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Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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County Legislators React To 2015 State Of The County Address

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by Rich Crist Majority Legislative Liaison 

Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature offered reaction to the State of the County address for 2015 delivered by County Executive Kathleen Jimino at the March 10 legislative meeting.

County Executive Jimino focused on ongoing shared services and inter-municipal cooperation agreements that have helped reduce costs and ensured needed services are carried out effectively. The shared services agreements include road repair, snow plowing services, shared technology, energy and purchasing, among other mutual efforts.

She also continued to focus on the rising cost of state mandates and a failure by the state to reform spending requirements for costly social programs.

“The County Executive correctly noted the great efforts made in Rensselaer County to stretch a dollar and provide needed services in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Vice Chair for Finance Phil Danaher.

The Legislature has played a role in protecting taxpayers and creating a foundation for growth. County lawmakers have supported four consecutive county budgets that have remained under the state tax cap and supported policies that have led to upgrades in the county bond rating and positive financial reviews. The Legislature was also instrumental in creating 265 new jobs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in East Greenbush, extending county sewer service to the site.

The Legislature also organized a re-bid of the county insurance policy, with the policy costing the county less than what was paid in the early 1990s. Legislators also approved a refinancing of existing debt that is expected to save $1.2 million.

“We are working hard during some challenging economic times to protect property taxpayers and encourage job creation and new growth. We are very optimistic about the future of Rensselaer County and what 2015 will bring,” said Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid.

“Taxpayers demand that we do more with less and make the same difficult choices they make every day in their household or business. We have heard that message in Rensselaer County,” said Legislator Todd Tesman.

Along with success in managing finances, the county has also worked to protect quality of life. The Legislature this year approved a renewal of an agreement between the county and the Agricultural Stewardship Association. The ASA partnership has resulted in more than 3500 acres of farmland and open space being protected in over a decade.

“We are encouraged that more resources may be made available at the state level to protect farms and open space right here in Rensselaer County. Farming remains a big part of the heritage and the future of our county,” said Majority Leader Ken  Herrington.

Eric Mace Re-enlists In The New York Army National Guard

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Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General, announced the recent reenlistment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Staff Sergeant Eric Mace from Petersburgh has re-enlisted to continue service with the Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

“The New York Army National Guard has sustained our force at or above 100 percent strength for the better part of seven years now,” Murphy said. “New York is ready to provide forces for state missions here at home, as we saw during the Buffalo Snow Emergency last year, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 or for sustaining our support to federal missions for our nation around the country and around the world.”

Veterans of Stephentown Texas Hold’em Tournament

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The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, March 14, in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and close at 6 pm. Play begins at 6:15 sharp.

A free buffet will be served at the first break and refreshments will be available.

No advance registration is required. A donation of $35 will be accepted and give the player 7,500 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,500 extra in chips. This tournament will pay one place for every 10 players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of 9 places.

The next Texas Hold’em tournaments will be held on Saturday, March 28, and April 11. For further information, please call Tom MacVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Foot Massage And Reflexology

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Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education is once again offering its popular class in how to give your tootsies the pampering they deserve – Foot Massage and Reflexology. The feet function as a map of the body. Through manual manipulation of the feet we can help ourselves and our others experience relief from distress from many sources. Manual manipulation can be as gentle as foot massage or as intense and as detailed as foot reflexology. Foot massage uses the actions of rubbing, kneading, rocking and shaking and is wonderful for general relaxation. Foot reflexology uses thumb and finger pressure on specific points of the feet. It can be helpful for yourself and for family care.

Foot Massage and Reflexology with Anne Snyder will take place on Monday evenings from 6 to 8 pm for a three-week course beginning March 16 through March 30 in the Beacon Feed Studio Board Room, behind Hubbard Hall. Registration is $60 or $54 for members. You may also opt for a single drop-in evening for $25. The registration deadline is Friday, March 13 and may be completed at www.hubbardhall.org or by calling 518-677-2495. Enrollment for this class is limited to a maximum of six students. Please bring   a sheet, a towel, a pillow to support your knees, a pillow to support your head, a blanket.

Class 1, March 16,  Foot Massage – A map of the body as reflected through the feet. Kneading, rubbing, rocking and shaking, Powders, oils, soaks

Class 2, March 23, Foot Reflexology -Finding your way around a body using the feet as the map, Learning to use pressure, An overall routine including some important pressure points.

Class 3, March 30,  Putting It All Together and Putting It All Together and Taking It To The Next Level. For those who have taken both Class 1 and Class 2 and would like to refine and deepen their practice.

Anne Snyder is a Licensed Massage Therapist in New York, has been practicing reflexology since 1987 and massage since 1991. She has lived in Cambridge since 2008.

Hubbard Hall is located at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY.  For more information on this and all Hubbard Hall programs, or to purchase tickets, register for classes, make a donation and/or become a member or theatre subscriber please visit www.hubbardhall.org or call 518-677-2495.

