by Kieron Kramer
The Rensselaer County Legislature held its November regular meeting on Wednesday evening instead of the usual Tuesday because of the Veterans Day Holiday. Three resolutions commending Eastwick residents for their achievements were presented as was a resolution in memory of Berlin’s Maurice L. “Kipper” Maxon.
Most town supervisors, who are in the throes of developing the 2015 town budgets while paring down the property tax levy increases, will be interested in the resolution providing for the distribution of mortgage tax to the towns.
[private]Mortgage Tax Distribution
The Rensselaer County Clerk has paid the Chief Fiscal Officer $1,302,015.53 which represents the local share of mortgage tax collection for the period April 1, 2014, to September 30, 2014. This is a decrease of $400,883.58 over the same period last year. The sum is due and owing to the cities, towns and villages of Rensselaer County. Municipalities in eastern Rensselaer County will receive the following amounts:
Berlin $8,768.53
Brunswick $132,589.44
Grafton $21,528.64
Hoosick $25,956.31
Village of Hoosick Falls $5,290.89
Nassau $40,804.92
Village of Nassau $4,101.77
Village of East Nassau $264.27
Petersburgh $4,879.92
Pittstown $46,390.07
Poestenkill $38,279.83
Sand Lake $99,681.29
Stephentown $16,629.34
Bowler Extraordinaire Matt Brownell Commended
Matt Brownell of Hoosick was commended for receiving the Troy Bowler of the Year Award on November 8. The Troy Bowler of the Year award is made by the Troy Bowling Association and the presentation was at the Watervliet Elks.
According to the resolution, there are over 1,000 sanctioned bowlers in the Troy Bowling Association from the establishments of Alpha Recreation, Barbecue Recreation, Cohoes Bowl, Green Island Bowl, Hilltop Bowl, Hi-Way Recreation, Hometown Lanes, Spare Time-Clifton Park, Spare Time-Latham, Uncle Sam’s Lanes and the Watervliet Elks Club. The resolution says, “This achievement is due to the hard work and practice in a highly competitive field of outstanding bowlers from the Capital Region.” It goes on to say that there is a formula that is used to calculate the bowler of the year award and for the 2013-2014 season Brownell averaged 230 and above in his three different leagues. He bowls at the Barbecue Recreation Bowling alley in the Monday United League, the Wednesday International League and the Thursday American League. This season Brownell bowled seven perfect games, which brought his career total to 29, and had three 800 series, bringing his career total to 21 800 series
A copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, will be transmitted to Matt Brownell.
Wesley And Helen Brownell Commended On Their Seventieth Wedding Anniversary
The resolution says, “…It is the intent of this Legislative Body to convey its compliments and felicitations to Wesley and Helen Brownell upon the occasion of their Seventieth Wedding Anniversary.” The couple lives in Hoosick.
According to the resolution, 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 seventy years. On November 26, 1944, at Advent Christian Church in Southwest Hoosick, 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 Walter A. Wood High School (Hoosick Falls). Wesley and Helen are loving parents of Gayle, Carl and Stan, the proud grandparents of Wayne, Mike, Eric, Mark, Christy, Matt and Ashley and great-grandparents of Josh Magisano, Mia, Wesley and Juliette Brownell. This Wedding Anniversary is truly a milestone in life’s progression; it bears sterling and radiant testimony that the ideal of true love endures and its special appeal is undiminished.
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, to Wesley and Helen Brownell.
Ed Sukuskas Honored For Being Named The 2014 Volunteer Conservationist Of The Year
On September 19, 2014, Ed Sukuskas of Hoosick was honored by the New York State Conservation Council as the 2014 Volunteer Conservationist of the Year. This award is given for outstanding conservation achievements and significant contributions by a volunteer to the cause of conservation of the State’s natural environment.
According to the resolution, Sukuskas taught trapping long before NYS initiated their mandatory courses. Through his efforts NYS now offers a Trapper Training Course at the NYS Conservation Camps, along with Hunter and Bow Hunter Safety Courses. He works at the Rensselaer County Fair educating people on the benefits of trapping and shows off his fur collection every year. He helped get a Wildlife Expo in Hoosick Falls Schools and also started the Pioneer Fish and Game Club’s pheasant and quail rearing and releasing program. Sukuskas is a member of the Pioneer Fish and Game Club, and he is the County’s Representative on the Fish and Wildlife Management Board. He also helps NYS DEC with trout stocking in his area. He worked hard to make sure that the fines from a large chemical spill went to building a boat launch for the canoeists, rafters, kayakers and fishermen to use
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, to Ed Sukuskas.
In Memory Of Maurice L. Maxon
The Legislature concluded Wednesday’s deliberations in memory of Maurice L. “Kipper” Maxon and expressed sincerest sorrow upon his death. Kipper died on September 28, 2014.
According to the resolution, Maxon was born in Cambridge, NY. He was the son of the late Maurice and Irma (Adams) Maxon. He was a life long resident of Cherry Plain and graduated from Berlin Central High School, Class of 1971. Kipper retired from the Rensselaer County Highway Department after 28 years of service, was a caretaker of the Berlin Community Cemetery, an employee of the Berlin Central School District and worked at the Berlin Transfer Station. Active in his community he was a member of the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department and served on its Corporate Board of Directors. He was a past Vice President of the Taconic Valley Soccer Club as well as coach, referee and fan. He volunteered with the Ryan and Courtney Motorcycle Run.
The resolution says, “Kipper will be missed by his family: his wife of 36 years, Debby; his daughter, Shannon (Dan); his sons, Daryl (Carly), Jeremy (Rena), and Billy (Sherasia); his grandchildren, Darcie, Shelby, Chase, Cale, and Easton; his brothers and sisters, Bonita (Ron), Maureen, Bill (Carol), Yolanda (Mike), Jay and Priscilla (Sean). He was pre-deceased by his daughter Darcy Mae.”
The Clerk of the Legislature will transmit a copy of the resolution, suitably engrossed, to the family of Maurice L. Maxon.[/private]