The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Rensselaer County

It’s Time To Play Bocce At The Grafton Center

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The bocce court at the Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, has been completed thanks to the many volunteers, Donna Walker and the Town of Grafton. If you are a senior in Rensselaer County please feel free to come try it out.
Our Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm. If you have any questions or need more information, please call the Center at 279-3413.

Consolidation Of County Social Services And Probation Offices Approved

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submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison
Following extensive negotiations that produced cost savings, the Rensselaer County Legislature approved a relocation and consolidation of the County Social Services and Probation offices during a special legislative meeting Monday night, July 22.
The relocation and consolidation will see the Social Services and Probation offices moved from two locations in downtown Troy to Flanigan Square. Flanigan Square was recently used as State offices. The Social Services offices will be moved from the Raddock Building on Sixth Avenue and the Probation offices moved from the corner of Fifth and Broadway and Fulton and Fourth streets.
Chairman Martin Reid praised the work of legislators, including Vice Chairman Stan Brownell, Vice Chairman for Finance Phil Danaher and Legislator Kelly Hoffman, in helping negotiate the lease and bringing about additional savings and efficiencies. Brownell, Danaher and Hoffman each have professional experience with leases and relocation of offices.
The relocation was initially proposed in May. Legislators worked on a bipartisan and cooperative basis to improve the lease and the relocation. Reid credited the cooperative approach with generating positive results for taxpayers.
“There was a lot of hard work by legislators, and collaboration between legislators, department heads and other County officials to strengthen and improve this lease from the County’s point of view,” said Reid.
The lease was approved by a 16-0 margin with one abstention.
The lease approved on Monday evening includes three months free rent, and administrative fees for the agreement were removed. The lease gives the County more flexibility; potential future rate increases were reduced and tied to the state tax cap.
The consolidation of the services also improves efficiency for County government. Consolidations like the one approved Monday are recommended by the State.
“This is a major move for County government, and one that we hope will serve the interests of the people of the County and our employees for years to come,” said Brownell.

Rensselaer Land Trust Ingalls Preserve Ribbon Cutting In Stephentown

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On Saturday, July 20, more than 30 community members gathered at the Rensselaer Land Trust’s Robert Ingalls Preserve in Stephentown for an official ribbon cutting ceremony in memory of Robert Ingalls.
During the ceremony, Christine Young, Rensselaer Land Trust’s Executive Director, reflected on Robert Ingalls’ years of dedication to the Land Trust as Vice-President and as a long time Board member who served on multiple committees to aid in the Land Trust’s success. “He touched the lives of many of us through his generous and humble spirit and extensive knowledge of plants and the land of the region – he is greatly missed,” said Young.
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Rensselaer Land Trust’s Annual Hoosic River Paddle

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Canoeist and kayakers are invited to join the Rensselaer Land Trust (RLT) for a leisurely paddle through the calming waterways of the Hoosic River on Saturday, July 13, starting at 9 am. Participants will launch at the NYS DEC public boat launch on RLT property at Eagle Bridge and take out downstream just before the Johnsonville Dam. In the past eagles, great blue herons and green herons have been seen along this stretch of coves and marshy backwaters. [Read more…] about Rensselaer Land Trust’s Annual Hoosic River Paddle

20th National Trails Day At Grafton Lakes State Park

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submitted by Jaime Wasieliewski
On June 1 the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park hosted their 20th Annual National Trails Day event. Over 70 volunteers including members of the Friends of GLSP, Grafton Trail Riders, the Taconic Hiking Club, Capital MTB, Hiking Mates of the Capital Region and Capital District Volunteers helped complete much needed repairs and clearing on five trails across the Park. Cub Scout Pack #680 and their families cleaned up miles of shoreline around Long, Second and Shaver Ponds.
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Dairy Princess In The Well Of The Legislature

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by Kieron Kramer
The Dairy Princess, Lindsey McMahon of Petersburgh, graced the Chamber of the Rensselaer County Legislature during the presentation period before the regular meeting on Tuesday, June 11. A resolution honoring her for her appointment as Rensselaer County Dairy Princess was passed at the Legislature’s meeting in May. The presentation was made by Legislator Ken Herrington of District 3, which includes the towns of Cropseyville, Johnsonville and Pittstown among others, District 4 Legislator Alex Shannon and District 5 Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, who represent the towns of Petersburgh, Stephentown, Grafton, Berlin, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
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Two Stephentown Vets Nominated For Hall Of Fame

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by David Flint
At a ceremony at the Half Moon Town Hall on May 14 State Senator Kathleen Marchione recognized the service of 14 veterans from around the 43rd State Senate District. The occasion was to announce the Senator’s choice for induction into the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame. Nominated to represent the Veterans of Stephentown were World War II veterans Vincent Devlin and Franklyn Mooney.
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