Rosa Acheson is reporting in the Register-Star once all the votes are counted, Republican Philip Bickerton was expected to defeat Democrat Matthew Nelson for a seat on the Kinderhook Town Board, according to unofficial Columbia County Board of Election results. Bickerton led Nelson by 600 votes late Tuesday night. Town Supervisor Pat Grattan said 3,000 absentee ballots were issued. Bickerton said he looks forward to taking on his new position. “There is so much to say. I’m glad the fight is over and now the work begins,” he said. Bickerton said he was especially grateful for the community support and voter turnout. Bickerton will fill the seat formerly held by Deb Simonsmeier, who died in April. Karrie Allen is reporting in the Register-Star, in Chatham, John Wapner was re-elected to serve the remainder of the unexpired four-year term on the Town Board. Wapner, who ran on the Democratic and Chatham Citizens’ Party lines, bested Republican Jody Nesbitt, 1,088 to 935, with approximately 100 absentee ballots left to be counted. Wapner thanked everyone who voted for him, as well as those who worked on his campaign. “I had a great support team,” he said. Wapner was appointed to the board in January to fill the seat left vacant after Maria Lull was elected Town Supervisor last year. Read both stories in the Register-Star.

Matthew Hamilton reports in Capitol Confidential that Republicans held the State Senate, caucusing now with seven Democrats for a working majority, and holding most seats in Nov. 8 elections. GOP Leader John Flanagan released a statement: "Tonight, we have grown our majority in the New York State Senate. With it, hardworking New York taxpayers and their families have chosen geographical and ideological balance, and the accountability that comes with a state government made up of both Democrats and Republicans. We will get right back to work implementing an economic security agenda that makes it easier to afford to live and work here, and ensures that every New Yorker has the ability to dream, to succeed and to get ahead." But Senate Democratic spokesman Mike Murphy said, "With thousands of votes remaining uncounted in multiple State Senate races, we expect more Democratic candidates to win when all New Yorkers’ voices are heard.” Read the full story in Capitol Confidential.

Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump in Massachusetts and New York, but the Associated Press called the electoral college and the election at 2:30 a.m. for Trump.
Chuck Schumer defeated Wendy Long for U.S. Senator.
Susan Serino, a Republican with 56 percent, beat Terry Gipson, a Democrat with 43 percent, for 41st NY State Senate District.
Republican Kathy Marchione beat Democrat Shaun Francis in the 43rd State Senate District.
George Amedore defeated Sara Niccoli to remain in the State Senate, with 78,080 votes to against Sara Niccoli's 45,245.
In the NY-19 Congressional District John Faso declared victory over Zephyr Teachout, 153,155 to 126,538.
In Lexington, Bradley Jenkins with 246 votes, beat Ronald Lipton, with 122, for a seat on the Town Board.
In New Baltimore for Town Justice Thomas Meacham at 1,832, got more votes then Lee Davis at 1,290.
In Hudson, Proposition One changed the weighted voting system in Hudson to a more representative system.
YES NO
Hudson 1 207 25
Hudson 2 229 144
Hudson 3 376 61
Hudson 4 176 94
Hudson 5-1 250 179
Hudson 5-2 198 190
Total 1,436 693
Proposition Two also passed, creating a retirement fund for volunteer firefighters.
YES NO
Hudson 1 192 28
Hudson 2 277 83
Hudson 3 361 61
Hudson 4 227 32
Hudson 5-1 369 54
Hudson 5-2 330 58
Total 1,756 316


Proposal One
YES NO
Kinderhook 1 332 125
Kinderhook 2 244 109
Kinderhook 3 279 190
Kinderhook 4 315 194
Kinderhook 5 338 217
Kinderhook 6 242 204
Kinderhook 7 354 181
Kinderhook 8 362 194
Total 2,466 1,414
A measure to legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Massachusetts was leading 53 percent to 47 percent with most of the vote in early Nov. 9.

