The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Missions Conference At Petersburgh Baptist

By

 

 

The Petersburgh Baptist Church will be holding its 2008 Annual Missions Conference October 17-19.  The public is welcome to come hear missionaries from Ukraine and Africa tell about their cultures and ministries.

We are excited to have missionaries who have roots in our area.  Gary and Ruth Stephens

Gary and Ruth Stephens.
Gary and Ruth Stephens.

have been our missionaries in Cameroon, West Africa, since 1988.  Gary has served as seminary professor, academic dean and field administrator.  Besides being a childcare worker and school nurse, Ruth works training women in ministry.  Stephen Lazorischak began a church in Kirovograd and has served as a pastor, evangelist and children’s minister.  He also hosts visiting American mission teams.

 

The conference begins with a progressive, dessert-talk, with a different dessert at each missionary, on Friday, October 17, at 7 pm at the Church.  There will also be a children’s rally that night at 7 for kids aged three through sixth grade. On Saturday morning, there will be a women’s breakfast at the Church at 8:30 and a men’s breakfast at 9 at the Falls Diner in Hoosick Falls.  The fun continues with a missions and a covered-dish dinner at 5:30 pm at the Church followed by presentations by each missionary family at 6:45.  On Sunday morning, there will be special missions Sunday school at 10:45 and missions speakers in the morning service at 11.  Finally, we will wrap up the weekend with a light lunch after church.

For more information, contact the Petersburgh Baptist Church at 658-3834.

County Legislator Stan Brownell Charged With DWI

By

by Bea Peterson

Rensselaer County Legislator Stanley Brownell has pleaded not guilty to a DWI charge incurred on August 10 in Springfield, VT. According to Brownell’s attorney Daniel McManus, Vermont law states a first time offender has a right to refuse a breath test. Brownell refused it. “He is innocent until proven guilty,” said his attorney. “We haven’t seen the video that was taken in the processing room by Springfield Police.” He feels that the video will provide more evidence on Brownell’s behalf. McManus asked that people keep an open mind until the case comes to court. “It’s unfortunate that because of his position in the Legislature this case has had a lot of publicity.”

“Legislator Brownell has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. He expects to bring the case to trial some time this fall,” said Richard Crist, Republican Legislative Liaison from the Rensselaer County Legislature Majority Office. He added that so far as he knew, recently published stories appearing in several local daily newspapers had the facts correct.

The Eastwick Press does not have a copy of the police affidavit at this point, but, according to published reports, Brownell was stopped for driving 50 m.p.h. in a 40 m.p.h. zone. He was also alleged to be weaving in his lane, which his attorney disputes. Brownell reportedly admitted to police that he had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening. 

The case is scheduled for the Windsor, VT, District Court at 3 pm on October 8.

Experimental Paving Project On Route 43

By

 

A Callanan crew led by Francis Grant lays down an experimental type of asphalt on Route 43 across from Dave’s Market last Thursday. Photo by Pat Flint.
A Callanan crew led by Francis Grant lays down an experimental type of asphalt on Route 43 across from Dave’s Market last Thursday. Photo by Pat Flint.

Another First For Stephentown

by David Flint

The second phase of paving on Route 43 from Stephentown to the Massachusetts line began last Thursday with the laying down of an experimental new type of blacktop called warm mix asphalt (WMA). Stephentown was the first site in eastern New York State selected for the use of this new technology which originated in Europe. According to Peter Van Keuren, spokesman for the New York State Transportation Department (NYSDOT), the WMA process allows conventional hot mix asphalt to be produced at a reduced temperature, thereby saving fuel at the plant and reducing emissions at the plant and in the field for the workers and inspection staff.╩ The savings realized in energy can range from 10% to 50%.╩Since each ton of hot mix produced uses the equivalent of two gallons of diesel fuel to heat, reduced fuel consumption, he said, is obviously of interest.

