1 mile of blast area must be notified 45 days in advance of the blasting activity and must be offered, free of charge, pre and post blasting testing of their drinking water. This information was presented to the town board Thursday Sept 12th, and Supervisor Harris, board members and town attorney were clueless. Birchwood is well within the blast area but town officials were oblivious, how could that be possible? Either town officials were aware of the blasting and chose to ignore Birchwood or, equally troubling, that Scannell didn’t notify the town because they knew officials wouldn’t care anyway. On Monday Sept 9th MDB notified Birchwood residents that Birchwood was in the blast area and a “Pre-blast” meeting would be held 11am Monday Sept 16th at the Schodack town hall and that blasting would start that week. The meeting and blasting were then cancelled. Were town officials trying to devise a plausible explanation as to why they were unaware of a town code or a county law? Their job is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of Schodack residents and we are doing their job for them.
-Robert Jansing
Schodack
Parsonage Lane Neighbors
Parsonage Lane neighbors are very grateful to Supervisor Herrington and the Brunswick Town Highway Department for their responsiveness to our needs. It was reported to town officials that Parsonage Lane was marked with a 30 mph speed limit sign. This narrow street with a blind curve cannot be negotiated safely at 30 mph. Drivers who are familiar with this road already drive 10-15 mph. Those unfamiliar with the road, seeing 30 mph sign, were led to believe this speed was actually safe. Within two days, the roadway was reevaluated by the appropriate authority and a speed limit sign of 15 mph was installed. Thank you very much for acting quickly to enhance the safety of our neighborhood.
-Ann Clemente
Brunswick