Thursday April 25, 2024 
Town of Sand Lake Seeks Volunteers, Get Involved!
SAND LAKE – The Town of Sand Lake is seeking volunteers to assist in three initiatives approved by the Town Board on March 31st.
The Board approved a Town-Wide Spring Clean-Up Day on Saturday, April 24th from 9 -12 beginning at Butler Park (rain date is May 1st). Volunteers of all ages are needed to help “Make Sand Lake Shine”.
The Town Board also approved the creation of two standing committees, a Communication & Marketing Committee, and a Community Engagement Committee.
The Communication & Marketing Committee will create and manage a marketing plan to promote our Town’s recreational, cultural, arts, and historic resources. Residents with skills in communication and marketing (such as photographers, copywriters, graphic designers, social media marketers) or anyone with a desire to promote Sand Lake are welcome.
The Community Engagement Committee will create and manage a volunteerism plan to connect volunteers with organizations and work with the Communication & Marketing Committee to promote volunteerism and community involvement.
Residents interested in volunteering for any of the three initiatives should contact David Post, Chair of the Planning Oversite Committee at SLPOC@nullsand-lake.us .
Calling all Food Truck Vendor
NORTH GREENBUSH – The Town of North Greenbush is looking for food truck vendors to participate in our Food Truck Tuesday. We will be having Food Trucks at town hall every Tuesday night between 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. starting in May. We are asking anyone interested in having their truck participate to contact the Town of North Greenbush Town Clerk’s office for information on how to be included. There will be NO fees to reserve your spot for Tuesday nights; just the Town of North Greenbush Peddler’s Permit is required. Contact the office at 518-283-4306 or townclerk@nullnorthgreenbush.org
Employment Applications for the Town of North Greenbush Summer Camp Are Now Being Accepted
NORTH GREENBUSH – Applications are available online at www.townofng.com. Applications for employment can also be picked up at Town Hall at our Library Lobby entrance, at the corner of Main Avenue and Douglas Street. Please direct further questions to Tammie O’Brien @ 518-283-2574 ext. 15. All completed applications must be returned by Friday, May 14th. All staff positions are available for hire: Camp Director, Assistance Director, Medical Director, Counselors, Lifeguards, Gate Keepers and Concession workers. Applicants must be 16 years of age by the start of camp and have current working papers from their school district.
Sand Lake FYI
Happy April to our Sand Lake residents! I am very happy about the fine work being undertaken by our Planning Oversight Committee. I am pleased at the enthusiasm of this Committee; it really is a hard-charging group that is determined to make positive additions to our town. I want to also thank the POC Chairman, David Post, and his wife Regina, for the very able leadership they both provide. On behalf of the Town, thank you!
The Planning Oversight Committee is coordinating a Town-Wide Clean Up Day on Saturday, April 24th. If you are interested in participating, please plan on coming to Butler Park at 8:30 am so that you can be assigned to a designated public space. Please Note: This is intended to clean public spaces. The Town will not be accepting or picking up household items.
I received emails about two car accidents in one day at the corner of Taborton and Roaser Roads. No one fortunately was injured. The issue is that the end of Roaser Road sits at the crest of a hill on Taborton Road. There is a blind spot, making it difficult to see any cars coming up the Taborton Road.
Upon learning of the accidents, I reached out to our Highway Department and our County Legislators. Both Town and County representative met at the intersection that day to assess the situation. We spoke to the person living across from the intersection. It appears that cars are traveling too fast on Taborton Road, which is not giving enough time for someone on Roaser Road to turn. In the short term, the County is going to place more traffic and speed warning signs leading up the intersection. A longer term solution is for the County to do construction work to lessen the severity of the blind spot. But PLEASE, if you are traveling on Taborton Road, SLOW DOWN. The speed limit is 40 mph and there is nowhere you are going that should put other people’s lives in peril.
Nancy Perry, Town Supervisor
Town Of Sand Lake Seeks Volunteers
SAND LAKE – Come One! Come All! This Saturday, April 24th from 9 -12, for a Town-Wide Spring Clean-Up to “Make Sand Lake Shine!” in celebration of Earth Day and NYS “I Love My Parks” Day!!
If you are available, we will be meeting at Butler Park at 8:30 AM for a Kick-Off event. We will be sprucing up several common areas to include, in and around Butler Park, the Town Beach, West Sand Lake, Veterans Park, hiking/biking trails, Averill Park Dykes, Community Center, and a few roadways.
Please dress appropriately and bring work gloves if you have them. Be prepared to wear masks and exercise safe social distancing. All other materials will be provided to include water and a small snack. Come on out, work alongside your friends and neighbors to “Make Sand Lake Shine!”
