by Kieron Kramer
Rensselaer County Legislator Lester Goodermote did not attend Tuesday’s Regular County Legislative meeting because he is recuperating from open heart surgery. He is now at the Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital in Schenectady. Goodermote represents District 5, which includes the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls. [private]The other District 5 Legislator, and Vice Chairman of the Legislature, Stan Brownell, said in an interview after Tuesday’s meeting that Goodermote had, at the advice of his doctor, entered St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany on Thursday, November 29. The operation was complicated and very lengthy, Brownell added, and also successful. Legislator Alex Shannon, who represents East Nassau, West Sand Lake, Hoags Corner and Brainard among other towns, is an old friend of Goodermote’s, their having been magistrates together in earlier times, and has visited Lester. He said after Tuesday’s meeting that “Lester looks marvelous.” Goodermote is already doing three hours of physical therapy at Sunnyview, he added.
It takes time to recover from major surgery of this kind, but it sounds like Lester Goodermote will be back sooner rather than later. There is no doubt that he will be warmly welcomed by his family and friends in Hoosick and by the other County Legislators when he returns to the Legislative Chambers.
Momentary Elevation
Vice Chairman Brownell was elevated to the dais usually occupied by Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid just before the presentation period ended
when Reid announced that he had to leave to attend the Holiday Party at the Governor’s Mansion. Yes, Reid rubbed elbows with Democrats! It was a busy night in the Chamber with three very short public hearings, nine presentations, one of which was to the family of Ruby Pine, and 61 resolutions. So Brownell had plenty to preside over.
Three of the first four resolutions recognized the achievements of the Hoosick Falls Central School sports teams that did so well this fall. The Panther football team won the Class C State Championship, the Girls soccer team won the Class C State Championship for the second year in a row and the boys soccer team went all the way to the Class C final four. Brownell said, “I guess next month is going to be Hoosick Falls night.” However, it’s not necessarily so. Last year the girls soccer team didn’t come to receive their resolutions, suitably engrossed, until months later. As Brownell acknowledged after the meeting, it’s hard for the teams to come over en masse from Hoosick Falls. They are very good athletes and play year round and may not have the time during the winter sports season to come over. Tuesday is often a night without scholastic sports games so he is hopeful all the teams will show up. The Legislature is even prepared to rent a bus to bring the teams over, Brownell said.
As is usual in resolutions recognizing team accomplishments all the members of the team and the coaching staff are mentioned.
Football
The resolution recognizing the Panther football State Championship team says, “It is consistent with the duty of this Legislative Body to recognize the contributions and achievements of the fine youth of Rensselaer County, particularly for scholastic or athletic ability…The Hoosick Falls High School Football team is deserving of such praise and recognition; this team finished its season with an impressive league record of five wins and zero losses and an overall record of thirteen wins, zero losses…This year, the Hoosick Falls High School Varsity Football team captured the 2012 Class C North Championship title, Section II Class C Championship title, Class C Regional Championship title and they were crowned New York State Class C Champions…The members of the Panthers Football team, under the guidance of Head Coach Ron Jones, Assistant Coaches Chris Fleming, Andrew Morin, Mark Folgert and Eamonn DeGraaf are: Brett Bacon, Jake Bakaitis, Shane Barss, Grady Beck, Derek Bird, Willy Bradley, Levi Brewster, Matt Brewster, Josh Brogue, Brad Burns, Troy Costantino, Wyatt Cushman, Colby Davendonis, Damon Dubois, Brad Foster, Mark Hackett, Evan Hand, David Hardesty, Charles Hodge, Brandon Hodges, Logan Hoyt, Cody Humphrey, Eric Kaufmann, Noah LaBarge, Devon Lockrow, Cody Longe, Mike Matatt, Jacob Matte-Yorke, Connor McCart, Alex Mendez, Christian Nolet, Thomas Peabody, Ryan Perkins, Billy Pine, Austin Pitt, Lance Rice-Wilder, Shayne Richard, Chris Schielding, Bryan Sherman, Kellan Skott, Randy Tutunjian, Pascal Wilkins, Josh Wood, Garrett Wright, C. J. Yavaninski, and Hunter Yavaniski…the Rensselaer County Legislature does hereby commend and offer congratulations to the coaches, team members, family and supporters of a team well deserving of praise and recognition.”
