by Kieron Kramer
The last resolution passed by the Rensselaer County Legislature in its regular session on Tuesday, October 13, was one commending Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Whalen who, according to the resolution, will retire on November 6 in order to spend more time with his wife Diane and three children. Since the Hoosick Falls Village Board has neither acknowledged nor discussed Whalen’s impending retirement in its last few meetings, the timing of this revelation seems mysterious. Presumably, the Board will begin the process of replacing Whalen at its next meeting, which is after November 6. It is also presumed that a member of the Police Department will take over Whalen’s duties in the meantime.
In recognizing the contributions and achievements of Chief Whalen to the County the Legislature summarized his career. “Since 1976 Chief Whalen has served with distinction in law enforcement through the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department, the North Greenbush Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office and, most recently, through the Village of Hoosick Falls Police Department,” the resolution says. The Clerk of the Legislature will “transmit a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, to Chief Robert Whalen.
The Legislature passed a number of other resolutions concerning eastern Rensselaer County, five of them having to do with Hoosick and Hoosick Falls.
Bus Route And New Bus For Hoosick Falls-Albany Route Funded
The County is submitting a request for a grant of funds to the New York State Department of Transportation, pursuant to Section 5311, Title 49 United States Code, for a project to provide for public mass transportation service for fixed route service between Hoosick Falls and Albany for the 2009 and 2010 fiscal years. The County and the State have entered into a continuing agreement for a ten year period which authorizes the undertaking of the project and payment of the Federal share. According to the resolution, the grant will be totally federally funded and will produce no fiscal impact to the County. The County has contracted with Yankee Trails, Inc. of Rensselaer for the project described. The 2009 State funding allocation for this project is $34,600.
In an interview after the meeting, District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, were particularly proud of the resolution accepting a grant from New York State under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as stimulus money, for the purchase of a medium-duty handicapped accessible bus for the route between Hoosick Falls and Albany. The bus, to be used by Yankee Trails, is in compliance with the American With Disabilities Act, according to Brownell. The grant amount is up to $140,000.
Weatherwax Property In Hoosick To Be Sold At Public Auction
Pursuant to a judgment of the County Court in July of 2008 the County acquired title to a parcel of land bearing tax map number 27.19-18-2 in the Town of Hoosick which was formerly owned by Margaret Weatherwax, now deceased. The Chief Fiscal Officer of Rensselaer County is authorized to sell parcels of real property taken by the County in an in rem tax proceeding at public auction. At first the parcel was transferred to the Bank of New York Mellon, but the resolution passed on Tuesday rescinds that transfer and authorizes the parcel to be included in the upcoming public auction. The parcel is located on Hoosick Street, near First Street, directly across from the Hoosick Rescue Squad building, according to Goodermote. For more information on the auction of this parcel, the County Bureau of Finance can be called at 270-2750.
Two Anniversaries
The Legislature commended Wesley and Helen Brownell on the occasion of their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary and Ronald and Joyce Seifert on their fiftieth wedding anniversary. In both resolutions the Legislature recognized “with profound respect and admiration a milestone in the lives of two members of our community.”
The resolution recognizing the Brownells says, “A successful marriage takes work, patience, understanding and humor to survive and Wesley and Helen are a very special couple who have shared all of these ingredients for a period of sixty-five years…On the twenty-sixth day of November of the year nineteen hundred forty-four, at Advent Christian Church in Southwest Hoosick, New York, Wesley and Helen were united in the holy sacrament of marriage by Reverend Arthur H. Sweet…The matron of honor was the sister of the bride, Marion Garaban, and the best man was the brother of the bridegroom, Gordon Brownell …Seventy-five guests attended the reception which took place at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lorenz Kyer…At the time of their marriage, Wesley was employed by Clyde Baker and Helen was employed by Behr-Manning Corporation and both graduated from Hoosick Falls High School…Wesley and Helen are loving parents of Gayle, Carl and Stan [the District 5 Legislator], the proud grandparents of Wayne, Mike, Eric, Mark, Christy, Matt and Ashley and great-grandparents of Josh Magisano…This Wedding Anniversary is truly a milestone in life’s progression; it bears sterling and radiant testimony that the ideal of true love endures, its special appeal is undiminished.”
The Legislature commemorated the Golden Wedding Anniversary of the Seiferts as follows, “The sanction of marriage and a strong sense of family values are truly the lifeblood of the community…On Thanksgiving Day, the twenty-sixth day of November in the year nineteen hundred fifty-nine at the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls Ronald and Joyce Seifert were united as one…The Best Man was Ray Sheffer and Matron of Honor was the bride’s sister, Janet Bugbee. Other attendants were Roland Bugbee and the Groom’s sister, Elaine Sausville…A small reception was held at the home of the bride’s parents, Ruby and Lester Pine. Ronald and Joyce honeymooned in Washington, DC….At the time of their marriage, Ron worked for Ruditis Appliances and then worked for Harrison Vending for 25 years. Joyce worked for Wood Flong and then Baker’s Nurseries. During this time, they started Seifert Auction Service. Having first resided in Hoosick Falls, Ronald and Joyce have lived in their home in West Hoosick for the past 48 years…Ronald and Joyce are loving parents of Cheryl Seifert, Vicki (husband Jeff), Wendy (husband Ken) and Kyle (wife Maureen), the proud grandparents of Josh, Chad and Corey Wysocki, Mikaela and Kenneth Marbot and Claire and Keelan Seifert…This Wedding Anniversary is truly a milestone in life’s progression; it bears sterling and radiant testimony that the ideal of true love endures; its special appeal is undiminished.”