Note: This is not a curb side trash pick-up event, although it is encouraged for residents to go out separate from this event to pick up and dispose of any trash around their immediate homes or roadways.
Additionally, we are seeking talented residents to serve on both the Communication & Marketing and the Community Engagement Committees. Both of these committees will be assisted by the Sand Lake Planning Oversight Committee
The Communication & Marketing Committee will create and manage a marketing plan to promote our Town’s recreational, cultural, arts, and historic resources.
The Community Engagement Committee will create and manage a volunteerism plan to connect volunteers with organizations and work with the Communication & Marketing Committee to promote volunteerism and community involvement.
All residents with a desire to promote Sand Lake are welcome to get involved.
Residents with questions or have an interest in volunteering for these committees should contact David Post, Chair of the Planning Oversite Committee at SLPOC@nullsand-lake.us.
Rensselaer County Legislature Majority Urges State to Create Animal Abuse Registry
RENSSELAER COUNTY – During their April 13th meeting, the Rensselaer County Legislature unanimously adopted a resolution urging New York State to create a crime database of all convictions of animal cruelty.
This resolution, proposed by Majority Leader Ken Herrington, comes after members of the Legislature Minority proposed a Local Law proposing the creation of an Animal Abuse Registry in Rensselaer County. That Local Law, proposed in February, had several flaws that have been discussed during several meetings of the Legislature. Members of the Legislature have also met with District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly to seek clarification of language included in the law, and how it would be enforced and implemented by her office.
The local law has undergone several modifications and revisions, and is still being worked on by members of the Legislature.
“The Minority’s Local Law only covers animal abusers living in Rensselaer County, so abusers could cross county lines to acquire animals. Their proposed law could also impact a farmer selling livestock; there are too many gray areas that need to be clarified. Animals are important to me, and I hate that people could abuse them, but I have to look out for farmers that could be slapped with enormous fines for accidentally selling chickens or rabbits to the wrong person”, said Majority Leader Ken Herrington.
“Currently there are about 19 counties that have animal abuse registries, each with different rules, requirements, and fees. We need consistency from county to county and a state registry could provide that”, said Chair of Finance Robert Loveridge
The original local law would have fined an individual up to $5,000 for innocently giving away a kitten to someone on the Animal Abuse Registry.
“This Local Law would only cover 3 people in Rensselaer County at this time. My concern is that this law as presented could expose farmers and pet owners to larger fines than could be levied on the actual animal abuser”, said Legislator Chuck Peter.
North Greenbush Report from Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
NORTH GREENBUSH – April is the month we celebrate Earth Day which marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Until that time, mainstream American remained largely oblivious to the hazards of leaded gas, inefficient autos and air pollution. In honor of Earth Day, we all can do something for our environment whether it is walking or riding a bike to a destination instead of taking a private automobile, participating in a neighborhood clean up day or beginning a backyard compost program. Several residents have asked me about recycling electronics. The town does not have plans for an electronics recycling event at this time. I have compiled a list of private opportunities for electronic recycling which I have described on my facebook page Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo.Two town committees that I chair are working on projects to improve and enhance the environment in town. The Open Space Committee is putting together a grant to secure funding from the Hudson River Valley Greenway for a Natural Resources Inventory (NRI) The town became a Greenway community in 2001. The committee is lacking expertise in GIS mapping, a core part of the NRI. If anyone has GIS mapping skills and would like to volunteer to work with the committee on this project, please email me at msabo@nullnorthgreenbush.org. The town’s Climate Smart committee is also focusing on actions that will help the town achieve certification as a Climate Smart Community. This summer we are focusing on two particular projects-creating an educational campaign to encourage waste reduction and composting and hosting climate related educational seminars, workshops or fairs. The committee could use volunteers to help with these initiatives. High school and college students are especially welcome. Again, please reach out to me at msabo@nullnorthgreenbush.org if you would like to help.
Submitted by Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
Rensselaer County of the Minority –
April 2021 Highlights
RENSSELAER COUNTY – Tax Stabilization Fund – As a result of 2020 cost reductions in the legislative budget, the legislators unanimously approved the transfer of these savings, totaling $ 202,903.45, from the 2020 budget to the County’s Tax Stabilization Fund. Staying under the tax cap and saving the taxpayers any additional funds remains our priority.
2020 Census and Redistricting – The Minority Legislators sponsored resolution P/147/21, which was approved by a 15-4 vote, for a fair and equal redistricting process. The process to accurately determine the demographic changes, the growth or decline in population is essential to guarantee equal voter representation. We also require full transparency and that the funding is not paid to an outside entity as in the past.
Cap on Food Delivery Service Fees – The Minority legislators also sponsored a resolution to cap third party food delivery fees at 15%. As the COVID-19 pandemic surge closed down the food service industry, take-out and delivery became their life sustaining option. Some third party delivery enterprises charged fees as high as 30%, cutting into an already tight profit margin.
