He’s light headed for the best reasons. Sunday, May 20 the Chatham High School gymnasium was the scene of the eighth annual county St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving event. Shaved heads raised money to benefit research in the treatment of childhood cancer. Above, Kiernan Lindsey, 6, said only that he wanted to help kids with cancer. Katie Lee Bunn of Shear Images performed the honors. Photo by David Lee
CHATHAM–At their meeting last week the Town Board entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the state police so that the troopers can start surveying land next to the Town Hall on Route 295 for a new barracks.
Captain Michael Jankowiak of Troop K and a state police representative from Albany came to the Town Board meeting last month to ask for three acres of town-owned land to build a barracks that would cover all of Northern Columbia County. According to Captain Jankowiak, the troopers would close their barracks in New Lebanon and make a new Chatham barracks their “home.”
At the May 17 meeting Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo said signing the MOU did not mean that town had agreed to give the troopers the land. “It’s not a hard contract,” he said, but he did say “it’s a step in the right direction.” The troopers are asking the town to donate the land. The state would cover any legal and filing fees associated with the handover of the property. In the MOU the state asks the town for “full and free access” to survey the property within no less than 120 days. Mr. Ferlazzo said he thought they would start the process sooner. Read more…
Ancram neighbors complain about septage disposal site
ANCRAM—Neighbors of Sawchuk Road property where septage is spread on the land allege improper disposal practices.
The man in charge of the septage spreading says the neighbors are doing their own spreading—of misinformation about his operation.
The neighbors have reported their concerns to the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Ancram’s Conservation Advisory Council (CAC).
DEC officials have recently been to the Sawchuk Road site. Leo Flood is the acting president of Flood’s Spraying and Sanitation Service, a business based in Millerton in Dutchess County, which has a DEC-issued registration to legally spread septage, defined as excrement and other waste material contained in or removed from a septic tank. Read more…
HUDSON–September is the latest estimate for when the Galvan Civic Motel (GCM) will receive a certificate of occupancy allowing the motel to open and the county Department of Social Services (DSS) to use the motel to lodge clients who need homes.
Dan Kent, vice president of Initiatives for the non-profit Galvan Foundation, provided the latest timetable May 17. The foundation will operate the GCM, which it is building on the site of the defunct Sunset Motel in Greenport on Routes 9/23. The Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved a contract with the foundation May 9.
According to the contract, the DSS promises to offer “all eligible homeless persons” temporary lodging at the Galvan Civic Motel “before any other facility.” But it also says that registered sex offenders and “other violent felons” are not eligible to stay there. The DSS will pay the foundation $85 per night per room used by its clients in the first year. Read more…
GHENT–With all of the six school districts in the county reporting, each of the districts’ annual budgets has won approval by a wide margin. Eight of 10 ballot propositions were also endorsed by voters, including capital projects in the Chatham and Taconic Hills districts. But in each of those districts voters rejected plans for supplemental capital spending proposals.
There were contested school board seats in three districts: Germantown, Ichabod Crane and Taconic Hills. In Germantown, where voters approved the $14.8-million budget proposition by 236 to 91, Heather Schultz had the highest vote tally with 244 votes. The other seat went to incumbent board member Donald Coons, with 159 votes. The third candidate in the race, Andrew Soltano, received 135 votes.
Voters in the Ichabod Crane (Kinderhook) Central School District picked three school board members from among four candidates: John Antalek, 698 votes; Regina Rose, 680; Jessica Berner, 583. Read more…
NEW LEBANON – Columbia County Habitat for Humanity Women Build hosted a media event on Saturday, May 5, proclaiming National Women Build Week 2018 which is observed May 5 to 13. The house they are working on is on County Route 13 at the very top of Columbia County north of East Chatham in New Lebanon.
Lowe’s is the sponsor of National Women Build, so the Greenport store sent a team of employees to the site to assist.
“We work in partnership,” said Habitat’s Joanne Murphy. “This year alone, Lowe’s has donated 2 million dollars to National Women Build.” Read more…