He added that WMA also reduces the aging of asphalt in the plant, which may provide for a longer lasting pavement when compared to hot mix asphalt.╩ Van Keuren said that NYSDOT is allowing contractors to place trial sections, as here in Stephentown, in order to learn the benefits and limitations of different types of WMA technology.╩ 

NYSDOT has already used over 30,000 tons of WMA on State owned roads, mostly in the Syracuse area using a number of different forms of the technology. Demonstration projects have also been carried out on some county and town roads.

Francis Grant, a native of Stephentown and Paving Foreman for Callanan Industries, was in charge of the job on Route 43. Grant is aware that NYSDOT is excited about the potential for WMA as “the green thing” that will also serve to reduce the cost of highway maintenance in the State. Some have said that in the next five years NYSDOT will be using only WMA. Grant, however, is far from convinced that the technology in its present form is the wave of the future. This was his first experience with WMA, and he was not pleased with the quality of the job that was done. Grant said they used WMA in the eastbound lane but for the westbound lane and for the shoulders they used conventional asphalt. The westbound land and the shoulders are fine, he said, but the eastbound lane is not smooth, and it is slippery even though the material is open graded for a porous surface. The material, he said, is very difficult to work with. In his 30 years in road work, Grant said he has never worked with material this bad. He believes that the machinery currently being used to lay roads will need some adaptations to properly work with WMA. He believes the technology will eventually improve but if it is to be the wave of the future it will have to test out better than this. 

Van Keuren said he believes the WMA in Stephentown “was placed on a day that was apparently too cold and was too far from the plant and therefore has some ride and aesthetic issues.╩ The contractor is going to address some of these issues, but it is not completely determined the extent of the repairs required.” He added that NYSDOT did use the opportunity to make test samples to test for durability and to compare the new technology with hot mix asphalt.╩ In tests from other projects he said that so far the technology appears to maintain durability.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, “The benefits of warm mix asphalt technologies to the United States in terms of energy savings and air quality improvements are promising, but these technologies need further investigation and research in order to validate their expected performance and added value.”

Fire At Hoosac Meadows

By

 

The smell of smoke was evident from the opened windows at 22 Hoosac Meadows Way Wednesday afternoon as a result of a kitchen fire Tuesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)
The smell of smoke was evident from the opened windows at 22 Hoosac Meadows Way Wednesday afternoon as a result of a kitchen fire Tuesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)

by Bea Peterson

The Hoosick Fire Department received the call of a structure fire at Hoosac Meadows Way at 10:02 Tuesday night. “The first engine was at the scene in five or six minutes,” said Hoosick Fire Chief William Rifenburgh. Smoke from the kitchen fire was visible to Route 22, he added. 

The family of Darlene Lockrow had turned in for the night when smoke detectors alerted them to the fire, which was the result of an unattended cooking fire; something unintentionally left going on the stove. “The kitchen suffered heavy smoke, fire and heat damage,” said Chief Rifenburgh. 

Residents and neighbors with fire extinguishers held the flames at bay until Fire Departments from Hoosick and Hoosick Falls arrived on the scene. They quickly knocked down the remaining fire. “The automatic pre-plan we have in place for apartment complexes worked well last night,” said the Chief. Hoosick and Hoosick Falls Departments were automatically deployed and the North Hoosick Fire Department was on standby in quarters. “The Hoosick Falls ladder truck was on the scene and because there are no hydrants, trucks were sent up Route 22, across from McDonald’s, to be filled with water from hydrants located there. 

Some of the apartments share common attic space, and fire fighters made sure fire had not gotten into the walls before allowing residents to return to their homes about 11 pm. “The family of four was very fortunate their smoke detectors worked,” said Chief Rifenburgh. Often individuals are overcome by smoke rather than the fire, he added. “It was a good reminder that everyone should make sure their smoke detectors are in good working order.”

