by Kieron Kramer
District Five County Legislators Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell were interviewed by WTEN TV after the Rensselaer County Legislative meeting Tuesday. They were the lead sponsors of a resolution that passed at the meeting that will require Global Positioning Devices on all vehicles contracted by Rensselaer County for the transportation of children. This requirement will be included in all upcoming bid specifications. The Legislators represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
The resolution was introduced in response to an incident in Stephentown on Thursday, January 8, when a van carrying three young children, a bus monitor and driver went missing. The van had gotten stuck on a seasonal portion of North Moore Hill Road in North Stephentown. Seasonal roads are not plowed in winter and are officially closed to traffic from October 15 to April 15. While there were no injuries, the van could not be located for several hours during winter conditions.
The County is required to contract with private transportation providers to help children in the County reach various educational and counseling services. The contracts are entered into at various times of the year by the County for transport services throughout the Capital Region.
Ray Darling – Now Nine Time Champion
Ray Darling, who was honored last month for being an eight time champion of the World Arm Wrestling Federation, appeared in the well of the Legislature to receive a copy, suitably engrossed, of the resolution honoring him. Legislator Tom Walsh, who made the presentation along with Brownell and Goodermote, read the resolution and marvelled at Darling’s agelessness.
According to the resolution, Ray Darling is a contractor from Grafton, 64 years old, and an eight time champion of the World Arm Wrestling Federation. Ray traveled to Kelowna, a ski town in British Columbia, to try and win his ninth championship title since the resolution was passed last month. The event attracted up to six hundred wrestlers from fifty different countries. Darling, a thirty year veteran of the sport, competed against men less than half his age and still managed to beat them. This takes a lot of dedication and hard work. Training can consist of running, weight lifting, finger and wrist strengthening, climbing rope and palming mini-bowling balls that weigh up to ten pounds. Upon receiving the resolution Darling said, “Now it’s nine time World Champion.”
Local Residents On County Fire Advisory Board
Twenty-one people were appointed to the County Fire Advisory Board with terms to expire on December 31, 2009. Seven of the appointees are from the Eastwick area. John (Jack) Kanopka and Joseph Sweener represent Berlin. Edward Fredricks III represents Grafton. James Hunt represents Hoosick. William Seel represents Petersburgh, and Rowland McClave, III represents Stephentown. All are re-appointments except Sweener who is new this year. Legislator Stan Brownell was appointed Legislative Liaison to the Board.
Return On Dog Licenses
A resolution apportioning 75% of the surplus from receipts for dog licensing collected in 2008 returned a total of $7,505.40 to the various towns in the County. Towns in our area received the following amounts:
Berlin $149.82
Brunswick 581.94
Grafton 153.60
Hoosick 375.35
Petersburgh 129.39
Stephentown 261.82
Much more of interest happened at this meeting, and it will be reported next week.