Thursday April 18, 2024 
Town Clerk’s Office Closed for the Holidays
NASSAU – Sandra Rings, the Nassau Town Clerk, would like to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and to let everyone know that the Town Clerk’s Office will be closed December 24th and 25th for the Christmas holiday and also December 31st and January 1st for the New Year’s holiday. We are in the office Monday through Friday from 9am until noon, with the exception of those two holiday weeks and available by appointment. Please contact us by phone at 518-766-2343, or by email at sandra.rings@nulltownofnassau.org for an appointment or with any questions you may have. Also as a reminder, the 2021 Transfer Station permits are now available. There is a form on the Town Website, townofnassau.org, that can be filled out and mailed to Nassau Town Clerk, P. O. Box 587, Nassau, NY 12123 or you can still obtain a permit at the Town Clerk’s Office or the Transfer Station. May your holidays be blessed!
Sincerely,
Sandra L. Rings, RMC, Nassau Town Clerk
“A Note from Your North Greenbush Tax Receiver”
NORTH GREENBUSH – Here are a few reminders and useful information for the upcoming 2021 Tax Season:
As we know, the COVID-19 Pandemic continues to cause many changes in our daily lives, and it goes without saying that this year’s property tax season will be a little different than previous years. Due to the pandemic the Town of North Greenbush will not collect “in-person” 2021 property taxes at the Tax Receiver’s Office or any other Office within Town Hall. Instead, you have three safe payment options: payment by mail; payment at the two Pioneer Bank Branches in Town; and payment online with a credit card.
When paying at the Pioneer Bank Branch you must bring your entire tax bill and your payment check or cash for the full amount of your bill. In return, the Bank will supply you a stamped receipt for your payment in full. Pioneer Bank does not accept credit cards for payment.
When paying by mail, please return the tax bill along with your check for the full amount shown on the tax bill. If you request a receipt of payment, please check off the box located at the bottom half of your tax bill and send in the entire bill. A receipt will not be issued without the return of the entire bill.
Please do not send cash thru the mail! Only checks will be accepted. Make checks payable to: Thomas F. McGrath, Jr. Rec. of Taxes and mail them to 2 Douglas Street, Wynantskill, NY 12198. Please be certain that the written dollar amount on your payment check is the same as the numerical dollar amount on the tax bill. Also, please sign and date your payment check. Neither the Town nor the Bank will be able to process your payment with such errors and your payment will be returned, which could result in a late payment. (Optional, please write your phone number on the memo portion of your check, so we can call you if we find any payment discrepancies).
You will avoid late fees by mailing your tax bill and payment check with a postmark before the late date printed on your bill. Your check date cannot be used as the payment date to avoid penalties.
If your taxes are paid by your Bank or Mortgage Company through escrow and you receive a tax bill directly, please do not send payment unless you are certain that your bank has discontinued your escrow payment. Please call us if you are not sure.
When calling the Town Tax Receiver Office (518-209-7506), please leave a clear and concise voice message along with your phone number.
As I enter my fourth year as Receiver of Taxes, I have truly enjoyed working in this capacity and will continue to work hard for all the residents of the Town of North Greenbush.
Sincerely, Tom McGrath Jr.
North Greenbush Tax Receiver, 518-209-7506 email: TMcGrath@nullnorthgreenbush.org Town Website: http://www.townofng.com/
A copy of your 2021 Town of North Greenbush tax bill is available online at: egov.basny.com/northgreenbush/
Town Hall Closes for Christmas Holiday
SCHODACK – Debra L. Curtis, Schodack Town Clerk, wishes to remind residents of Schodack that the Town Hall Offices will be closed on Thursday, December 24th, and Friday December 25, 2020 for the Christmas Holiday. The Town Hall offices will resume standard business hours on Monday, December 28, 2020.
The Highway Department and Transfer Station will be closed on Friday, December 25, 2020. The Transfer Station will resume standard business hours on Saturday, December 26, 2020. The Highway Department will be available for all emergencies.
The Town Hall offices and the Highway Department and the Transfer Station will be closed on Friday, January 1, 2021 for the New Year Holiday. The Transfer Station will resume standard business hours on Saturday, January 2, 2021.
