Sunday March 26, 2023 
Drug Take Back and Document Destruction Events in the City of Rensselaer
RENSSELAER – Rid your home of unwanted, unused and expired drugs and confidential docments. The Rensselaer City Clerk is pleased to announce important events happening in the City this month.
October 16: from 10:00am – 2:00pm Drug Take Back Day sponsored by Rensselaer County in cooperation with Rensselaer Police and Fire Departments, Rensselaer Area Drug Reality Coalition (RADAR) at the North End Fire House 2 St. Francis Place.
October 24: from 10:00am – 2:00pm US. Drug Enforcement Agency National Drug Take Back Day in cooperation with the DEA, Rensselaer Police Dept. RADAR at the Rensselaer Boys and Girls Club 544 Broadway.
October 24, from 9:00am – 12:00 pm City of Rensselaer, Town of East Greenbush and Town of Schodack shared Document Shredder Day in visitor’s parking lot across from City Hall, 62 Washington St.
All locations are in the City of Rensselaer. For more information please see our website and Facebook page.
Nancy E. Hardt, City Clerk. 518-462-4266
From The Desk of Janice Hannigan Kerwin, North Greenbush Town Clerk
NORTH GREENBUSH – ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2020 NOTICE – CHANGES TO POLLING LOCATIONS
Rensselaer County Board of Elections has designated the polling locations, listed below, for the Town of North Greenbush residents.
North Greenbush Polling Locations:
Dist. 1 – Town Offices – 2 Douglas St.
Dist. 2 – Defreestville Fire Dept. – 350 N. Greenbush Rd.
Dist. 3 – Town Offices – 2 Douglas St.
Dist. 4 – Town Offices – 2 Douglas St.
Dist. 5 – St. Michael’s Church Hall – 175 Williams Rd.
Dist. 6 – Defreestville Fire Dept. 350 N. Greenbush Rd.
Dist. 7 – Town Offices – 2 Douglas St.
Dist. 8 – St. Michael’s Church Hall – 175 Williams Rd.
Due to COVID-19 this year, both St. Judes and Gardner-Dickinson will not be used as Polling Locations.
To ensure social distancing be aware of the following additional changes:
The Defreestville Fire House will be utilizing their engine room for the election location.
To access Town Hall you must go to the rear of the building, there will be signs indicating where to park.
If you should have any questions on where to go on Election Day, please feel free to contact my office and I will be more than happy to assist you in any way that I can. My office hours are Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. @ 518-283-4306. Moreover, for information on your election district please go to: https://www.rensco.com/departments/board-of-elections/district-maps/
Schodack Supervisor’s Report for September 2020
SCHODACK – I want to start once again by expressing my appreciation for your understanding and patience as we have been working our way through the COVID-19 epidemic. We continue to take steps towards further reopening and expect to have some new updates to announce shortly. We are committed to ensuring whatever you may need from us is available and look forward to resuming normal operations as soon as possible.
On September 18th, I was joined by my fellow Town Board members as well several other elected officials and their representatives as we celebrated the grand opening of the new Stewart’s location on Columbia Turnpike and Sunset Road. We’re thankful for the continued investment in our community by Stewart’s and especially appreciative of their donation of $1500 in milk and eggs to the Goff Middle School backpack program. Stewart’s is a great community partner and I couldn’t be happier with the job they did on the new store.
The Town will be hosting it’s Fall Clean-up days on October 15th, 16th, and 17th at the Transfer Station. Please visit the Town’s web page at www.schodack.org for a full listing of accepted times and fees. We ask you to please practice social distancing and wear a mask when outside of your car. This is a popular event every year and we expect it to be even more so this year so please be patient and if possible come during the 15th or 16th to alleviate the traffic on the weekend.
Additionally, the final paper shredding day will be held on October 24th at Rensselaer City Hall. These events are put on in partnership with East Greenbush, the City of Rensselaer, and the Town of Schodack. Residents are allowed to bring up to three boxes of documents to have shredded and destroyed in a secure manner free of charge.
