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Ted Remsnyder is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Greene County Highway and Solid Waste Department Superintendent Scott Templeton told the Greene County Legislature on February 14, that two planned Greene County bridge construction projects will be delayed until 2023. During the Public Works Committee meeting, Templeton told officials that the Timberlake Road Bridge in Lexington and the Bloomer Road Bridge in Hunter have been put off. “Unfortunately, they have been delayed due to right-of-way clearance issues,” Templeton said. “We’re working with our right-of-way consultant. Unfortunately, there are two or three properties that are difficult to work out. We should be moving forward with that and 2023 looks like the schedule for those.” Once completed, the Bloomer Road Bridge will cross over Gooseberry Creek in Hunter, while the Timberlake Road Bridge will span Broad Street Hollow in Lexington. The bridges have already been designed and previously submitted to the state Department of Transportation. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi has chosen Diana Reyna, a former New York City Council member and ex-deputy Brooklyn borough president, to run as his lieutenant governor. He made the announcement as Democrats meet for their state convention in New York City this week. Suozzi will challenge incumbent Kathy Hochul in the Democratic primary for governor. “Diana believes that public service is about getting things done to improve the lives of the people we serve,” Suozzi said. “... Diana will partner with me to ensure that New York State government addresses the critical issues of public safety, affordability, and improving our education system.” In New York, candidates for governor and lieutenant governor run separately in party primaries. Reyna would face incumbent Lt. Gov. Brian Benjamin in a primary, and the winner would run with the victor of the gubernatorial primary in a general election. The announcement was Suozzi's first major endorsement in the gubernatorial race. Hochul, who assumed office in August, has locked in a majority of the state's political establishment. If elected, Reyna would be the first Latina woman to serve statewide. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Brian Hubert is reporting for the Daily Freeman former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh [Jay] Charles Johnson has withdrawn as Vassar College’s 2022 commencement speaker, saying he does not want to add controversy to the celebration. Apparently, the controversy is his immigration record. Johnson was U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security from 2014-2017. Vassar President Elizabeth H. Bradley said in a prepared statement, “I respect his decision, and thank him for thinking so deeply about our students and community... Commencement is not always the right setting for those, sometimes difficult, conversations." Johnson's father was a lecturer at Vassar for 37 years. He made the decision to withdraw because he believes commencements “should be joyous, tension-free events for graduates and their families.” Johnson said, “In my public life I managed many difficult and contentious issues. In my private life, I do not seek to be the object of controversy or speak at commencement where students will object to me.” Johnson acknowledged that immigration is a “difficult and painful issue,” while defending his record as Secretary of Homeland Security. During his tenure, he said deportations decreased, those convicted of serious offenses and deported increased, and the number of people enrolled in DACA increased. A new speaker will be announced shortly, Bradley said. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily news update.

Mike Gwizdala reports in the Troy Record that Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the creation of the Office of the Chief Disability Officer to advocate on behalf of persons with disabilities in Troy Feb. 14.. “This is a historic day, it truly, truly is and I’ll call this also a day that is long overdue,” Hochul said. “To all the advocates who never gave up the fight, to recognize that the disability community, and it is vast, it is influential, and it has a voice that needs to be heard, that finally, we have an office,” Hochul explained on the establishment of the vital office. Kimberly T. Hill will lead the office as the state’s first chief disability officer. Hill has experience as the principal analyst for the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on People with Disabilities and, before that, as director of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities. “We’re gonna do everything we can to start improving the lives of people with disabilities across the state,” Hill remarked on championing issues of import to disabled New Yorkers. “Today’s a day that we need to celebrate. We’ve worked lots of years to get to this place and we get to go to work. We’ve got a lot of issues, we’ve got home care, housing, education, employment, more ADA access, and improving access to all types of programs and services for all the state agencies that we’re going to be working with,” Hill said. Read more about this story in the Troy Record.

Melanie Lekocevic reports for Capital Region Independent Media that the non-profit group Catholic Charities is giving away food at the campus of the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk schools, 2025 Route 9W in Ravena, on Feb. 24. They are looking for people who need food, and also looking for volunteers to help with the packing and distribution of food items. Organizers ask anyone picking up food not arrive before 10 a.m. to avoid causing traffic or crowding issues, and anyone driving should remain in their vehicle. Those who are walking should keep six feet apart, and everyone arriving should wear a mask. “Adhering to these instructions will allow us to distribute food in a quick and timely fashion,” organizers said. To volunteer at the food distribution event, or to ask questions, email volunteer@ccrcda.org. Read more about this story at TheUpstater.com.