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 to 4:30pm.
Happy Holidays to all Sand Lakers!
SAND LAKE – We could not have had a nicer night for the Sand Lake Holiday Parade held on December 4th. Many thanks to Andy Bulmer for organizing the parade. Due to COVID concerns, we could not hold the Butler Park event, but a great time was still held by all. I was in the DPW truck that carried Santa, and it always is a pleasure to see how excited children become when they see Santa.
I am alarmed about the rising number of COVID cases in our town and the Capital District in general. Please do all you can to limit your exposure to other people outside your immediate bubble. Be smart and maintain social distancing and wear masks. We don’t want people to get sick and we certainly don’t want people to die. Hopefully by this time next year, we will be vaccinated and this will be a bad, distant memory. But let’s not drop our guard now.
We currently have an upcoming vacancy on our Planning Board and a full-time entry position at our Public Works Department. Please send a resume and cover letter to Town Clerk Barbara Hansen if you are interested in either position.
The Sand Lake Town Board approved the purchase and installation of security cameras for Butler Park and the Town Beach. It is a shame that we have to spend money to find out who is vandalizing these public lands. Please be assured that we prosecute anyone caught destroying town property.
I am very proud that we have launched our Military Banners program. We have applications ready. They are available in Town Hall and can be downloaded on the Sand Lake Town website. This will make a great holiday present for your loved ones who served our nation. I know I am going to purchase two of the banners; just keep it a secret from my husband and my daughter Julia.
Nancy Perry, Town Supervisor
North Greenbush Report from Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
NORTH GREENBUSH – As 2020 comes to a close many say that our country is irreparably divided. It certainly seems that way if one listens only to cable TV or talk radio. Here in North Greenbush I believe that we have a community spirit that enables us to put aside our differences and come together to help our neighbors, regardless of political beliefs. This following story of the search for a lost pet in town illustrates this.
A few days before Thanksgiving my daughter learned while running an errand that a small dog had escaped from her owner on a trip to the local groomer and fled.The owner injured herself frantically chasing the little dog so reinforcements were clearly needed. Temperatures were rapidly dropping and everyone was worried the tiny creature would freeze. The community sprang into action. Homebound neighbors posted photos and information on various social media sites and apps. Local veterinarians, animal control, police and shelters were alerted. Those folks who were able drove down roads, calling the little dog’s name. My own daughters took time from studying for their finals to scour the woods around our house. As nightfall approached and temperatures plunged, we all worried about the poor lost dog shivering and hungry. What joy we all experienced when we learned its owners had found it early the next morning!
The search for this little dog occurred at a busy time of year, right before Thanksgiving when people are busy shopping and preparing food for their feasts and students were studying and finishing last minute projects. Yet so many folks were willing to take a break from the important things they were doing to help bring this little doggy home. Neighbors with a wide variety of political beliefs joined forces with a common goal. Despite the efforts of those who try to divide us, I believe this is the true spirit of our community! Happy Holidays!
Submitted by Councilwoman Mary Frances Sabo
North Greenbush Update from Supervisor Joe Bott and Deputy Supervisor Kelly Hoffman
NORTH GREENBUSH – Happy Holidays! Santa’s Christmas parade marched directly to our neighborhoods thanks to our Defreestville and Wynantskill fire departments, police and ambulance. Supervisor Bott even tried on Santa’s suit, followed by the annual tree lighting at town hall. We are happy to announce the Lake Meadows water project will be turned “on” in January, allowing residents to enjoy municipal water for the first time. This has been a priority of Supervisor Bott and Deputy Supervisor Hoffman for the past few years and acknowledge the work of Tony Germano and Mike Miner. Supervisor Bott signed a letter of support, along with the town board passing a resolution endorsing the Community and Transportation Linkage Study grant application by the Town of East Greenbush. Funding would address transportation along the Route 4 corridor between the two communities. Deputy Supervisor Kelly Hoffman reiterated the importance of collaborating with our neighboring communities as a regional approach to improving services to our residents. Supervisor Bott reports the Route 4 Improvement Project will also bring upgrades including sidewalks, crosswalks and road improvements which will begin in the Spring. We remind residents during November 1st through May 1st between 10:00 pm and 7:00 am all town roadways must be kept clear of any motorized vehicles so highway can safely clear roads for safe passage for emergency vehicles. The town board will be reviewing future handicap accessibility at Snyder’s Lake and Main Avenue parks. Thanks to town employees, county officials, County Executive Steve McLaughlin and his team for guidance during the pandemic. To ensure we keep our community safe, we remind everyone follow CDC guidelines. As we spend more time at home with our families, please check on your neighbors who may be living alone. Thank you for your strength and positivity during this unprecedented year. Wishing you a blessed holiday.