The Mid-Hudson News Network is reporting tolls on the New York State Thruway will not increase in 2017. Next year will be the seventh consecutive year without an increase. Gov. Andrew Cuomo has pledged to keep tolls at current levels through 2020. The Authority’s chief financial officer, Matthew Howard, presented the 2017 proposed $1.8 billion spending plan Mon., Nov. 7. Officials are predicting a record volume of traffic next year for the 60-year-old, 570-mile Thruway system. With more than 267 million vehicles expected to use the roadway in 2017, toll revenue is expected to top $700 million. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Lauren Stanforth reports in The Albany Times-Union that an Albany County Jail sergeant and 12 co-conspirators allegedly sneaking contraband into the jail were arrested Nov. 5. Now Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple Sr. said he wants to increase searches of employees and visitors to the Albany County jail. Jail employee Merlin Thomas Jr., 48, of Albany took payments of $200 for multiple deliveries of tobacco, cellphones, marijuana, and homemade knives to inmates. Thomas worked at the jail for 18 years, and was arrested Nov. 5 arriving at the jail with packages of tobacco in the cargo pockets of his pants, and with more tobacco, marijuana, and rolling papers in his car. Read the full story in The Albany Times-Union.

Terry Stackhouse reports for Time-Warner Cable News that the Vireo Dispensary opened in Albany on Sunday with medical marijuana available to the few patients with prescriptions. "Now we can stop on our way home from church on Sunday morning so it's a huge difference,” Melissa Hilt, mother of a nine-year-old with epilepsy. Vireo is one of three dispensaries in Albany, and may add home deliveries. Read the full story at Time-Warner Cable.

Rick Karlin in Capitol Confidential reports that the state Department of Environmental Conservation is looking to track black bear movements by putting radio collars on the animals. So they are looking for tips from the public on new bear dens. The radio collars help biologists monitor cub production, condition, and survival of the bears. The DEC asks anyone who finds a bear den to note the location and move away, and later contact the DEC. Contact the DEC on the link at the WGXC Newsroom here for more information.

The Chatham Bookstore's website says the store is trying to dry out after pipes burst above, flooding the store. The Chatham Fire Company responded to the water emergency, and now many folks are helping the store get open again, on a date that has not been determined.

Local weather forecast:

Today: Showers likely, mainly before 11 a.m. Cloudy. High near 52 Wednesday night, partly cloudy. Low around 33.

FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS
THURSDAY: Mostly sunny. High near 52. Thursday night, mostly clear. Low around 38.
FRIDAY (Veterans Day): A slight chance of showers. Partly sunny. High near 52. Friday night, partly cloudy. Low around 31.

Sunrise today: 6:40 a.m.
Sunset today: 4:38 p.m.
LENGTH OF THE DAY: 9:58 hrs.

PUBLIC MEETINGS


Today is the second Wednesday of the month.
WGXC suggests calling ahead to confirm time and location.
All numbers are in the 518 area code unless otherwise noted.

ATHENS Village Board meeting, 6:30 p.m at the Athens Community Center, 2 First St., Athens (945-1551).
CATSKILL Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. at Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill (943-1343).
CATSKILL Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, 6 p.m. Town Board budget workshop meeting, 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill (943-2141).
CLERMONT Planning Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Town Hall, 1795 Route 9, Clermont (537-6868).
COLUMBIA COUNTY Board of Supervisors meeting, 7:30 p.m. at 401 State St., Hudson (828-1527).
COPAKE Hamlet Revitalization Task Force, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 230 Mt. View Road, Copake (329-1234).
GERMANTOWN Board of Education meeting, 6:30 p.m. at elementary school, 123 Main St., Germantown (537-6281 ext 302).
GHENT Zoning Board application night, 6 p.m.; regular meeting at 7 p.m.; at Town Hall, 2306 State Route 66, Ghent (392-4644).
HUDSON Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting, 6 p.m. at Bliss Towers, 41 N. 2nd St., Hudson (822-9743).
JEWETT Town Board meeting, 7 p.m., at Municipal Bldg. 3547 Co. Rt. 23C (263-4626).
KINDERHOOK Town’s 9 and 9H Corridor Committee meeting, 7 p.m. at Town Hall, 4 Church St, Niverville (784-2233).
KINDERHOOK Village Board meeting, 7:30 p.m. at 6 Chatham Street, Kinderhook (758-9882).

DOWNLOAD or play the audio version of the local news headlines for Tue., Nov. 8 (6:52). (Produced by Philip Grant.)