Closing Of Grafton And Stephentown Elementary Schools Still Raises Hackles

By

by David Flint

Sparks flew at last week’s Berlin School Board meeting regarding the Board’s decision three months ago to close the Grafton and Stephentown elementary schools. Tyler Sawyer, former Supervisor of the Town of Grafton, appeared before the Board to ask about their reaction to a letter he had forwarded to them from Robert J. Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government. In his letter, dated August 28, Freeman expressed his opinion that the Board’s action in making a crucial decision just prior to midnight and continuing discussion to 1:30 am might not have been in line with the intent of the New York State Open Meetings Law. 

Sawyer had some time ago asked for an opinion from Freeman, noting that the meeting had begun at 7 pm but that by 8:30 pm it became clear, as Freeman summarized Sawyer’s objection, “that certain Board members already knew what direction they wanted to take when it came to the closing of our rural schools in favor of centralization of the District. But with so many people still in attendance, it also became clear to [you] that they felt the timing was not right to discuss it at that point. That is when Chairman Zwack turned over the meeting to Board Member Morelli to begin what [you] can only equate as an old time filibuster.” 

Sawyer said he and other community members left the meeting before midnight and only found out the next day about the decision to close the schools and the ensuing discussion into the wee hours about the possibility of spending up to $17 million for renovations and new construction. 

Freeman said that while the Open Meetings Law does not specify when meetings must be held, it does state that, “It is essential to the maintenance of a democratic society that the public business be performed in an open and public manner and that the citizens of this state be fully aware of and able to observe the performance of public officials and attend and listen to the deliberations and decisions that go into the making of public policy.” Citing a judicial decision against a school district that held a meeting at 7:30 am, Freeman concluded that, “From my perspective, voting on an issue and discussing matters of great significance to taxpayers in the community so late at night would be found by a court to be unreasonable, particularly under the circumstances that you described. If indeed there was a filibuster, an effort to delay discussing or acting on issues until those most or all of those interested in attending exited due to the lateness of the hour, it might effectively be contended that there was essentially an intent to discuss matters of great importance to the public and act in private in contravention of the spirit, if not the letter of the Open Meetings Law.”

Sawyer said he was not accusing the Board of intentionally dragging out the meeting, but, regardless of the intent, the perception in the community was that it was not fair to make such a central decision at such an hour. He said 50 to 70 community members were at the meeting thinking that this was just the beginning of a process for discussing the school closings but most had to leave, as he did, well before the decision happened. 

Board Member Tom Morelli responded vehemently that he applauded the Board for taking the time and effort that was needed to come to a consensus on important issues. He pointed out that the Board had spent over 18 months examining and weighing the issues. He resented it that people would seek to indict “a team that has been putting out enormous energy and brainpower to come up with solutions.” He said that Freeman’s opinion was just that, an opinion, and not a statement of fact. He made a motion that the Board request a legal opinion in response to Freeman’s letter from the attorneys who were present at the meeting. 

Board President Frank Zwack said, “If [the meeting] took longer than it should have, then I am to blame.” He said he wanted to let each Board Member have as much time as they felt they needed to fully discuss the issue and he refused to shut down discussion or take shortcuts as the Board was elected to represent the community and provide checks and balances. 

Board Member Julie Darling, who along with Donald French and Beverly Stewart had opposed the vote on closing the schools, pointed out in the Board’s defense that the meeting was not scheduled to go to 1:30 am, but, “It just took us time to do it.” She agreed with getting the legal opinion saying, “As a Board we need to protect ourselves.” 

The motion to get the legal opinion on the timeliness of the meeting and the Board’s legal responsibilities in adhering to the Open Meetings Law was seconded by Donald French and passed unanimously 7-0. 