And finally, on the 19th anniversary of that fateful day, I attended a 9/11 memorial service at the Melvin Roads VFW. It’s hard to believe it’s been so long since those events, but I join with Americans across our country in saying “Never Forget”.
Sand Lake Democratic Committee Re-Organization
SAND LAKE – The Sand Lake Democratic Committee elected a new slate of officers at its bi-annual reorganization meeting on September 17, 2020. The Committee elected Garrett DeGraff as chair, Mary Ellen Trumbull as vice chair, John Sniezyk as treasurer and Tom Cetrino as secretary.
The Committee voted to recommend to the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee the addition of Sheila A. Mahan as a Sand Lake Democratic Committee member. The RCDC approved Mahan at the RCDC’s meeting October 5, 2020. She replaced Karol O’Sullivan who resigned the SLDC earlier this year.
The other members of the 12-person Committee are Flora Fasoldt, Sam Holden, Stephanie Neubert, Rich Schrom, Bridget Ball Shaw, James Snack, and Kathy Whiting.
Town of North Greenbush Update by Supervisor Joe Bott and Deputy Supervisor Kelly Hoffman
NORTH GREENBUSH – Happy Fall! We want to start off by thanking Mark Premo and our highway department employees for their work in cleaning up the debris after the destructive storm last week. From our emergency services personnel to the utility linemen and women to our town employees, we appreciate all you do to maintain important services to our residents. Paving is complete for the season as we continue to focus on infrastructure improvements. Lake Meadows residents will see more good news coming out regarding the arrival of water meters and their ability to hookup to our public water system. This has been a priority of ours and are happy to offer this to our residents in the Snyder’s Lake area. We have several military banners to hang to celebrate our veterans so keep an eye out for them. We participated in the annual flag retirement ceremony at the American Legion where our greatest symbol of freedom, our American flag, was properly disposed of. The public hearing on the town budget will be November 5th. Please see the town’s website for more information. The town board approved new members to the town ethics committee and ambulance commission at last week’s town board meeting. The board also heard a presentation from the town’s Climate Smart Committee regarding their assessment and findings. Finally, we invite you to the Annual North Greenbush Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 31st kicking off at 2pm at the Plaza on Main Avenue (Family Dollar) to town hall where there will be treats for the children (town hall will remain closed during this event). Everyone must maintain social distancing and wear a mask for safety (… and we are not talking about a scary mask). As always, we wish you good health and remember to be safe.
Excerpts from Letter Asking Legislature and County Executive to Address Structural Racism
RENSSELAER COUNTY – We, the undersigned residents of Stephentown, New York, wish to commend the members of the Rensselaer County Legislature for the passage of Resolution No. P/35, honoring the late Congressman John Lewis and his service “by renewing Rensselaer County’s commitment to ensuring that the principles and ideals of the American promise are available to all citizens and that justice is afforded to all Americans.” (Title of Resolution P/35, page [p.] 1.) However, in light of the Legislature’s acknowledgement of both our Country’s historic racism and of the activism necessary to combat this injustice – activism in which Congressman Lewis was engaged throughout his life – we are dismayed that the Legislature has failed to pass any resolution that would give substance and demonstrate commitment to its own words. In particular, although the Legislature has had at least three opportunities in the last couple of months, it refuses to acknowledge our Country’s continuing structural racism, fails to develop a plan or to otherwise take action to combat racism, and declines support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Legislature’s failure to go beyond honoring Congressman Lewis . . . is unacceptable and entirely irreconcilable with the assertions that are the bases for the honor it extends. The members of the Legislature cannot have it both ways. They cannot . . . acknowledge historic racism and honor Lewis’ activist responses to it and then . . . oppose resolutions that address the continued existence and destructive power of racism and the critical need for activism to combat it. The defeated resolutions set out some of the logical next steps in any serious intent to fight racism and are within the spirit of the words that the entire Legislature endorsed. Absent resolve to take the next steps in combatting racism . . . we must conclude that the Rensselaer County Legislature’s Resolution honoring Congressman . . . Lewis is tainted with cynicism and dishonesty.
