Thursday April 25, 2024 
Town of Sand Lake Closed for Labor Day
SAND LAKE – The Town of Sand Lake will be closed Monday September 7th in observance of the Labor Day Holiday.
Village of East Nassau September Election Information
EAST NASSAU – Village of East Nassau Elections have been Rescheduled for Tuesday, September 15, 2020 from Noon to 9:00 PM at the Tsatsawassa Firehouse on Firehouse Lane, Brainard, NY. Masks and social distancing will be enforced.
These Village Elections, originally scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, 2020 from Noon to 9:00 PM, were postponed by Executive Order Number 202 by the Governor of the State of New York due to the COVID-19 virus.
Candidates running for office are: Adam Acquario for a 2-year term as Village Mayor; Lydia Davis and Michael Lever both for a 2-year term as Village Trustees.
Anyone wishing a Request for an Absentee Ballot should contact the Diane Maguire the Village Clerk no later than September 8, 2020 either by phone 518-766-5811 (leave message) or email clerk@nullvillageofeastnassau.org.
Town Hall Closes for Labor Day Holiday
SCHODACK – Debra L. Curtis, Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents that the Schodack Town Hall Offices and Highway Department will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2020 for the Labor Day Holiday. The Schodack Town Hall Offices and Highway Department will resume its regular business hours on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.
The Transfer Station will resume its regular business hours on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Town Clerk at 477-7590, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm.
From The Desk of The North Greenbush Town Clerk
NORTH GREENBUSH – Every year, we look forward to celebrating together as a community the North Greenbush Town Fair. Given the growing concerns around the COVID-19 PANDEMIC outbreak, it makes it impossible for the town to have our 2020 Town Fair this September. It was a difficult decision for The Town Board to make, but they know it is the right decision for the safety of our community.
Town of North Greenbush Update
NORTH GREENBUSH – The town remains busy with many exciting projects. Following the RFP process, the Town Board accepted the construction bid from Rifenburg Construction, Inc. in the amount of $7,993,115 for the Route 4 Highway Improvement Project that will involve much needed intersection, road widening and drainage improvements as well as adding sidewalks in strategic locations along Route 4 from Route 43 to the Troy Border. This $9.8 million project, which is 80% funded from Federal Highway funds from the NYS Department of Transportation, was designed by Creighton Manning Engineering with significant input from town residents and business owners from several public meetings that were held prior to the design. The project is expected to begin in September and continue thru 2021. Project details and work schedules (when available) are available online at www.Route4CorridorNG.com. To improve water quality and water pressure along the town’s southern boundary, a drinking water grant was obtained from New York State Environmental to install a transmission line from the Town Beach location along Geiser Road to Route 43 intersection and then continue west down Route 43 to Route 4. When completed this $3.62 million transmission line project should make municipal water service to properties along Route 43 and in Dutch Acre’s and Teliska Avenue affordable to residents. The town will issue a request for proposal for construction in hopes of project completion this year. We are also pleased to announce that for the 104 residents of the Lake Meadows Subdivision in Snyder’s Lake, the town has acquired the private water system which will improve water quality and pressure. This acquisition required approval of the NYS Public Service Commission who regulates privately owned water operating systems. Information on the switch over process to the town municipal water system is being sent to each of the 104 users. Stay tuned for more about these significant improvements for our town!
From Supervisor Joe Bott and Deputy Supervisor Kelly Hoffman
School Tax Payments -Town of Schodack
SCHODACK – Due to Covid-19, there will be no in-person tax collections this year. All payments should be mailed to Shawn Masters/ Receiver of Taxes at PO Box 436 East Schodack, NY 12063, or can be dropped in the secure green drop box located near the entrance door to the Town Hall.
Schodack School District bills are due 9/1/20 – 9/30/20 with no penalty and 10/1/20 – 10/30/20 with a 2% penalty. No payments will be accepted for Schodack Schools after 10/30/20.
East Greenbush School District bills are due 9/15/20- 10/15/20 with no penalty and 10/16/20- 11/02/20 with a 2% penalty. No payments will be accepted for East Greenbush Schools after 11/02/20.
After the last due date all payments will be handled by Rensselaer County Bureau of Finance, 518-270-2754.
Please contact me with any concerns about payments at 517-477-7935.
Shawn Masters/ Receiver of Taxes
Public Hearing for Poestenkill Ambulance District scheduled
POESTENKILL – A public hearing is scheduled at the VFW pavilion on Thursday, September 17th at 7 PM for Poestenkill residents to voice their opinions on the establishment of an ambulance district. This is the first of many steps to establish a contracted ambulance service. Keith Hammond, Eric Wohlleber, and I want to make good on our campaign promise to provide a consistent ambulance service. While the members of the town board could, on its own, pass a resolution to create an ambulance district, Supervisor Keith Hammond would rather put it before the voters of Poestenkill allowing town citizens to make this important decision.