SEQRA Declarations Delayed

The Board’s vote to submit declarations regarding the environmental impact of the proposed capital project under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA) failed to pass. The administration had tentatively prepared declarations that there would be no significant environmental impact from the proposed additions, improvements and upgrades at Berlin Elementary School, the Jr/Sr High School and the bus garage. The State Education Department cannot review any construction proposal until the SEQR process is complete, but Beverly Stewart said she had qualms about agreeing to statements such as that there would be no additional vehicular traffic at the elementary school. Tom Morelli also objected that there had not been sufficient discussion on the Board about various aspects of environmental impact. He insisted that the Board needed to be perceived as having done due diligence in this matter. Don French agreed that the Board would be jumping the gun by approving the negative declarations without having seen the detailed plans and without having discussed environmental impact. Interim Business Administrator Scott Hunter said he thought the Board had done due diligence by having qualified architects advise them on this, but Julie Darling joined the dissenters to defeat the vote to submit by 4-3. The Board will now bring in an attorney to walk them through the SEQR process.

Bids Accepted For Outdoor Basketball Court

Another split vote involved the new outdoor basketball court to be installed at the high school. About $4,600 had been donated for this purpose some years ago in honor of former Schools Superintendent David Sicko, former Buildings & Grounds Superintendent Steve Genaway and former Business Manager Fran Zuke. Money from a Bruno grant received a couple of years ago has also been allocated for the project, making about $31,600 available. The Board approved bids from CWG Excavating to relocate an existing volleyball court and do the excavation for both courts for a total of $21,900 and a bid from Callanan Industries to do the paving for $12,700. Tom Morelli objected saying he did not recall that this expenditure had been discussed in the budget process last spring. He said he wanted the project done but he wanted it done right. Although others on the Board recalled that it had been discussed and approved along with a new score board, Don French agreed with Morelli and suggested it be put off until they had a chance to review exactly what had been approved earlier. He also wanted more detail on how much it would cost to complete the project with seal coating, hoops and lighting. The vote to accept the bids passed 5-2 with Morelli and French voting no. 

Enrollment Projections

Business Administrator Hunter presented updated enrollment projections based on the Cohort Survival method. His study indicates that school population in the elementary grades (k-5) appear to have bottomed out at 403, having dropped from 481 in 2001-02. By 2013-14 the data shows there could be a slight increase. The number of students in grades 6-12 has declined from 589 in 2001-02 to 481 presently. Hunter’s figures show a continuing decline through the school year 2013-14 when enrollment is shown to be 838. After that the data indicates enrollment is pretty much flat through 2018-19. 

Savings Detailed From School Closings

Hunter also presented a breakdown of the projected savings to the District from closing the Grafton and Stephentown schools. At Stephentown savings in staff are expected to be $258,970, savings in supplies and services $19,344, savings in utilities $24,133 and savings in employee benefits $126,206, for a total of $428,653. At Grafton the numbers are $192,184 for staff, $23,678 for supplies and services, $30,239 for utilities and $60,151 for employee benefits, for a total of $306,252, and a combined total for the two schools of $734,906. Added to that are additional amounts related to administration and teacher retirement amounting to $255,971, for a grand total of $990,876. 

Beverly Stewart wanted to know why there were no savings included on the list for the Principal and School Nurse at Grafton. She said that was said to be one of the main reasons for closing Grafton, to realize those savings. She wanted to know if now it was planned to have two principals and two nurses at Berlin. Interim Superintendent Charlotte Gregory responded that they were leaving the Board that option but they could be cut later. Frank Zwack said the list was intended to be a very conservative indication of savings and that it was expected the savings would be better than indicated here. The positions have not been settled upon, he said, but it is better to have the savings estimate as low as possible for State aid purposes. But Stewart was not mollified, saying, “I feel deceived.” She noted that she had proposed a capital program costing only $7 million that would have closed Berlin Elementary and left Grafton and Stephentown open, but was told that wouldn’t work largely because it would still leave the District paying for two building principals. 

The Board set a capital project workshop meeting for Monday, September 29. at 6:30 pm at Berlin Elementary School and their next regular meeting for Tuesday, October 21, at 7 pm at the high school.

JLS Foundation Finalists Attend Networking Day In New York

By

 

In the photo from left to right: John Liporace, Jr., Laura Stevenson, Nicole LaCroix, Ben Taylor, Samantha Merwin, Mary Donohue, Sean Swarner.
In the photo from left to right: John Liporace, Jr., Laura Stevenson, Nicole LaCroix, Ben Taylor, Samantha Merwin, Mary Donohue, Sean Swarner.