Sandra Nathan, John Serio, Jack Spillman, Marilyn Lenkowsky, Natalie Amiama, Robin Catalano, Catharine Hough, Shelley Geller, Jennifer Anikst, Erin Duffey, Matt Wycoff, and Pam Kueppers.
North Greenbush Town Hall Zoom Meeting
NORTH GREENBUSH – North Greenbush Councilpersons Mary Frances Sabo and Jack Rogers will participate in a Zoom town hall with Mike Helinski, candidate for North Greenbush town board on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the Town Hall is to discuss issues and concerns in the town and to respond to questions from residents. The Zoom link will be placed at www.teamng.org. Please visit the website for information on submitting questions ahead of time. The town hall will also be streamed on Facebook Live at Mike Helinski for Town Board.
Submitted by North Greenbush Councilperson Mary Frances Sabo
Sand Lake Democrats Host Virtual Fundraiser October 22
SAND LAKE – The Sand Lake Democratic Committee is holding a “People’s Virtual Fundraiser” on Thursday, October 22, 2020 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. featuring on-line Zoom presentations by Democratic candidates Brittany Vogel for State Assembly and Patrick Nelson for the State Senate.
Congressman Antonio Delgado has been invited to speak, and either the Congressman, who is running for reelection, or someone from his campaign will be part of the virtual event.
Suggested minimum donations are $10 (or whatever participants can afford). All donors will be sent the Zoom link by email prior to the event.
Donations can be made on-line at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sand-lake-democratic-committee-1-base, or by check mailed to PO Box 89, Averill Park, NY 12018. Those donating by check should add an email address in order to receive the link to the Zoom event.
Net proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to support candidates Delgado, Vogel and Nelson, and to help the committee prepare for 2021 Town of Sand Lake elections.
Anyone with questions can contact Sand Lake Democratic Committee Chair Garrett DeGraff at 518-788-7091 or by email at garrett.degraff@nullgmail.com.
Early Voting Information for Rensselaer County
RENSSELAER COUNTY – All registered voters in Rensselaer County can vote at any of these early voting locations (all locations are handicapped accessible, have free parking, are accessible by CDTA): Holy Cross Armenian Church, 255 Spring Ave, Troy; Schodack Town Hall, corner of 265 Schuurman Rd and Rt. 9, Schodack; Brunswick Office Bldg, 336 Town Office Rd, Troy.
Early Voting Days and Hours are as follows: Sat., Oct. 24, 9am-2pm; Sun. Oct. 25, 9am-2pm; Mon., Oct. 26, Noon-8pm; Tues., Oct. 27, 9am-5pm; Wed., Oct. 28, Noon-8pm; Thurs., Oct. 29, 9am-2pm; Fri., Oct. 30, 9am-5pm; Sat., Oct., 31, 9am-2pm; Sun. Nov. 1, 9am-2pm.
General Election, Tuesday, November 3—6am to 9pm at your regular polling places throughout the county. For questions call the Board of Elections, 518-270-2990.
Town of East Greenbush Fall Cleanup
EAST GREENBUSH – Fall Cleanup will begin on Monday, October 26th, 2020 and resume for the next 4 Mondays. The leaves must be in biodegradable bags and brush must be tied up into 4 foot bundles put out alongside of the roadway but not in the road.
The dates are as follows: October 26th, 2020; November 2nd, 2020; November 9th, 2020; November 16th, 2020
Please be advised that these are the “ONLY” dates the Department of Public Works will be performing Fall 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 edge of the road.
Sincerely, Daniel Fiacco
Commissioner of Public Works
Town of East Greenbush
North Greenbush Halloween Parade
NORTH GREENBUSH – On Saturday, October 31st at 2:00 pm the Town of North Greenbush will be hosting the annual Halloween Parade. The parade will kick off at the Family Dollar parking lot and march up Main Avenue to Town Hall. The parade will end in the front parking lot where candy treats will be handed out to the children. The parade will be led by Town Emergency Services.
Town Hall is still closed to the public. The costume judging contest will not be held this year. There will be no entry into the building.
Come join the parade. All are welcome.
Joseph Bott, North Greenbush Town Supervisor