Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Sep. 8 through Sun., Sep. 10:

Ann Friedman reported for Columbia-Greene Media on the primary elections to be held Tue., Sep. 12, in the towns of Durham and New Baltimore. In Durham, incumbent Town Supervisor William Carr Jr. is being challenged by Shawn Marriott in the Republican primary. Carr has served four terms so far, and is also the town's police commissioner. Marriott currently holds a seat on the town board and serves as deputy supervisor. Carmel Rustick, Nick Nahas, Linda Sutton and Deborah Kennedy are also competing in the Durham Republican Primary. They are hoping to secure the GOP line and fill two town board seats come November. Polls are open noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday at the East Durham Volunteer Fire Department, 2401 Route 145 in East Durham. In New Baltimore, Republicans Jeff Ruso (Town Supervisor), Barb Finke (Town Clerk), and Shelly VanEtten and Kelly Downes (Town Board) are all candidates in the Independence Party primary this week. New Baltimore residents will vote noon to 9 p.m., at one of three locations: Town hall, 3809 Route 51 in Hannacroix, the Medway-Grapeville Fire Company on Route 51 in Hannacroix and at the New Baltimore Fire Department, 77 Gill Road.

Columbia-Greene Media also reported where primary elections will be held Tue., Sep. 12 in Columbia County. In Hudson, Democrats and Independence Party members will vote for Common Council President. Democrats in Hudson also have two supervisor elections, and several Common Council seats are up for grabs. There are write-in Independence Party primaries in Hudson and Clermont. And the incumbent Greenport Town Supervisor is being challenged on the Independence line, forcing a primary in that race. Sample and absentee ballots are available on the Board of Elections website at columbiacountyny.com/elections. Questions can be directed to the board at (518) 828-3115 or elections@columbiacountyny.com. Polls are open Tuesday from noon until 9 p.m.

Corrected
Richard Moody reported for Columbia-Greene Media employees at Coxsackie Correctional Facility are coordinating an effort to send supplies, clothing and food to the victims of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma. The campaign is being led by Corrections Officer Steve Humphrey. Volunteers have started filling trucks located at various sites with supplies for residents of Texas and Florida. The facility is requesting “everything and anything, as long as it is not garbage,” as Humphrey puts it. They are accepting pet food, canned food, appliances, beds and basic supplies. The facility is accepting food, pet food, water, personal hygiene items, clean-up kits, paper towels. They are not accepting bedding or appliances. Organizer Harold Kelly said Mon., Sep. 11, "The people of Louisiana, Texas and Florida do not need broken chandeliers." Humphrey is also collecting clothes, slightly used, for people in Florida. He is also accepting monetary donations to pay for the fuel needed for the drive south. Donations can be dropped at the correctional facility, Lenny’s Tire Services in Middleburgh, The Cal Shop in Richmondville and the Albany Police Station.

The Times Union reported free training for hands-only CPR will be offered at Empire State Plaza in Albany this week. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wed., Sep. 13, the American Heart Association will provide 30-minute classes on the recommended method to use when someone suffers a heart attack outside of a hospital. This approach does not require mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Participants will receive a free kit to take home that includes a DVD and an inflatable dummy head and chest. Hands-Only CPR has been shown to be as effective as conventional chest compressions and rescue breaths. CPR, especially if administered immediately after cardiac arrest, can double or triple a person's chance of survival. The Centers for Disease Control recommend all Americans over age 14 and older learn CPR as part of natural disaster preparedness. Information is available at heart [dot] org.

David Lee reported in The Columbia Paper Kinderhook Memorial Library board members, staff and local officials broke ground for a large addition to the library building, located at 18 Hudson Street in the village. Library Board President Gary Spielmann made the opening speech, noting, “This is the second ground breaking in thirteen months for the library, and we are thrilled that this is coming so soon after the completion of the reading porch.” Spielmann acknowledged the community support received by the library, naming Kinderhook Town Supervisor Pat Grattan and Stuyvesant Town Supervisor Ron Knott, among others. The addition will be designed by architects Butler Rowland Mays of Ballston Spa, and built by James Romanchuck and Sons of Hudson. The construction of the 3,000-square-foot structure will begin September 18. The addition will include a new meeting room for programs, handicapped accessible bathrooms, and teens reading room. The children’s reading room will be expanded and new fiber-optic cable will be installed. During the groundbreaking event, special mention was made of state Senator Kathy Marchione for her help in securing state funding for the project. The project also received support from the Hudson River Bank & Trust Foundation, and from Kinderhook resident Berry Herbold. The new children’s section of the library will be named for Herbold's late wife, Jackie Carter.