Today's daily news update.

Click above to download or play today's "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

Clarence Fanto reports in the Berkshire Eagle that a Western Massachusetts took a small step toward building a rare affordable housing project locally. The Town of Lenox's Community Preservation Committee approved $500,000 in funding for the project, with the possibility of an additional $250,000 next year for the proposed $30 million Pennrose mixed-income housing development at Brushwood Farm. The entire region is currently in an affordable housing crisis, with many people moving in and raising rents. That's coupled with a loss of places to rent or buy, as more homeowners turn to short-term rentals to make more money than housing permanent tenants. Not enough hotel rooms in the area, makes the short-term rental market larger too. This project still needs to obtain state tax credits to move forward, but a “buy-in” from the local community helps that process, Pennrose leaders explained. Pennrose Regional Vice-President Charlie Adams said, “I’m very pleased, I think it was a great outcome. It’s extremely helpful for us when the state offers various rounds for funding, we’ll see if we’re eligible in the main round next January.” This project would put 13 townhouse buildings with 65 affordable and workforce rental apartments on nearly 15 acres of land at Brushwood Farm. If the Lenox zoning board approves the project next month, construction could start in late 2023 and finish in early 2025. Read more about this story in the Berkshire Eagle.

Rachel Silberstein is reporting for the Times Union that the Greenville Central School District has endured three days of unrest mostly from anti-vaccination parents and students, and also counter-protests by students who want to be protected. Tensions boiled over at a school board meeting on Feb. 14, after approximately 30 students walked out earlier that same day over the mask requirement. On Feb. 15, school officials announced that grades 6 through 12 would move to remote learning for the rest of the week, citing students' defiance of mask rules and disruptions to the school day. School officials initially refused to begin the board meeting Feb. 14 because several people were unmasked, but eventually they engaged with community members about the scope of their power and explained that the mask requirements are state-mandated. During the exchange at least one parent stood over the board members and berated them. A high school sophomore said she felt singled out by the high school's mask enforcement and resented comments from teachers and administrators about her vaccination status. On Feb. 15, a large group of students staged an indoor protest, leading to confrontations between pro- and anti-mask students in the hallway, school officials said. Superintendent Tammy Sutherland said she sympathizes with parents whose kids have been masked for nearly two years, but her hands are tied. "I do think there is COVID fatigue and we are required as you know, to enforce the mask mandate. Parents do not believe that; they think I have the ability to stop the mask mandate, which I don't," Sutherland said. Parents asked the board to support their effort to appeal to Gov. Kathy Hochul, whose administration dropped the mask mandate for businesses, but not schools last week. They also asked school leaders and teachers to show more kindness and lighten up on mask enforcement. Read more in the Times Union.

A group of Ancram residents, organized as Rural Ancram, announced last week they have been meeting since November to discuss the scale, scope and potential impact of the proposed Iron Star resort, a development on 147 acres of farmland adjacent to the Ancram hamlet. A draft plan of the project has been submitted to the Ancram Planning Board. Many of the details have yet to be disclosed, including the number and size of structures, financial stability, economic implications, lighting, water usage, waste, fire and police needs, and environmental impacts. Rural Ancram is an organization with a 300-plus online community and a website. The group's mission is to "gather, analyze, and disseminate information on Iron Star and provide the public with details about the resort." The Iron Star developer's plan calls for the construction of cottages, recreational facilities, a full-service hotel, and a restaurant. “Iron Star is far too big for our rural, agricultural town and in direct contradiction of our 2019 Comprehensive Plan,” said resident Mark DeGarmo. “Ninety-two percent of residents approved the plan, which is the basis for Ancram’s Zoning Law.” Rural Ancram asserts that "Iron Star threatens the town’s history, agricultural economy, rural aesthetic, and quality of life." The planning board is taking public comments in person, via Zoom at public meetings, by mail, or by email (with comments attached as a separate document). Information is available at rural [hyphen] ancram [dot] org.

