Friday April 26, 2024 
Sand Lake FYI
Happy Summer to all Sand Lakers! On July 9th, the Town Board sponsored a Community Forum on Public Water. Ben Syden, Vice President at Laberge Group, led an informative discussion regarding the process and financing involved with the potential of establishing public water in Sand Lake. This is a long and complex endeavor. Please be assured that the Town Board has not made any decisions about public water, nor have we discussed the topic as a group. The Town Board is seeking interested and committed residents who would like to serve on a committee to examine the feasibility, if any, of bringing public water to Sand Lake. The Group will be charged with making recommendations to the Town Board. If you are interested, please contact me at Town Hall.
I receive many complaints about excessive speeding on our town, county, and state roads especially during the summer. At our Community Forum on Speeding last year, the State Police told us that most of the speeding tickets they issue are to our own residents. Please drive prudently in our town. We want to avoid accidents and anyone getting hurt. If you feel that speed is an issue on any of our town roads, please let me know. Our Highway Department has speed display signs that we can place on our roads to remind people to slow down.
Many thanks to Rensselaer County for the additional stop sign they placed on Sheer Road, near Rabie and Biittig Roads, making the area a four-way stop. I received many phone calls from residents in that area fearful to let their children ride bikes on the road and it has been the scene of several accidents. Thank you to the Rensselaer County Highway Department for their quick response to our request.
Finally, thank you to our Building Department and Public Works Department for their hard work this summer. There is a lot going on in the town, and we are thankful for their hard work and dedication.
Nancy Perry
Town Supervisor
Rensselaer County Legislature
The July 9th meeting of the Rensselaer County Legislature featured the adoption of a local law that created a one year moratorium on the establishment of solid waste management facilities located within one mile of the Hudson River. The law, introduced by Chairman Michael Stammel, is intended to prevent the opening of any new trash and waste handling facilities near the Hudson River. During the one year period, the Legislature can work with riverfront communities in the County to identify the impacts of such facilities on the local environment and on the Hudson River.
The Legislature also passed a resolution supporting the New York State Private Well Testing Act. This resolution introduced by Legislators Bruce Patire and Jeff Wysocki is meant to support the State legislation that would require the testing of any private well before the sale or lease of a property. The data collected could help track the migration of emerging contaminants such as PFOA and PFAS, because water does not follow town and village boundaries. It would also provide credible data about drinking water to communities that are near landfills, Superfund sites, and other areas of possible groundwater contamination.
The Legislature also approved the purchase of a three story fire training tower that will replace the deteriorated 40 year old structure on Macha Lane in North Greenbush. This multi function scenario fire training will meet modern requirements and allow our dedicated firefighters and emergency personnel to acquire life saving safety skills that will keep our communities safer.
The Legislature also approved a new contract with the Rensselaer County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Road Patrol that will extend until 2022.
The Legislature appreciates the work of all of our public safety personnel, both volunteer and professional, and we are committed to providing them proper training and support to do their jobs well.
We hope that everyone has an enjoyable summer, and one way to have fun locally is to follow “Rensselaer County Tourism” on Facebook. It is a great way to find out about events happening close to home. As always, we can be reached at 518-270-2880.
Poestenkill Town Board – Meeting Minutes – Thursday, June 20, 2019
In public comment, there was discussion about a property on Tymeson Road with regard to safety of children, clean-up of the property, and potentially a traffic study. After a lengthy discussion, it was decided that a draft local law will be prepared for the next Town Board meeting regarding the restriction of parking on the Town road. The Highway Superintendent agrees with this decision.
Approval of Turn the Towns Teal – to mark the increasing awareness of ovarian cancer. Motion by Councilman Wohlleber, seconded by Councilman Van Slyke and an oral vote of five to instruct the Town Attorney to create a resolution for next month’s meeting.
Parking Ban – Motion by Councilwomen Butler, seconded by Councilman Van Slyke and an oral vote of five ayes to authorize the Town Attorney to prepare legislation for the banning of parking on Tymeson Road and legal notice for the Public Hearing to take place at 7 p.m. on July 18th.