Girls Soccer
The resolution recognizing the Panther Girls Soccer State Championship team says, “Children are the future of our society and to recognize the accomplishments of our exceptional youth today will inspire other young adults to follow in their path, promising a future that is brighter than today…This Legislative Body is pleased to learn of the outstanding athletic achievements of the Hoosick Falls Girls’ Soccer Team and wishes to convey its compliments and felicitations to the coaches and members of this team…The Hoosick Falls Girls’ Soccer Team is deserving of such praise and recognition; this team finished its season with an impressive record of twenty wins and two losses…This year, the Hoosick Falls High School Varsity Girls’ Soccer team captured the WASAREN League Championship, Section II Class C Championship, Class C Regional Championship, New York State Class C Championship and they garnered the New York State Tournament Sportsmanship Award…The members of the Panthers Varsity Soccer team, under the guidance of Coach Tom Husser and Assistant Coach Brittany Pine are: Grace Delurey, Jordyn Haynes, Rachel Pine, Alice Hayden, Mackenzie Hinchliffe, Allie Martin, Elizabeth Babson, Dana O’Malley, Alyssa Giordano, Alyssa Houghton, Claire Seifert, Hannah Fricke, Casie Mann, Emily Everard, Anna Restino, Meg Flynn, Julia Baker, Mary Peters, Hannah Lilac, Jade Tutunjian and Rachel Lewsey; now, therefore, be it resolved, that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and most joyously commend the Hoosick Falls High School Girls’ Varsity Soccer team, its coaches, faculty, families and supporters, fully confident that such accolades mirror our shared commitment to preserve, enhance and effect the ideals which are our American Heritage.”
Boys Soccer
The resolution recognizing the Panther Boys Soccer team for their run to the final four says, “This Legislative Body is pleased to learn of the outstanding athletic achievements of the Hoosick Falls Boys’ Soccer Team and wishes to convey its compliments and felicitations to the coaches and members of this team…The Hoosick Falls Boys’ Soccer team is deserving of such praise and recognition; this team finished its season with an impressive record of seventeen wins and six losses…This year, the Hoosick Falls High School Varsity Boys’ Soccer team captured the Section II Class C Championship title, Class C Regional Championship title and were New York State Semi-Finalists…The members of the Panthers Varsity Boys’ Soccer team, under the guidance of Coach Mike Young and Assistant Coach Jacob Claridge are: Tyler Carr, Evan Phillips, Drew Phillips, Cody Gaines, Justin Gaines, Tyler Gaines, Taylor Baker, Taylor Bacon, Riley Bacon, Chris LaCroix, Jason Woods, Tyler Rondeau, Alex LaBarge, Max Haar, Cole Webster, Noah Chani, Alex Kraus, Jake Kinney, Luis Wierbach, Dylan Malo, Jeremy St. Onge, Justin Archambault, Jeff Brewer, Josh McCart, Darrell Halovach, and Mike Haynes; now, therefore, be it resolved, that this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations and most joyously commend the Hoosick Falls High School Boys’ Varsity Soccer team, its coaches, faculty, families and supporters, fully confident that such accolades mirror our shared commitment to preserve, enhance and effect the ideals which are our American Heritage.”
Road Signs
Another resolution relating to Panther fall sport success was passed a few minutes later. It was a resolution urging the New York State Department of Transportation to hang signs for the Hoosick Falls Football Team and Hoosick Falls Girls Soccer Team for winning the New York State Championship Class C Titles. It urges the New York State DOT to erect signs at five possible locations at the Hoosick Town line – either end of NY Route 7 and/or NY Route 67 and/or NY Route 22 – stating that the Hoosick Falls High School Football team and Hoosick Falls High School Girls Soccer team both won the New York State Class C Championship Titles. The Clerk of the Legislature will forward a certified copy of this resolution to Governor Andrew Cuomo, State Senator Roy McDonald, State Senate Majority Leader Ron Canestrari, NY Assemblyman Tony Jordan, NY Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin and the New York State Department of Transportation.
