by Kieron Kramer
During the presentation period of the Rensselaer County Legislature’s regular meeting on Tuesday, February 14, the family of Neil Manchester of Petersburgh came to the podium in the well of the Legislature to be presented with the resolution passed at a special session on December 20 honoring their patriarch.[private]District 5 Legislators Lester Goodermote and Stan Brownell, who represent the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls, made the presentation. Goodermote said, “Now we’re going to talk about a very accomplished person who has been a solid part of the Petersburgh lifestyle as long as I can remember. The gentleman’s name is Neil Manchester, and I am reading this in his honor.” He then read the resolution in memory of Neil Manchester that was passed on December 20. Neil Manchester died on December 4, 2011.
The resolution says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and influence on the citizens of this County; it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of Neil Manchester…Born July 10, 1927, in Hoosick Falls, New York, he was the son of the late Martin L. and Millicent Vincent Manchester…Neil enlisted into the United States Navy serving with the Seabees from 1944 to 1946. He was awarded the American Theatre medal, Victory medal and Asiatic-Pacific medal. After his honorable discharge at the rank of Machinist Mate 3rd Class, he fulfilled a promise to his mother by going back to high school and was a member of the first graduating class (1947) of the “new” Berlin High School…Upon graduation, he began working as a wholesale florist for Seagroatt’s Roses for 25 years, then ran the North Petersburgh Country Store for 15 years and retired from the Troy Housing Authority.”
According to the resolution, Neil served as Petersburgh Town Justice from 1960 to 1963 and from 1974 to 1977. He was the Chairman of the Board of Assessors from 1958 to 1960, Deputy Town Supervisor from 1960 to 1961, Town Supervisor from 1978 to 1979 and Chairman of the Civic Council from 1960 to 1962. He was also a former Town Highway Supervisor and, until the time of his death, was the Town Veterans Service Officer. Neil was also the co-founder, with his cousin Roger LeMere, of the Petersburgh Veterans Honor Roll Monument, which was dedicated in November of 2007.
Neil was very active in his community. He was a member of the Petersburgh Baptist Church, a Grand Master of the Petersburgh F&AM, a member of the Taconic Valley American Legion Post #937 and a member of the Petersburgh Volunteer Fire Department.
The resolution says, “Neil Manchester will be missed by his family: his wife of sixty years, Lois Case Manchester, his children, Amy, Beth and Gregory (Colleen), his grandchildren, Darel and Corey, his great-granddaughter, Allie, his brother, Lynn, his sister, Lynda, cousins Jean and Roger; as well as his many friends and acquaintances; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, that the Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of Neil Manchester and extends its deepest sympathy to his family, fully confident that his contributions to his community will live on to serve as a legacy for all.”
Goodermote concluded his remarks, “This is a family that has given all of its life, and we are very proud to have you here.” Neil’s daughter Amy spoke next. “On behalf of my father and family we are proud and honored to be here. He was not only dedicated to his family but to his community as well.” Brownell said, “Every time you saw that man he was always smiling. He was a happy man, and he very definitely loved his family. He was a great man.”
Resolution In Remembrance Of Charles J. Hamill
A resolution passed at this session honoring the memory of an influential Grafton resident, Charles Hamill.
The resolution says, “It is customary for this Legislative Body to pay honor and respect to persons who have had a great impact and influence on the citizens of this County; it is with particularly deep sadness that we conclude this evening’s deliberations in honor of Charles J. Hamill.”
Charles J. “Charlie” Hamill died on January 23, 2012. According to the resolution, he was born and educated in Albany, NY, and was the son of the late Thomas J. Hamill and Mary Frey Hamill. Hamill was employed by the Berlin Central School District as a bus driver up until the day of his passing. He was always willing to go the “extra mile” for his students. Previously he was employed by the Ale House in Troy and the Operating Engineers Union. Charlie was a founding member and current President of the “Chippi Club” at Babcock Lake.
The resolution concludes, “Charles J. ‘Charlie’ Hamill will be missed by his family: his wife of 33 years, Jenny Lynn Spiak Hamill; his daughter, Bridgit; two grandsons, Carl and Gunnar; two brothers, Thomas and Bernard; as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins…the Rensselaer County Legislature concludes its deliberations in memory of Charles J. Hamill and extends its deepest sympathy to his family, fully confident that his contributions to his community will live on to serve as a legacy for all.”
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of this resolution, suitably engrossed, to the family of Charles J. Hamill.
Local Snowmobile Clubs Get Money To Maintain Trails
The Legislature passed a resolution Tuesday authorizing the Rensselaer County Executive to execute snowmobile trail grant agreements with the Rensselaer County Snoriders, Inc., Grafton Trail Blazers, Inc., Hoosick Trail Masters, Inc., Black River Raiders Snowmobile Club, Inc. and Stephentown Trail Riders. The clubs will receive contracts in the following amounts:
• Rensselaer County Snoriders, Inc., Schaghticoke – $13,640
• Grafton Trail Blazers, Inc. – $17,450
• Hoosick Trail Masters, Inc. – $9,715
• Black River Raiders Snowmobile Club, Inc., Sand Lake – $4,290
• Stephentown Trail Riders – $2,970.
The resolution says that the State of New York provides Snowmobile Trail Grant funding annually to municipalities and their snowmobile trail clubs to maintain snowmobile trails open to all snowmobilers. The County of Rensselaer, together with its snowmobile trail clubs, has applied for and received funding for the maintenance of snowmobile trails in the towns of Berlin, Grafton, Hoosick, Pittstown and Schaghticoke. The total amount of State funding for this purpose is $48,065, $1,175 less than last year. This grant is totally state funded and will produce no fiscal impact to the County. The purpose is to provide recreational opportunities for County residents.
Due to space considerations in the print verion, the resolution honoring Nicole St. Onge and the presentation made to the HFCS Girls Soccer team will be reported next week.[/private]