Speed Study – Motion by Councilman Hass, seconded by Councilman Van Slyke and an oral vote of five ayes directing the Supervisor to contact the State/County to do a speed study on Tymeson Rd.
Supervisor Jacangelo reported that The Rensselaer County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is being updated. One of the reasons for preparing this important document is to keep residents eligible for flood insurance and to reduce the risk of flooding.
These minutes to be approved at the next town board meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 18th, at 7pm.
For more information go to www.PoestenkillNY.com
Submitted by Councilman Eric Wohlleber
Tracey Rex Reports to the People of Schodack
I believe staying in touch with constituents is an important part of serving in elective office. This monthly report is an example of my commitment to keeping residents informed of the activities of the Schodack Town Board. All Town Board meetings can be viewed live or at a later date at https://townhallstreams.com/towns/schodack.
The Town of Schodack has an opening for a part time Court Officer. Applicants should be certified as a Court Officer pursuant to the requirements of the Office of Court Administration, New York State Unified Court System. For more information, please visit our website at www.schodack.org or contact Kerrie Joiner, Human Resources Manager.
During June, the Town Board approved the hiring of employees for the Schodack Summer Youth and Recreation Program. This program provides our youth with meaningful summer work experience and helps them develop their workforce and leadership skills necessary to succeed in their current and future career endeavors.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held during the first night of the Music in the Park series to officially open our new inclusive playground at Schodack Town Park. An excited group of children joined town board members to celebrate this terrific addition to our town park. Thank you to Daniel Garvansites for keeping our park beautiful and welcoming.
Our annual Document Shredder Day will be held on Saturday, July 20 at Schodack Town Hall (265 Schuurman Road) from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of this great opportunity to have their confidential and sensitive documents safely shredded at no cost (3-box maximum per household).
I joined elected officials and residents on Flag Day to dedicate a new flagpole atop the crest of a hill overlooking the Hudson River in the village of Castleton-on-Hudson. The nautical flagpole is designed to be a symbol of welcome by road, river and rail. Thank you to the Castleton-on-Hudson Main Street Association and the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson for this wonderful addition to our community.
Congratulations to the 2019 graduating classes of Maple Hill High School and Columbia High School. Soar high and follow your dreams, graduates!
Tracey Rex, Member of Schodack Town Board
Rensselaer County Legislature Office of the Minority
The following are highlights of the July 2019 meeting:
Local Law: This month, the Legislators unanimously passed a local law establishing a one year moratorium on solid waste management facilities. The law will protect the Hudson River and other municipal drinking water sources that could be subject to harm when adjacent to solid waste management facilities. The Hudson River is one of Troy’s greatest assets and the city will benefit greatly due to its close proximity to the river. The Minority Legislators have written amendments for the law which will see the protections extended to other tributaries throughout the county. Those amendments will be incorporated into and introduced in a new and more comprehensive local law next month.
Education: The Rensselaer County Legislature passed a resolution authorizing agreements for the transportation of children with special needs. The resolution will ensure that those children will receive adequate transportation to their schools and learning facilities.
Public Safety: The County and the Police Benevolent Association Road Patrol have reached an agreement to succeed the present collective bargaining agreement. The Legislature is thankful for all the hard work the deputies do for the county.
Transportation: The Legislators amended the budget for the Highway Department in the July meeting. The additional funds were received from the Extreme Winter Recovery Program. These funds will go towards repaving many of the roads which has been a critical focus of the Legislature this year.
NEXT MEETING – Tuesday, August 13, 2019 in the Rensselaer County Chambers located on the 3rd floor of the Ned Pattison Government Center, 1600 7th Avenue, Troy.
Residents are welcome to contact our office at 270-2890. www.rensselaercounty.org
Photo of the Day
The Rensselaer County Legislature approved the reappointment of Bill Film as the Director of Real Property Services. Legislator Tom Grant and Chairman Mike Stammel congratulated Bill along with Legislator Bob Loveridge.