 

Five students from the Class of 2009 at Hoosick Falls Central School recently attended a networking day in New York City where they met with four professionals who shared stories about their careers, offered advice on how to be successful and pledged to stay in contact with the students to help them plan their college and post-college careers. 

 

The five students – Mary Donohue, Nicole LaCroix, Samantha Merwin, Laura Stevenson and Ben Taylor – earned the trip to New York City after being named finalists for a scholarship offered by the JLS Foundation. The JLS Foundation which honors the memory of the late John Liporace Sr., was created to empower high school students at HFCS to realize their fullest potential by exposing them to a variety of career opportunities, connecting them to a network of career professionals and awarding them with the financial resources to pursue their careers. Each year the Foundation offers a networking opportunity to HFCS students entering their senior year. 

The networking day was hosted by John Liporace Jr., Managing Partner at Taylor, one of the country’s leading public relations agencies, at his office in the Empire State Building. Liporace arranged for the students to meet with four professionals, who included Matt Lalin, Founder, StarPower, who has negotiated $100 million worth of marketing deals for professional athletes, Dr. Joyce Liporace, one of the country’s leading neurologists specializing in concerns for women with epilepsy, Ken Kencel, CEO of Churchill Financial, and Sean Swarner, the first cancer survivor to summit Mt. Everest. HFCS teachers Isabel McGuire and Chris Marsh escorted the students to New York.

Each of the four speakers shared stories of how they started their careers and what they felt were keys to success. 

“Each of the speakers took different paths to success,” said John Liporace Jr. “The common theme was they were all chasing a dream to do something they love and the passion for their work helped them reach the top. Certainly, Sean’s story was a different one; it was more about survival and chasing your dream no matter what stands in the way.”

The 33-year old Swarner, who flew in from Boulder, CO, where he lives and trains, spent an hour with the students talking to them about the challenges he has faced including being a two-time cancer survivor, being twice told that he wouldn’t survive and then realizing his dream of being the first cancer survivor to literally reach the top of the world. Swarner, who co-authored the book Keep Climbing, signed copies of the book for the students and encouraged them to not lose sight of their dreams no matter what the obstacle.

Each of the students has been asked to write a 250 word essay about their experience in New York. One of the students will then be selected to receive a $1,500 scholarship and a matching donation of $1,500 will be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, a national voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for Leukemia, Lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and Myeloma and to improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The donation will benefit the Upstate New York/Vermont Chapter of the Society, which services the Hoosick Falls area.

For more information about the JLS Foundation, log on to www.thejlsfoundation.org.

Letter To The Editor – Berlin Food Closet Finds Support In The Community

By

To The Editor:

The Berlin Community Food Closet would like to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to all who responded to our recent plea for help. When an article appeared in The Eastwick Press a few weeks ago we had little money available to purchase food or help with utility bills this winter. Many individuals and institutions in the valley responded with generous gifts. We now have enough money on hand to supply those in need with food this winter and to help at least a few families with emergency fuel oil assistance.

Some who donated were unaware of the Food Closet’s work. The Berlin Community Food Closet was formed over ten years ago to help supply the needy in our community with food. Clients are provided with a three-day supply of food, based on the size of the family, on the 28th of each month (or by appointment). They are also given a voucher which can be redeemed for bread, eggs, milk and margarine at local stores. The Berlin Community Food Closet is housed at Maxson Fellowship Hall at 47 North Main Street in Berlin. It is sponsored by the United Methodist, First Baptist, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Baptist Churches of Berlin. Individuals and organizations in our community also provide extensive support for the ministry.

The Food Closet also provides emergency fuel assistance to those who are in danger of running out of fuel. We work with Eagle Energy to provide 125 gallons of fuel, often on the same day it is requested, to those in need. Given the expense of this program each family is eligible for assistance just once each year. Funds are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and only if other assistance programs, such as HEAP, have been exhausted. The Food Closet has also helped the needy and working poor in the valley with help for electricity bills, car repair, medical expenses and other expenses when funds are available.