We are seeking a reliable, consistent, and affordable paramedic service. The response time derived from official 911 readouts has an average in excess 17 minutes. Many calls are in 25 to 30 minute range, sometimes longer. The First Responders have not been able to respond to all calls 2019 and 2020. Those are the facts noted in 911 reports, not opinions. The First Responders, a great resource while waiting for an ambulance, are limited by NYS law as to the degree of care they can administer. Poestenkill First Responders, at present, can’t administer Narcan for a drug overdose.
Of course, the cost is a concern, be it in terms of pain, anxiety, or financial. Since we are not asking for proposals until a decision is made whether or not to form an ambulance district, it is difficult at this time to estimate the cost per home. At a recent meeting with Rensselaer County, the possibility of “Shared Services” is being discussed, which would help bring our costs down. The goal is to provide residents with a level of paramedic care arriving by ambulance or fly car at a reduced response time.
I urge you to become informed, voice your opinions and/or attend the upcoming public hearing on September 17th. If you cannot attend in person, please make your views know to your town board members.
Harold T. Van Slyke
Poestenkill Town Board
Tracey Rex Reports to the People of Schodack
SCHODACK – I believe staying in touch with constituents is an important part of serving in elective office. This report, published every month since I took office in 2016, is an example of my commitment to keeping Schodack residents informed about town government news and community events. All Town Board meetings can be viewed live or at a later date at: www.townhallstreams.com/towns/schodack.
During August, the Town Board adopted three local laws creating a new Planned Development District (PD-2) known as Elmbrook Solar, Cedar Hill Solar, and White River Solar. Additionally, we adopted a town employee travel policy designed to support the protection of employees and the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Congrats to Maggie Banker who was appointed Temporary Dog Control Officer.
I joined my fellow elected officials at the Peter Andrews Castleton Memorial VFW Post 7337 ceremony on August 7 to celebrate National Purple Heart Day. Recently, the Town of Schodack and the Village of Castleton-on-Hudson passed resolutions designating themselves as Purple Heart communities.
Thank you to the NYS DOT for responding so promptly to my request to remove the graffiti from Sand Road and the I-90 Bridge in Schodack. Regardless of one’s political views or affiliation, it is a crime to deface public property – instead, please make your voice heard at the ballot box.
It was great to see so many people enjoying themselves at the recently held Music in the Park featuring the Gone Gray Band. Thank you to the Schodack Senior Center for hosting the event.
As a proud graduate of Maple Hill High School, I was delighted to learn that according to the U.S. News Best High School Rankings, MHHS was ranked third in the region and number one in Rensselaer County based on various factors including graduation rates, college readiness and state test scores. Kudos to the administrators, teachers and students for this well-deserved recognition!
Tracey Rex, Schodack Town Board
www.traceyrex.com
Schodack Town Board GOP Report
SCHODACK – While many of the annual summer traditions that we all enjoy had to be postponed or cancelled as a result of COVID-19, we still hope you were able to enjoy time with family and friends in a safe manner and make the most of it. As the calendar turns to September, we hope you take advantage of some of the outdoor entertainment options our town has to offer before the cold weather returns.
With September also comes the return of the School year. We understand how frustrating and confusing these past few months have been for our families with school aged children and our School communities as they have sought to navigate NYS requirements and guidelines in their efforts to formulate reopening plans. While the ideal scenario would be a return to school free of any concern over COVID-19, this is unfortunately not the reality we are presented with. Our thanks and appreciation go out to our School Districts for the hard work they have put in this summer and for the hard work yet to come. Many challenges lay ahead for those with kids, those working within the district, and the children themselves and we wish all you the best of luck. Whether you choose a full remote style of learning or one of the in person plans, we hope this year is a productive and successful one for you. Additionally, we ask that drivers be extra mindful when driving during the opening weeks of school, especially around the school buildings. Distancing plans will likely lead to an increased traffic flow at schools over the normal situations and we ask you all to be mindful and watchful on the roads when school reopens.
And finally, we want to wish Lieutenant Jon Reickert well as he begins a new job with the East Greenbush Police Department as their Assistant Chief in September. Lieutenant Reickert has been the epitome of professionalism and his presence in our department will be sorely missed. Best of luck Jon and thank you for your service to Schodack.
-Jim Bult, Scott Swartz, and Mike Kenney