Stephentown

The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, October 12, 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.
No advance registration is required, and a donation of $35 per player will be accepted and give the player 6,000 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,000 extra in chip value. This tournament will pay one place for every 10 players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of 9 places.
A free buffet will be served at the first break and refreshments will be available.

Come and meet the Unsinkable Molly Brown at the Stephentown Historical Society meeting on Monday, October 7, at 7:30 pm. Phyllis Chapman will portray this Titanic survivor and socialite/ activist. The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road (County Route 26), Stephentown. The program is free and open to the public. The building is handicapped accessible. For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.
There is a lot more to Margaret Brown’s life than an exciting ocean voyage in 1912. She was born into a poor family in 1867. At age 19 she married a poor man for love. His skills in mining engineering in Leadville, Colorado, brought the family immense wealth based on gold and silver ore. She used her social position and wealth, and her fame from helping in the evacuation of the sinking Titanic, for causes important to her – women’s suffrage, education and literacy for children, the rights of workers and women and historic preservation.
Phyllis Chapman has been portraying historic figures for 15 years, starting at the Bennington Museum. She was an art teacher for 21 years as well. She has a Master’s degree in Museum Education from Skidmore College. As Molly Brown, she will tell highlights of Molly’s entire life, including her early days, her charitable work, her Titanic experience and some of the fantastic stories that were made up about her. Chapman uses intriguing props and costumes and involves her audience to show them the world of Molly’s time.

by David Flint
The Stephentown Republicans met in caucus Monday evening, September 16, at the Fire Hall to select candidates for the November election. Tammy Madden, assisted by Renee Wagar, conducted the proceedings.
For two 2-year terms on the Town Council the names of two Republicans, Jason Guilbeault and Robert Parisi, and the two incumbent Democrats, PJ Roder and Chris Demick, were put forward. Guilbeault and Parisi received the nominations. Vote counts were not disclosed. Guilbeault ran for Town Council two years ago but came in third in the election trailing Bill Jennings and John Meekins.
For Highway Superintendent, a 2-year term, incumbent Aldie Goodermote won the nomination, beating out a challenge from Derrick Gardner. Goodermote, nominated by the Democrats in 2009, won election that year against the Republican candidate Neil Gardner. Two years later Goodermote was cross-nominated by the Republicans without opposition.
Larry Eckhardt was selected without opposition to run for another 4-year term as Town Supervisor. Also nominated without opposition were incumbents Cyril Grant, a Democrat, for Town Justice (4 years), Stephanie Wagar for Town Clerk (2 years) and Ruth Rieger for Tax Collector (2 years). When it was asked if there were any other nominations for Tax Collector, one wag shouted out, “I don’t want one!”

submitted by Andrew White
Stephentown Democrats braved torrential rain and fierce lightning Thursday night, September 12, gathering at the Fire Hall, to nominate their candidates for this year’s Town election. Andrew White, Chair of the Stephentown Democratic Committee, headed the Caucus, and Veronica Demick served as Secretary. Four Democratic incumbents whose terms are up this year were unanimously endorsed for re-election.
Aldie Goodermote was nominated for another two-year term as Superintendent of Highways. Goodermote gained bipartisan support two years ago after originally being elected on the Democratic ticket in 2009. Town Justice Cyril Grant, who has served with distinction since 2001, was nominated to continue on the bench for another four years. Town Councilmen Chris Demick and PJ Roder, who have served since 2005, were nominated for another term on the Town Board.
“We promised voters a change to government based on integrity and ability and we have delivered on that promise,” said Andrew White. “We’re very grateful for the support from Stephentown residents and look forward to continuing to deliver on our promise to move Stephentown forward.”
Also in attendance at the Caucus was Stephentown resident and long time Berlin art teacher Jackie Elacqua, who is a Democratic candidate for Rensselaer County Legislature.