The resolution was approved by a 12-7 vote.
Animal Abuse Registry – The Minority Office’s submitted Local Law, which was supposed to be voted on at the April meeting, faced several questions and objections by the Majority Legislators. Instead a resolution urging NYS to create a statewide database for all convictions of animal cruelty was introduced.
Aging – For our seniors the legislature unanimously approved personal care and respite services; and renewed two leases for three years each for the senior centers in Rensselaer and Grafton.
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in the RC Chambers located on the 3rd floor of the Ned Pattison Government Center, Troy.
Residents are welcome to contact our office at 518 270-2890.
www.rensselaercounty.org & follow us on Facebook: “Rensselaer County Legislature – Democratic Team
Town of East Greenbush Department of Public Works Spring Cleanup
EAST GREENBUSH – Spring Cleanup will begin Monday, April 12th, 2021, and resume for the next 4 Mondays. The leaves must be in biodegradable bags and brush must be tied up into 4 foot bundles, placed out alongside of the roadway, but not in the road.
The dates are as follows: April 26th, 2021; May 3rd, 2021
Please be advised that these are the “ONLY” dates the Department of Public Works will be performing Spring Cleanup. If you miss these dates, you may bring these items to the Transfer Station, located at 246 Ridge Road, Town of East Greenbush. Residents must provide proof of residency, or a Transfer Station permit, and are allowed to bring these items all year long at no cost.
Please do not place bags of leaves or bundles of brush on the pavement, in front of culverts, or on top of catch basins. Place all items on the edge of the road.
Sincerely, Daniel Fiacco
Town of East Greenbush Commissioner of Public Works – 69 Gilligan Road. 518-477-6103.
Town of Brunswick Spring/Summer Pick-up Schedule
BRUNSWICK – Limbs must be piled neatly, 8’ long-no larger than 6” diameter. Branches must be free of roots and dirt. Avoid piling brush near utility poles and under trees, wires, or out in the street. We do not go on private property. Clean wood only. No commercial pickups. Please do not put sticks, dirt or rocks or any material other than leaves and grass in bags. We do not use leaf vacuums in the Spring.
We will also pick up other yard waste, such as grass clippings provided biodegradable paper bags are used. We do not pick up rocks, stumps, rubbish, etc. please do not put these items out with your branches.
Appliances and tires (no rims) must be tagged (Tags can be purchased at the Town Clerk’s Office)
Please no clear cutting of lots. Residents are also encouraged to dispose of leaves and grass at our Recycling Center.
Items need to be out by first day in front of your residence
Monthly brush and yard waste pick-up schedule will be the following dates: April 19-April 23rd; May 17- May 21st; June 21st -June 25th; July 19th –July 23rd; August 16th-August 20th; September 20th-September 24th; October 18th-October 22nd (last pick-up for season)
If you have any questions, please call 279-3461, Ext 100.
Poestenkill Spring Clean Up 2021
POESTENKILL – April 26, 2021 – April 30, 2021. Acceptable items: Yard Waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) placed in biodegradable Paper bags. Brush and branches (cut to 8 ft. lengths maximum, stacked neatly, no more than 3 ft. tall). Stack piles with the cut or thicker ends facing the road. Maximum diameter for brush or limbs is 6 inches. If we cannot chip it, we cannot take it.
Unacceptable items: Garbage or trash; Cleaning of Vacant lots; Stumps, Sod, Rocks or Dirt; Metal items; Plastic bags or flower pots; Tires or Batteries; No Brush or Trees from private contractors.
Residents: please keep in mind we are a small highway crew that must take care of these brush piles by hand. Brown recyclable waste bags will be picked up a few times a month throughout the summer/fall. Please notify the Highway Garage of your location so the bags do not get missed.
Questions: David (DJ) Goyer, cell 518-269-1656; garage 518-283-4144.
Poestenkill Spring Clean-Up: April 26-April 30
POESTENKILL – I would like to thank David (DJ) Goyer, Poestenkill’s Acting Superintendent of the Highway Department for going above and beyond the call of duty in the months since accepting this promotion. DJ has continued his track record of being responsive and supporting to our residents and is working closely with the Town Board and town employees.
I especially would like to thank him for announcing and sharing information with residents on the annual spring clean up schedule. Not only has DJ shared this information on the town website and here in The Advertiser but he has also taken it upon himself to speak with residents and deliver flyers announcing the dates and guidelines. DJ and our highway employees will be cleaning up brush from April 26th to April 30th.
For more information on the acceptable items for pickup please go to our website and feel free to contact the Highway Department with any questions – 518-283-4144.
Eric Wohlleber, Poestenkill Town Council