The Berlin Community Food Closet accepts donations of food, but cash donations will stretch your gift much farther. We are a member of the Food Bank of Northeastern New York and thus are able to purchase food from them for as little as ten cents per pound. The same fifty cents used to purchase a can of green beans at your local store will purchase as much as five pounds of green beans from the Food Bank. With the help of the Food Bank we are also able to supply diapers to our clients when they are available. These salvage diapers, which generally suffer from no defect other than an open or torn package, are also purchased from the Food Bank by the pound. The same is true of baby wipes, toiletries, cleaning supplies and other paper products. Such items are very expensive, and we are always happy when we are able to supply them to our clients. If you would like to tour the food closet or have other questions about this charity, please call Pastor Matt Olson at 658-2868.

If you donated, again, our sincere thanks to you. If you still wish to donate any gift you give, large or small, will be used to help the needy in Berlin to be well fed and warm this winter. Gifts may be sent to the Berlin Community Food Closet, P.O. Box 284, Berlin, NY, 12022. Make checks payable to the Berlin Community Food Closet.

Letter To The Editor – A Flawed Plan For Berlin Elementary School?

By

Dear Editor:

As a resident and taxpayer of the Berlin School District I am deeply troubled by what I’ve been witnessing at the BOE Buildings workshop meetings. I was invited to tour the Berlin Elementary School with the BOE and the Architects Monday night, September 8, and what I saw was disastrous, and I don’t know how we got to this point.

First, the taxpayers need to know that they are going to be asked very soon to support a flawed rehabilitation plan for the Berlin Elementary School. We are going to be asked to support a plan that only addresses 50-75 % of the building issues but costs upwards of 15 million dollars. This School Board was presented many options by the blue ribbon committee they formed [the LRPC] two years ago, and they seem to be dismissing all of the options. The only thing that the BOE agrees on is that the “status quo” could not be maintained. As Chairman of the Facilities and Transportation committee of the LRPC, I know we clearly gave them options that are not being explored. After we presented all the options this School Board [minus a few members] buried their heads in the sand and cried that the only option that made economic sense was to consolidate all the elementary schools and students into one school in Berlin, close and sell off the other buildings and use the savings to pay for the Berlin rehabilitation project. If that were only the truth. As the BOE explores all the problems and looks over all the repairs they are missing the point. The point is that we need to find new ways to educate our children. We need to add to the classroom experience by upgrading materials and resources for the teachers and students;. One improvement would be by adding a certified librarian/media instructor to the BES and putting in place new strategies to reach every learner. I was so disheartened by the BES library facilities. I now have a better understanding why the students don’t achieve their full potential.  I have never seen such a mismanaged resource in all my days. The BOE should be ashamed to allow students to go there.

We as taxpayers spend over $14,900 per child to educate our children in the BCSD. That’s over 18 million dollars a year, for what? At that price I think that we should be able to send all our children to private school and get a first class education. I now understand why some of my friends are taking their children out of this school district. They tell me that the unhealthy conditions in Berlin, the longer commute and the substandard education that their children will be receiving in Berlin during the consolidation and rehabilitation project were major factors. But they told me more. They don’t want larger class sizes for elementary students, and they are less than impressed with the extracurricular activities, sports and educational programs that this district offers. 

I want to commend those teachers and a few administrators that over the years put up with all the politics and mismanagement that this school district has put them through. Good teachers can only go so far. We have had so many administrators come and go that it’s like a revolving door in these schools. Without some sort of consistent leadership it’s hard to have a good team of administrators all working together to make a better environment for our children. The leadership of this school district should flow from the school board to the superintendent and then to the building administrators. We have an interim-superintendent, who only rests on her past work to guide her, who has no clue what the Berlin School District really needs, and she has no long term commitment to the District, students, teachers, staff or the taxpayers. I find it troubling that this person will be leading us through one of the most dramatic changes that this school district has ever seen. 

