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Submitted by the Office of Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin
Rensselaer County, the City of Troy and the Towns of Bethlehem and East Greenbush will be partnering on an inter-county Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal program for 2022. The program will consist of six events scheduled throughout the second half of the year, and will provide residents of the participating municipalities the opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous materials not accepted through normal garbage collection service.

The first event will be Saturday, June 11 at the Troy Resource Management Facility, 3000 Main St.

The disposal event is a free service available to residents of the participating municipalities only. Advance registration is required; residents who have not pre-registered will be unable to utilize the program. Residents must visit their participating municipality’s website to register. Residents without access to the internet can contact their community’s municipal liaison. Please note these events will not be collecting electronics, tires or shredding.

The Hoosick Falls Area Community Advisory Panel for the Multi-site PFAS Study is hosting a rain or shine open house on Saturday, May 7, from 1 to 4 pm, at the research clinic at 140 Main St. Area residents are invited to this family-friendly event to learn more about New York’s Multi-site PFAS Health Study, meet study staff and even sign up to participate if eligible. Please join us and help make sure that the Hoosick Falls Area is represented in this important, first ever national study of the relationship between PFAS exposures in drinking water and health outcomes.

For more information contact co-investigator Dr. Erin Bell at pfas@albany.edu or 1-833-732-7697.

The Court of Appeals, New York State’s highest court, has thrown out the Congressional Redistricting map drawn up by the state legislature and signed into being by Governor Kathy Hochol, as improperly drawn and gerrymandered to benefit the Democratic party. The mapping, as it stands prior to today’s decision, would have favored Democrats in 22 of the state’s 26 districts.

The lower court ruling, upheld by the Court of Appeals, orders the state legislature to come up with new maps by April 30 or leave it to a so called master to draw up. Today’s decision brings into question the State’s June 28th primary date, possibly pushing back to sometime in August.

According to the New York Times and WNBC in New York City, Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin has been arrested on campaign finance fraud-related charges  and is expected to appear in Manhattan Federal Court later today

Sheriff Donald Krapf reports that the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office handled a school incident at the Ichabod Crane Central School (Kinderhook) on April 6^th at about 11:30 am.

A group of students reported a social media post that was a cause for concern and the school resource Deputy was immediately notified by school administrative staff.  Once the post was viewed by the school resource Deputy, protocols were put in place for a Lock Out in the primary and Middle Schools and Shelter in Place for the high school.  Law Enforcement was able to quickly identify the source of the media post and conduct a thorough investigation which allowed the school to be reopened shortly after the regular daily dismissal.

A sixteen year old was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third degree (A Misdemeanor).

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, and the Albany Police Department.  Several canines were brought in from each agency to sweep the school in an abundance of caution to ensure there was no threat.

“I credit the quick and successful resolution of this incident to the dedication and hard work of the men and woman of the Sheriff’s Office and the multiple agencies that responded.  I would also like to thank the school district staff and students for their patience, and cooperation which assisted greatly in allowing Law Enforcement to ensure the safety of the campus.” states Sheriff Krapf.

Submitted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

A State Supreme Court Judge based in Steuben County (Western NY) has thrown out the state legislature’s redistricting maps as unconstitutional, claiming the redraw was done to favor Democrats. The suit filed by the New York Republican Party claimed the 26 Congressional districts were redrawn to favor Democrats in 22 of these districts. The judge had ordered the legislature to submit new maps by April 11. It took only days before the decision was appealed by the New York State Attorney General’s Office as well as the Office of Governor Kathy Hochol. The Appellate Judge then issued a stay on the original order until the appeal is heard.

These new districts affect the areas represented by Congressman Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as well as State Senator Daphne Jordan, Assemblyman Jake Ashby and John McDonald.

Here is a list of Easter services we have been informed about, please let us know about any other services we should add to this list by contacting news@eastwickpress.com.

Gilead Lutheran Church
Gilead Lutheran Church, Rt. 278 in Center Brunswick, will be holding an old-fashioned Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 16. There will be three separate hunts based on age group, beginning at 10 am. This will be an outdoor event, so dress accordingly. If you would like to donate filled plastic eggs, call the church office at 518-279-9270 or email akeefer.gilead@gmail.com to set up a drop-off time.

Zions’ United Church of Christ
Join us for our annual Easter sunrise service, followed by breakfast, on the edge of Little Bowman Pond, Sunday April 17, at 6 am at Zions’s United Church of Christ, 741 Taborton Road, Sand Lake. Please make your reservation by calling Diane Hoffman at 518-674-2746 or Jane Weber at 518-258-4307.

North Chatham United Methodist Church
Saturday, April 16, at 9 am, The North Chatham United Methodist Church, 4274 Route 203, will be having an Easter Egg hunt. Our Easter Sunday SonRise Service will begin at 6:30 am, with regular worship at 11 am. For more information, please call 518-766-3535 or visit our website, northchathammethodistchurch.org. Zoom login information for services can also be found on our website.

Center Brunswick United Methodist Church
Palm Sunday, April 10, at 9 am, Good Friday, April 15, from noon to 3 pm, Sanctuary open for personal reflection and prayer.
Easter Sunday, April 17, at 6 pm, Sunrise service at Berlin UMC and virtual. Easter service will be at 9 am, and the Easter Service with Vocal and Bell choirs, at 9 am. Children’s Easter Egg Hunt will be at 10:15 am.

Stephentown Federated Church
Palm Sunday, April 10, at 9:30 am, Good Friday, April 15, from noon to 3 pm, an open house to pray alone or receive pastoral prayer.
Easter Sunday Sunrise service, April 17, at 6:30 am. Join us in Garfield Cemetery on Garfield Road and/or in the Sanctuary, 1513 Garfield Road, for our Easter service at 9:30 am.
The church is handicapped accessible. For more information, visit stephentownfederatedchurch.org, or call 518-733-5813.

All Saints Church
Palm Sunday, April 10, at 10 am.
Maundy Thursday, April 14, at 7 pm. Holy Communion and the Stripping of the Altar.
Good Friday, April 15, at 7 pm.
Easter Sunday, April 17, at 10 am.
Immediately following the 10 am service, the Church welcomes children to participate in our popular Easter Egg Hunt, with refreshments and fellowship for all.
All Saints Episcopal Church is located on 4957 NY Rt. 7 in Hoosick Falls. For more information, or to find our Zoom link for morning prayer, visit AllSaintsHoosick.org. All are welcome to attend.

Representatives Antonio Delgado and Elise Stefanik have announced the annual Congressional Art Competition is now open to all high school students in their districts. The winning submissions will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol along side artwork from students across the nation for one year. Please visit their congressional websites for entrance forms and more information.