Ariél Zangla is reporting for the Daily Freeman that Ulster County has put its first three electric buses on the road. “The goal we set, which I think we can exceed and we’re going to keep pushing on, is to reach 20 percent of our fleet by 2025,” Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan said during a press conference February 15. “And just with these three buses, that brings us to nine percent already towards that goal and we have at least nine more buses lined up in the coming years to continue to meet and hopefully exceed that goal that we’ve set as a county.” Ryan said the three electric buses will be powered with 100 percent renewable energy. The buses were purchased by Ulster County Area Transit, which was approved for nearly $1 million in funding from the New York Truck Voucher Incentive Program administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority. The New York Power Authority provided the charging infrastructure and the Ulster County Area Transit depot was equipped with wiring upgrades to allow for expanded charging and the development of renewable energy technologies. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Diane Pineiro-Zucker reports in the Daily Freeman that reaction continues from the rally of a dozen racists Feb. 11 in Woodstock. The group from "White Lives Matter New York" gathered for about an hour, when they became outnumbered by police and counter-protesters. The Rev. Cari Pattison said she wasn’t clear whether they left, “because they were asked to leave or because they were quickly being outnumbered … by ad hoc counter-protestors.” The racists were on the Village Green, owned by Pattison's Woodstock Reformed Church. The racists, who covered their faces, did not get permission from the church to use their property. Pattison says religious leaders in Woodstock held a prayer service and the church will post banners in the churchyard, “just to say that, ‘hate is not welcome here and love your neighbor, no exceptions.'” In addition to those “visual, token efforts,” Pattison said, “We’re really brainstorming and praying and talking together … and joining with anti-racist initiatives” in Ulster County. Meanwhile on Feb. 14, the Woodstock Town Board and Human Rights Commission condemned the White Lives Matter group's rally. “On Friday, February 11, 2022, a group of white supremacists stood on our Village Green to spew hateful, vile, and intolerant messages. … Hate has no home here and never will. Do not fear those who seek to spread hate. Let them be on notice that attempts at division will not succeed in our community as such messages ring hollow. In Woodstock, all who co-exist with love, compassion, acceptance, and understanding are welcome.” The New York chapter of the hate group "White Lives Matter" has been active in the area lately. They held a banner Jan. 14 in front of the gazebo in the park in Chatham. The group has been recently placing recruitment stickers on park benches, parking meters, utility poles, and road signs in Hudson and Stockport and have posted a video of a “meet-up” in North Greenbush. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups nationally, says the White Lives Matter group first formed in Texas about seven years ago by leaders associated with neo-Nazi groups. Diane Pineiro-Zucker reports in the Daily Freeman.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka won't reinstate the top charges in the beating of a Kinderhook man involving two law enforcement officers, after a judge dismissed the charges late last year. Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy Kelly Rosenstrach; her husband, Alex; IRS agent Bryan Haag, and Cory Gaylord, a contractor, were indicted on gang assault, unlawful imprisonment and other charges in October 2020. But they now only face unlawful imprisonment in a case where Harold Handy was beaten almost to death. Handy underwent surgery to have a plate inserted in his face to help repair two fractured bones, but Czajka did not present medical records or details about the alleged operation, and Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek dropped many of the charges, saying in part that prosecutors failed to show a "serious physical injury" to Handy. The man was beaten at a July 4, 2020 party hosted by Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy Kelly Rosenstrach and attended by many law enforcement officers. Handy was assaulted multiple times, and then party attendees kept him from leaving, according to the indictment. His wife, who was at the party, was also told by law enforcement officials not to leave or call 911, according to Koweek's decision. At first, the case was handled by the Columbia County Sheriff's Office, but the four suspects were not charged for more than three months, and the State Police took over the investigation during that time. Alex Rosenstrach was the largest contributor to then-Sheriff David Bartlett's political campaign. Bartlett lost his attempt at re-election in last fall's election to one of his deputies, Don Krapf. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

New York's Department of Environmental Conservation is giving away tree and shrub seedlings for planting near streams, rivers, or lakes to help stabilize banks, protect water quality, and improve wildlife habitat. "Small-scale streamside plantings can help decrease erosion, slow floodwaters, and protect fish and wildlife habitat," said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. "We encourage New York landowners with waterside properties to participate in DEC's 'Buffer in a Bag' program to bolster our efforts to protect water quality and safeguard communities from flooding." Landowners must have property in New York State with at least 50 feet bordering a stream, river, or lake, and provide photos or a map of the planting location to get the seedlings. Previous recipients are encouraged to reapply. Applicants are eligible for one bag of 25 seedlings and recipients are chosen on a first-come, first-served basis. The Hudson River Estuary program offers additional assistance with streamside planting projects. More information is available at the Department of Environmental Conservation website.

