The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Rensselaer County

State of the County Address

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Submitted by the Office of County Executive Steve McLaughlin
On Thursday, March 16th, after a two day postponement due to severe weather, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin gave his 2023 State of the County Address (SOTC). With residents and members of the County Legislature in attendance, McLaughlin discussed how Rensselaer County government is being transformed with improvements and projects to modernize and expand access to county services, while the county continues to grow and prosper.

The county’s work to strengthen finances and reduce property taxes help support economic development and job creation efforts, reducing property taxes during each of the five budgets introduced by McLaughlin, with four budgets receiving unanimous support from county lawmakers. Taxes have been reduced by a combined amount of over 27 percent.

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County Announces Bus Safety Program 

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Courtesy of Rensselaer County
Rensselaer County has announced a new school bus safety program in partnership with BusPatrol that will enable school buses to utilize automated enforcement solutions to enhance student safety. As part of the county program, school districts that participate will be able to equip their entire school bus fleet with BusPatrol stop-arm photo enforcement technology to capture the license plates of motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses that put children in danger as they get on and off the bus.

So far, Hoosic Valley Central, Hoosick Falls Central, Schodack Central, Berlin Central, Averill Park Central, Brunswick (Brittonkill) Central, East Greenbush Central, and Wynantskill Union Free school districts have started installation. The school bus fleets at each district, totaling more than 400 buses, will be outfitted with modern safety technology.

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Stefanik’s District Office Formally Opens

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Courtesy of Rensselaer County
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has formally opened a district office at the new county offices at 99 Troy Road in East Greenbush. The congressional office will answer constituent requests for assistance on Social Security, passport issues, disability benefits, and other related issues. 

The offices for Congresswoman Stefanik are the first congressional offices to be opened in Rensselaer County in recent memory. Former Congressman Jerry Solomon maintained offices in East Greenbush in the 1980s and former Congressman Michael McNulty operated an office in downtown Troy two decades ago. 

Through the 2022 congressional redistricting, Congresswoman Stefanik became representative of most of Rensselaer County, representing 14 out of the 16 municipalities, with the exception of Troy and Rensselaer, along with half of North Greenbush. 

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Helping Stray Dogs

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Submitted by Tiffany Buker
The Mohawk Hudson Humane Society is no longer allowing dogs from most municipalities in Rensselaer County, which leaves nowhere to safely house stray dogs that are picked up by the Dog Control Officers. The Towns of Sand Lake and Poestenkill have partnered in an initiative to open a new kennel at the corner of Routes 351 and 66. The building needs approximately $10,000 of repair before the New York State Department of Ag and Markets will permit the towns to begin accepting dogs. We are asking for those who have donated to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society in the past to please consider helping open our own dog shelter in Rensselaer County.

Donation checks can be made payable to the Rensselaer County Municipal Dog Shelter and mailed to: Town of Poestenkill, PO Box 210, Poestenkill, NY 12140. For more information, please contact Keith Hammond at 518-283-5100 ext 104, or Scott Gallerie at 518-674-2026 ext 115.

Sheriff’s Office Celebrates Retiree

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Courtesy of the RCSO
The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) Corrections Bureau recently announced the retirement of Correctional Officer Bobby Patrick, who gave over 23 years of dedicated service to the people of Rensselaer County.

Over the span of Officer Patrick’s career, which began on January 5, 2001, he served as a positive role model to all staff, adding his positive sense of humor, strength, and guidance. Early in his career, Officer Patrick was a member of the Honor Guard and was an auxiliary transport officer. Officer Patrick was always professional and responded to multiple calls for help where he assisted his fellow officers and supervisors, and performed his duties to the best of his abilities.

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Air Quality Monitoring Supported by Local Officials

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Courtesy of Rensselaer County
Local officials have joined Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin’s call for air monitoring in county and upstate following a train derailment in Ohio and release of hazardous materials.

On Tuesday, County Executive McLaughlin publicly called for the federal Environmental Protection Agency to conduct air monitoring in Rensselaer County and upstate to ensure public health and safety. The train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio caused the release of hazardous chemicals being transported by the train, and McLaughlin said he is concerned about prevailing winds carrying harmful contaminants to the east and upstate New York.

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