Supervisor Desso Announces 2019 North Greenbush Concert Series
The Town of North Greenbush in conjunction with the Youth Makes a Difference committee is proud to announce their 2019 summer concert series. The concerts will be held on Sunday evenings 6:00pm-8:00pm at the Gazebo behind town hall.
“We are very excited to provide this free family entertainment to our residents at no expense to the North Greenbush taxpayers. This would not be possible without the generosity from all of our sponsors and the volunteers from our YMAD committee,” said Supervisor Desso.
The concert schedule is as follows:
July 21: Diva & the Dirty Boys
July 28: Miner Chords
August 4: Soul Sky (featuring Joe Mele)
August 11: Kyle Bourgault Band
August 19: Whiskey Highway
“We invite everyone to bring their chairs and blankets and join us for another season of great local muscicians celebrating our North Greenbush community,” concluded Desso.
Stephentown Heritage Center increases visiting hours
The Stephentown Historical Society has announced that the Stephentown Heritage Center will welcome visitors on the first Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., beginning on July 6, in addition to the regular weekly Friday hours of 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. These weekend open hours will allow more Stephentown residents and visitors the opportunity to explore what the society offers in genealogy research and local history. The other Saturdays are August 3, September 7, October 5 and November 2. The center is closed during the month of December. The Heritage Center is the former Stephentown Methodist Church at 4 Staples Road at the corner of Garfield Road. It is free and handicapped accessible.
Meeting Dates for The Village of Nassau 2019-20
The following dates have been established for the Village of Nassau Board of Trustees Meetings. All meetings will be held at the Village Municipal Building, 40 Malden Street, Nassau, NY at 7:30pm unless otherwise posted.
August 14, 2019 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
September 11, 2019 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
October 9, 2019 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
November 13, 2019 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
December 11, 2019 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
January 8, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
February 12, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
March 11, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
March 18, 2020 Special Meeting Election 9:00pm
April 6, 2020 Annual Meeting 7:30pm
April 8, 2020 Public Hearing Budget 7:00pm
April 8, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
May 13, 2020 Regular Meeting 7:30pm
May 27, 2020 Year End Meeting 7:30pm
The Planning Board meets on the 1st Monday of each month (as needed) at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Municipal Building.
The Zoning Board meets on the 4th Monday of each month (as needed) at 7:00 p.m. at the Village Municipal Building.
Town of Schodack
Schodack residents please note that in conjunction with the Town of East Greenbush and City of Rensselaer, the Town of Schodack is sponsoring a FREE Shredding event on Saturday July 20, 2019 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Schodack Town Hall parking lot. All residents from The Town of Schodack, Town of East Greenbush and the City of Rensselaer are welcome. Documents will be shredded in a secured mobile truck. There is a limit of 3 boxes per customer (cubic foot size). Take advantage of this wonderful opportunity and rid yourself of those outdated checks, bank statements, and other personal information.
Satellite DMV Summer Schedule
Rensselaer County Satellite DMVs will operate on a normal schedule this summer with the following exceptions, County Clerk Frank J. Merola announced.
The East Greenbush Satellite DMV will be closed on August 5, 2019. The Hoosick Falls DMV will be closed Wednesday, August 7th, 2019.
Rensselaer County Clerk Frank J. Merola encourages all residents with questions about this or any other County Clerk/DMV related issue to contact him at (518) 270-4080.
2019 Town of Brunswick Spring/Summer Pick-Up Schedule
What can be picked up:
Please no sticks, dirt or rocks or any material other than leaves and grass should be placed in bags we do not use leaf vacuums in the spring. Limbs must be piled neatly, 8’ long-no larger than 6” diameter 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 we will also pick up other yard waste, such as grass clippings, provided biodegradable paper bags are used. Branches must be free of roots and dirt. We do not pick up rocks, stumps, rubbish, etc. Please do not put these items out with your branches. Please no clear cutting of lots. No commercial pickups. Residents are also encouraged to dispose of leaves and grass at our recycling center, it is located across from the town garage. Please check with recycling department prior to drop off and deposit brush in designated place and leaves and grass in designated place. Items must be at roadside on the first day of scheduled pickup.