The Presentation To The Ruby Pine Family
Three members of the Ruby Pine family came to the floor of the Legislature Tuesday to accept copies of the resolution passed last month that
memorialized their matriarch. Ruby Laura Pine of West Hoosick died on September 18, 2012. The resolution said that Ruby was born on the family farm in West Hoosick and was the daughter of the late Charles and Edith (Armstrong) Hunt. She resided in West Hoosick most of her life. Ruby was married to the late Lester J. Pine, who passed away in 1973. She graduated from Walter A. Wood High School and was a homemaker. During election time, she worked for the Board of Elections as an Inspector for forty years. She also helped her daughter and son-in-law at Seifert’s Auction Service. She was an active member of the West Hoosick Baptist Church where she served as a Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, Trustee, Member of the Gleaners’ Society and the United Class. She was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The presentation was made by Stan Brownell to Ruby’s two daughters, Janet Bugbee and Joyce and Joyce’s husband Ronald Seifert, representing the large Pine family. Brownell said, “She is leaving a legacy behind. Thank you for sharing her with us.” Janet commented on her mother’s life and thanked the Legislature. When recounting Ruby’s community activities Brownell mentioned the West Hoosick Baptist Church annual oyster supper fundraiser that was held “for decades” and that Ruby was instrumental in managing. “She made them [the oysters],” Janet Bugbee said. Brownell commented that the resolution referred to Ruby’s six great-great-grandchildren, but he thought there was a recent addition. To which Ron Seifert said, “Yes, we just got a BMW – Bella May Wysocki,” referring to the newest of Ruby’s great-great-grandchildren.
On Wednesday, Brownell emailed, “All the grandkids called Ruby ‘Nanny Pine’…After my uncle died my aunt Pauline moved to West Hoosick and Ruby was a very good friend to her…picking her up and taking her to church, to doctor’s appointments etc…also after church their favorite place to go for lunch was Wallies in Greenwich….They both are in heaven now and are sharing stories, I’m sure.”
Other Resolutions Of Local Interest
One resolution corrected the Stephentown tax roll for various years. A parcel in the Town of Stephentown was acquired by Lower Hemlock Pond, LLC on August 8, 2008, from Ralph Thomas, but, due to environmental concerns, it was under a mining permit through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and had not been ‘signed off’ as completing reclamation. The parcel’s reclamation was accepted by the DEC in the fall of 2009, but it had been declared contaminated and unfit for use for the years of 1999 through and including 2009 by the Town of Stephentown Assessor. The resolution says that the declaration by the Town assessor makes the taxes levied on the parcel for those years unenforceable and uncollectable. The appropriate amounts will be charged back to the appropriate taxing jurisdictions.
The County Highway Department has established that various manufacturers of heavy duty equipment have restricted the distribution of parts and authorized factory service through certain vendors within a reasonable geographic area of the County Highway Department, thereby eliminating any opportunity to obtain competitive quotes for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts and authorized service. The County Highway Department must maintain its heavy equipment and make repairs often without delay in order to keep County highways and bridges in good repair for use. Zwack, Inc. of Stephentown was designated as the sole supplier of Everest and CompuSpread heavy equipment repairs for a limit of estimated expenditures in the amount of $10,000.
The County has made application to the New York State Department of Transportation for Federal aid for a project to provide public mass transportation service on a continuing basis in the Towns of Brunswick, Pittstown and Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls. According to Brownell, on the way to the State Office buildings in Albany the bus will stop at Potter Hill as well and in Troy as requested by passengers. Brownell said that about 12 people from Hoosick use the bus service on a daily basis.
In a late filing the Legislature passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of a Chevrolet Tahoe with a V-8 for towing purposes for use by the County Fire Coordinator, who is at present Ivan Wager. The new vehicle replaces a 2004 Ford Explorer with 130,000 miles on it.[/private]