Click above to download or play today's "Better Weather." Produced by Joe Demanso of the Catskill Makers Syndicate.

Today's daily news update.

Nick Henderson reports for Hudson Valley One that about a dozen racists with their faces hidden gathered in Woodstock Feb. 11, some holding a large "White Lives Matter New York" banner. One apparent group leader was seen wearing around his neck a press identification badge with the logo for Rebel News, "but hid it from view when anyone tried to scrutinize it," according to the report. Rebel News is an extreme right-wing media outlet from Canada. A lone counter-protester soon faced off with the unannounced event. “I didn’t know anything about it until I heard bullhorns from the green, and so my dog was barking, and I’m like, What’s going on in the village green?” said the Rev. Cari Pattison, pastor of the Woodstock Reformed Church. “I thought, Oh, maybe they’re just passing through, and they’ll leave right away.” Police asked the group to not use the bullhorns and then stayed until the racists left. “In the year and a half I’ve lived here,” Pattison said, “I’ve seen plenty of different protests, but the thing that made this different was the confrontations they were having, both with the bullhorn and without. It was clear they were trying to bait people.” Pattison went home and made a sign that read, “Woodstock Reformed Church does not endorse this White Lives Matter protest. Black Lives Matter. God created all equal and beloved.” Other anti-racists turned up to counter the display. The racist protest lasted less than an hour. “Listen, they’re looking for attention,” said Woodstock town supervisor Bill McKenna. “They’re poking us. I would say ignore them.” Elsewhere locally, the New York chapter of the hate group "White Lives Matter" held a banner Jan. 14 in front of the gazebo in the park in Chatham. The group has been recently placing recruitment stickers on park benches, parking meters, utility poles, and road signs in Hudson and Stockport and have posted a video of a “meet-up” in North Greenbush. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups nationally, says the White Lives Matter group first formed in Texas about seven years ago by leaders associated with neo-Nazi groups. Read more about this story at Hudson Valley One dot com.

Kate Lisa is reporting for Johnson Newspaper Corp. two Hudson Valley Republicans have emerged to announce their intention to unseat longtime Democratic Assemblymember Didi Barrett in November. Candidates will start to canvass for signatures in early March. The boundaries of the 106th Assembly District will shift farther north to include more of Columbia County, and will continue to encompass most of Columbia and Dutchess counties. Chatham resident Brandon Gaylord, 36, said he was inspired to run for office after New York lost more than 350,000 residents between 2020 and 2021, ranking third-highest of all states for outmigration. “It’s such a beautiful state and people are fleeing,” Gaylord said. “I think regardless of political affiliation, people in the state will agree things are not working.” Gaylord teaches 11th-grade U.S. history at Green Tech High Charter School in Albany. He and his family arrived in Columbia County in 2019; he currently serves as the chair of the Chatham Planning Board. Gaylord is seeking a spot on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines. His wish list of issues includes lower taxes, increased public safety and other measures to attract young families to upstate New York, he said. Gaylord opposes COVID-19 mandates, including statewide rules to wear face masks or requiring certain workers receive the coronavirus vaccine. Catrina Rocco, 39, of Poughkeepsie, hopes to win spots on the Republican, Conservative and Libertarian lines in November. Rocco is the department chair of Liberal Arts and General Studies at Mildred Elley, a private, for-profit college with campuses in Albany, New York City, and Pittsfield, Mass. Rocco has lived in Dutchess County for eight years. She grew up in Yonkers and in Eastchester, in Westchester Co. Rocco said the state’s high taxes and cost of living inspired her to run. She said, “I think the policies have hit New Yorkers very hard, particularly the middle class. I want to do my part to make sure the voices of the district are heard loud and clear in Albany. It’s time to reverse this trend in Albany.” Rocco, who is vaccinated against COVID-19, opposes statewide orders such as business shutdowns and vaccine mandates. She is the calendar administrator for the Dutchess County Republican Committee, a member of the Thomas Paine National Historical Association and chair of veterans and families support for the VFW Auxiliary in the state’s second district. In addition to Gaylord and Rocco, Clinton resident Dean Michael has also said he intends to challenge Barrett again in a rematch of their 2020 contest. Barrett has not yet announced if she will seek a seventh two-year term or not. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.