Monthly brush and yard waste pick-up schedule will be the following dates. Items to be out by first day in front of your residence only.
July 15th –July 19th
August 19th-August 23rd
September 16th-September 20th
October 21st-October 25th (last pick-up for season)
If you have any questions, please call 518-279-3461, ext. 100.
Celebrate Stephentown 2019 Is Coming August 16-18
Greetings from Celebrate Stephentown HQ:
Three months from today we’ll be kicking off Celebrate Stephentown 2019, the third annual edition of our town-wide, grassroots festival here in Stephentown, New York.
More than two dozen events are already in the works with our farms, businesses, churches and service organizations all working together to present three special days of family-friendly fun.
Please mark the third weekend in August on your calendar and keep your eyes open for future updates.
A great way to find out more about what we do and why is on social media, where we’d be glad to connect with you on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Thanks so much for your interest and support; and we can’t wait to show you all the things we love about living here in “the only Stephentown on Earth.”
~Scott Menhinick
Founder & Co-Organizer
Celebrate Stephentown, LLC
scott@nullcelebratestephentown.com
Learn more at:
https://celebratestephentown.com
Attention Dog Owners in the Town of Schodack
Debra L. Curtis, the Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents that under NYS Agriculture and Markets Law Article VII, §109, all dogs are required to be licensed by four months of age and under Town Law §109-5, all dogs, when not confined to the property of their owner, must be under control and on a leash not in excess of 12 feet in length. Leash length is reduced to 6 feet when walking within the Town Park.
To obtain a dog license, a copy of the current Rabies Certificate, which must be valid for more than 30 days prior to licensing and must be signed by a licensed veterinarian, and proof that the animal has been altered, must be provided. The cost for a spayed/neutered dog is $7.00 and an unspayed/ unneutered dog is $15.00. One tag is issued for the lifetime of the license; however, in the event of loss, it can be replaced at a cost of $3.00. A renewal letter will be sent on an annual basis, based upon the anniversary of the license.
If you have any questions, please visit the Schodack Town Clerk’s office, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Schodack Town Hall, 265 Schuurman Road, Castleton, NY 12033 or please call 518-477-7590.
It’s the Law!
New York State Law requires that all dogs to be licensed annually. The State requires that all Town Clerks’ office process them in their local municipality. Before a license can be issued or renewed, current proof of rabies vaccination must be provided. The NYS Dept of Agriculture & Markets & NYS Health Dept. requires all dogs FOUR months of age or older to be vaccinated for rabies. This information is crucial for the general public’s well-being. The Town of Sand Lake does have a Leash Law. In addition, if your dog is lost, stolen or dies, New York State law requires you to notify the Town Clerk’s Office. Failure to comply with this law can result in court appearance tickets. Unlicensed dogs are subject to seizure on or off the premises of the owner under Art. 7 117(b). Check the Town’s website for additional information regarding the Town’s Dog Laws. For more information call Barbara Biittig, Sand Lake Town Clerk @ 518-674-2026 ext 122 or Animal Control Officer @ 518-477-8230.
Rensselaer City Historian’s Office seeking info. on Albany Woolen Mill
Rensselaer City Historian’s Office is seeking any information on the Albany Woolen Mill on Green Street in Rensselaer City. Personal remembrances, receipts, documents, advertisements, pay stubs, anything related to the AWM.
We are told AWM once manufactured Woolen sweaters and perhaps jackets for the US military during World War II. From time to time there was Surplus sales of irregular garments.
Any stories, photos, reports or artifacts, letters of Commerce, employee information documents. We are looking to reweave the story of the fabric dye and textile industry once prominent in Rensselaer City. Information can be sent to the Office of the Historian 62 Washington Street, Rensselaer City, Rensselaer, NY 12144.