Schodack Supervisor’s Report for November 2020
SCHODACK – I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving celebrations and were able to spend time with their loved ones in whatever way they felt they safely could. This past year has presented a number of challenges and I know many of us weren’t able to celebrate as we normally would. Regardless, I hope your day was filled with food and good cheer as we paused to reflect on all that we have to be thankful for.
As the weather turns colder I want to encourage everyone to make use of some of the nicer days we have left and enjoy the outdoors at our Town Park. We have seen a significant increase in use at our park, especially the walking trails and playground. The playground has proven to be a popular addition and we’re looking to build off the popularity of it in the coming years. Our walking trails have always had a regular base of users but especially since the COVID outbreak those numbers have steadily grown. In addition, with the new rail trail opening up shortly just down the road, we hope to see more and more people discover this little gem as time goes on. Thanks to our grounds crew for their efforts in cleaning and maintaining the park.
The Town recently approved and took delivery of two new solar powered radar speed signs. One of these has been permanently mounted near Green Meadow School. The other we had the highway maintenance crew repurpose an old mobile speed sign trailer our Police Department owned that no longer worked and were able to mount the new sign on it. The Schodack PD will now be able to deploy it throughout town on roads where we receive complaints about speeders.
Thanks to the highway crew for their ingenuity. If you have a road you would like to see the mobile radar sign deployed on please let us know and we’ll work with our Police Department to deploy this sign there.
And finally, I want to thank Jon Reickert as he has accepted a position in EG as their new Assistant Chief of Police. Thank you for 24 years of service to Schodack. We wish you the best.
Schodack Town Board GOP Report December 2020
SCHODACK – We hope this report finds you all well. As COVID cases continue to rise in our area, we continue to have discussions with Supervisor Harris over the best course of action to pursue in response to the ever changing situation. At this moment our Town Hall remains open for residents to conduct necessary business and it is our wish it remains as such for as long as is reasonably responsible to do so. We’re committed to making sure our residents have access to these services and through our work with the County Department of Health and County Executive Steve McLaughlin and his team, we have implemented safety protocols that we feel protect our employees and residents. This is a fluid situation however and as factors change we will respond accordingly. Much of this depends on decisions made by Governor Cuomo, but if businesses are open then people should expect their government to be as well.
We have been very pleased with the work Chief of Police John Hourigan and the Schodack Police have done in responding to citizens concerns and issues that stemmed from the opening of the Amazon distribution center. In conjunction with our highway department, several road signs restricting truck access have been installed and our Police are enforcing these restrictions in order to ensure truck traffic remains on Route 9. We are happy to support our police in these efforts and work to find solutions that benefit all parties. Additionally, we have had discussions with our County Legislative representatives and join them in asking Amazon and CDTA to reach an agreement to open a bus stop at the distribution center. We feel this will help enhance the safety of those working there who rely on public transport.
And finally we’d like to extend our welcome to Officer Carrie Kane and Ryan Boehme as the newest members of the Schodack Police Department. We know you’ll make excellent additions to our Police Department.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas.
-Jim Bult, Mike Kenney, and Scott Swartz
It’s Official, Biden Won! Let’s Dance – Virtually
SAND LAKE – Celebrate the inauguration of Joseph Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President with Sand Lake Democrats and friends at the Virtual Inaugural Ball to be held online on Inauguration Day, Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
The party begins at 7:00 PM with virtual cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, followed by the virtual ball from 7:30 – 8:30 PM. The ball promises to be a festive, fun, and participatory celebration, featuring appearances by well-known local musicians, singers, artists, and other surprise guests.