There are so many questions to be answered and so few facts that I as a voter and taxpayer am unable to support the course that the BOE is taking. I will be voting for our children but not for this building project. We need to spend our taxpayers money wisely and where we can have the best return for our investment because that’s what it is, a long term investment in not only my children’s future but the next generation of students who are being born today whose parents will no doubt have greater expectations for their children. I don’t see how any of these plans will be able to deliver on those expectations.

Andrew Zlotnick

Petersburgh

Letter To The Editor – State And County Officials Ignore Rural Area

By

To The Editor: 

 Since 2003 we have been addressing Senators, Governors, County Legislators, politicians (and prospective politicians), regarding a transportation problem with United Family Services, Department of Aging, for transportation to and from Stephentown. 

My husband’s health required multiple doctors and treatments in the Albany area. The van service has been very sporadic. Since May of this year we have requested the van service 21 times. He received it twice. There never has been a problem with the Veterans Department going to their facility in Albany. The American Cancer Society and the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon were able to give him some assistance. Our last resort to get medical transportation was to rent an apartment in Rensselaer and prepare the house for sale in Stephentown that we have lived in for 21 years. 

My husband was told it took 45 minutes each way for the van service. Not his problem, but one for the County to address. We now pay rent, a mortgage, double utilities, insurances, etc. etc. My husband has worked all his life, speaks the English language, paid into the system but is “above the financial cut-off’ for any financial assistance. Income is only taken into consideration, not the medical and everyday living expenses.  We spend billions to kill people, but pennies to improve our health care. 

Please elect the candidates who recognize and have the compassion and power to take action for those residents (especially seniors with no relatives) living in rural areas, not only in Rensselaer County, but other rural areas. 

Frances McNamara  

Rensselaer and Stephentown

Marion Lohnes Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

By

On September 17 Marion Lohnes received the 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award. A ceremony in which over 200 people attended was held at the Temple Beth Emeth in Albany, NY. The ceremony honored 40 seniors who were at least 85 years of age or older and recognized their activities and accomplishments over their lifetime, such as family, work, civic, career, religious activities, volunteer and fund-raising efforts, caregiving and community involvement. The ceremony was organized by the Capitol District Senior Issues Forum. The Forum is an interfaith and community initiative of individuals and organizations brought together to identify issues and advocate for older seniors living in a variety of settings. 

 

Marion was nominated by Kathy Bugbee, Director of the Hoosick Falls Senior Center. Marion is 98

Marion Lohnes. Photo courtesy of Kathy Bugbee.
Marion Lohnes. Photo courtesy of Kathy Bugbee.

years old and was raised in Blanca, CO. She was valedictorian of her high school class. At 17 she married Harold Lohnes and became a full time homemaker. She was married for almost 72 years. In Hoosick Falls, they had three sons – Alvah, Donald and Charles. Alvah recently passed away. Marion now has 14 living grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 22 great-great-grandchildren. 

 

She has served as school tax collector, and she is a member of the Guild at All Saints Church in Hoosick and has been a member of the Hoosick Fire Auxiliary for 60 years. 

At 98 she lives in her own home with her sister, Laura. She stays active cooking and baking, crocheting and sewing and plays pinochle at the Hoosick Falls Senior Center. Marion Lohnes has nurtured and loved her family and cared for everyone she has touched. She expresses and shows love for her family in all she does. If she could, she would feed the world. Sharing her wealth of knowledge, whether it be cooking, sewing, making her delicious donuts or her values of life, she is a wonderful, patient teacher to all. She has many friends and always looks for the good in people. She stays active in all she does. 

Marion has always said that when you go to bed at night you should have a plan to do something the next day – bake a pie, play cards, fix lunch, etc. The secret to her longevity is three meals a day, on time! At 98 she is a truly remarkable woman and has touched the lives of everyone she has met.