Alan G. Hall

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Berlin – Alan G. Hall, 51, of East Greenbush, NY, formerly of Berlin, NY, died suddenly on March 3, 2015, at Albany Medical Center. A loving husband and father, a loyal brother and uncle, Alan’s love and devotion to his family was unmatched. To watch Alan with his beloved Michelle and his two daughters, Annie and Lydia, was life’s dance at its best. Nostalgic in every way, Alan always had one foot in the past as he lived in the present.

Born in Manhattan, Alan was a graduate of Berlin Central High School and RPI, majoring in Geology. Alan worked at Dunn Geoscience and Delaney Construction before starting the consulting firm of H2H Associates in Troy, NY, with partner Richard Hisert.

Alan was the son of the late Anthony and Angeles (Taggueg) Hall, and the ideals they instilled in him were the cornerstone of his life. Family, faith, community and friends were the pillars that led him to lead an exceptional life – a life of generosity and compassion. To say that Alan was loyal is an understatement. To know Alan was to know you had a friend for life. He was the first one to drop everything to be at your side. Anything that Alan had was yours for the taking (except for, maybe, his collection of Topps Baseball cards, which are likely now being held in a safety deposit box somewhere in the Cayman Islands).

Alan was the beloved husband of Michelle L. (Ruffos) Hall, and the devoted father of daughters Annie and Lydia. He is also survived by his sister, Audrey (Scott) Vanderhoef of Grafton, NY, his brother, Albert and wife Kim Hall of Latham, NY, his niece, Christine Hall of Raleigh, NC, and his nephew, Andrew Hall of Latham. He was the brother-in-law of Mitchell Ruffos and the son-in-law of Carolyn and Paul Ruffos.

Services were Monday at the Church of St. Mary, 163 Columbia Turnpike, Rensselaer, NY. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in Alan’s memory to the American Heart Association at 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY, 12205, and/or the Alan G. Hall Outstanding Business Leader Award, care of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Columbia High School, 962 Luther Road, East Greenbush, NY, 12061.

Light a condolence candle at www.wjrockefeller.com.

The Life Of George Holcomb – Wm’s Wife Returns

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Monday, Nov 3, 1834: This forenoon a drover from near New York called and offered fifteen dol per head for a part of my cows such as I would choose to sell, but it was not high price as I wanted. This afternoon I walked over to Claudius Moffett’s to Election. I put in a Jackson vote and I paid Mr. Dabill 62 cts, which pays him up for the cheese hoops he made for me last summer. This evening I walked to Hazard Morey’s and paid him up the note and interest which was thirty five dol and 25 cts.

Tuesday: This afternoon I drew two loads manure on the hill and I broke the axletree. I had my small wagon.  Tonight I am quite unwell with a cold and I took phisic.

Wednesday: I am quite unwell. I rode to Lebanon to Doc Right’s and got a puke and this evening I took said puke.

Thursday: I took another puke and kept the house.

Friday: I am some better of my cold. This forenoon I pinned on a piece to my axletree and this afternoon took said single wagon and carried my wife to Lebanon.

Monday: This evening I walked over to Mr. Abraham Winston’s and got a side of shoe leather. Mr. Winston went down in the lot and got me some brook lime to put into rum to take for the Sathume on my hands. Today I lent James Adams Jnr one hundred and eighty dollars and took a note on interest for one year.

Tuesday: Tonight brother Wm returned from Hudson with his wife, she was some better, her crazyness. She had been there three months.

Tuesday, November 11, 1834: On this evening brother Wm and I settled our dealings and I paid him one dol in cash which makes all our deal even.

Wednesday: This morning brother Wm and wife left my house for Hoosic and calculated to start on the canal on Friday to move to the westward.  Mother gave Wm a featherbed and a coverlet and I gave him about sixteen pounds of cheese, and I rode along with Wm to Mr. James Adams and said Adams paid him up for his farm. (two days earlier, George lent Adams the money to buy Wm’s farm) William gave me his old sled and small notions and I returned home when William and his wife went on to Hoosic, and I drew out manure.

Thursday: I drew out manure.

Friday: I drew out manure.

Sunday: This afternoon I walked up to the post office at Squ Nathan Howard’s to see if brother Wm wrote me a letter but he had not, and I walked up to Rufus Rose’s with said Nathan Howard and I handed Howard five dollars and twelve cts and he called over to Mr. Watson’s and paid it to Eunice Watson for me, which was her demand in full for the nine weeks work at one dol per week with what I had paid her before.

Civicure Secures $6,300 Grant For Preservation Of Wood Block

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submitted by ReadMedia

The Preservation League of New York State presented a $6,300 grant to CiviCure, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is the “revitalization of the Hoosick economy through active stewardship of our rich heritage and rural environs and the art inspired by them.” It was presented at a board meeting of CiviCure on Monday, March 2, at 11 am, at 5 Main Street in Hoosick Falls.

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