The event is being sponsored by the Sand Lake Democratic Committee (SLDC) and proceeds will support future local campaigns.
The suggested donation is $10 and donations can be made securely on-line at https://secure.actblue.com/donate/sand-lake-democratic-committee-1-base, or by check mailed to Sand Lake Democratic Committee, PO Box 89, Averill Park, NY 12018.
All donors will be sent the Zoom link by email prior to the event, so those donating by check should include their email address.
For more information, visit the SLDC on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SandLakeDemocrats/
Save the date and join the celebration!
Garrett DeGraff, Averill Park
Nassau Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
NASSAU – The Nassau Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Supervisor (two-year term), Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a four-year term), Town Justice (four-year term), Tax Collector (two-year term), and Superintendent of Highways (two-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Pat Piniazek, Chair; Nassau Democratic Committee; via email: patpen1018@nullgmail.com.
The Nassau Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 3 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 4: Towns of Nassau, Sand Lake, and Schodack) to submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
Brunswick Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
BRUNSWICK – The Brunswick Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town office in 2021: Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a 4-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resumé and letter of qualifications by Feb. 3, 2021 to: Jennifer Mann, Chair; Brunswick Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 91; Cropseyville, NY 12052 or via email: BrunswickDems@nullgmail.com.
The Brunswick Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 3 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 3: Towns of Brunswick, Pittstown, and Schaghticoke) to submit a resumé and letter of qualifications by Feb. 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
East Greenbush Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
EAST GREENBUSH – The East Greenbush Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Council (two seats to be filled, each with a four-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Judith Condo, Chair; East Greenbush Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 434; East Greenbush, NY 12061 or via email: jcondo604@nullgmail.com.
The East Greenbush Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 4 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 2: Towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush, and Poestenkill) to submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
North Greenbush Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
NORTH GREENBUSH – The North Greenbush Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Supervisor (two-year term), Town Council (four-year term) and Town Justice (four-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Joshua A. Sabo, Chair; North Greenbush Democratic Committee; 40 Buckbee Rd., Troy, NY 12180 or via email: northgreenbushdemocrats@nullgmail.com.
The North Greenbush Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 4 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 2: Towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush, and Poestenkill) to submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
Poestenkill Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
POESTENKILL – The Poestenkill Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Supervisor (two-year term), Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a four-year term), Town Clerk (two-year term), and Superintendent of Highways (two-year term).
Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to Bob Crowley, Chair, Poestenkill Democratic Committee, P.O. Box 21, Poestenkill, NY 12140, or via email: pkdems@nullgmail.com.
The Poestenkill Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk, or 1 of 4 seats on the Rensselaer County Legislature (representing District 2: Towns of East Greenbush, North Greenbush, and Poestenkill) to submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to: Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair; Rensselaer County Democratic Committee; P.O. Box 846; Troy, NY 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.
Schodack Democratic Committee Seeking Candidates for Town and County Offices
SCHODACK – The Schodack Democratic Committee is currently accepting resumes from residents interested in running for the following town offices in 2021: Town Supervisor (two-year term) and Town Council Member (two seats to be filled, each with a 4-year term). Interested candidates are invited to inquire and/or submit a resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to Laura M. Jordan, Chair of the Schodack Democratic Committee via e-mail: ljordan@nullpowers-santola.com or by regular mail: Laura M. Jordan, 100 Great Oaks Blvd, Suite 123, Albany, New York 12033.
The Schodack Democratic Committee also encourages Rensselaer County residents who are interested in running for County Executive, County Clerk or Rensselaer County Legislature (three seats to be filled representing District 4: Towns of Schodack, Sand Lake and Nassau) to submit their resume and letter of qualifications by February 3, 2021 to Michael J. Monescalchi, Chair of the Rensselaer County Democratic Committee at P.O. Box 846, Troy, New York, 12181 or via email: renscodemschair@nullgmail.com.