Roger Hannigan Gilson is reporting for the Times Unio that the town boards of Cairo, Hunter, and Windham have each voted to opt-out of cannabis dispensaries, with many officials saying they did not want to sign onto anything before the state released regulations. Under the law, towns are able to opt back in at a future date. Windham Town Supervisor John Hoyt voted to opt-out of allowing pot shops during a town board vote in early September. "I’ll put it right out there — any community that opted in is very foolish," he said, "because there’s no guidance out there." Hoyt expressed reservations about marijuana itself and how his town, which he called a "family community," would adapt to it. While Windham will not benefit from any potential revenue by opting out, Hoyt said that gaining tax revenue was not a consideration when he cast his vote. Greene County Administrator Sean Groden agreed, calling the revenue argument "insane." Groden said, "We shouldn't be salivating over the prospect of receiving tax income from this – the health implications are too severe." In fact, Groden said he would prefer the "recriminalization" of pot. In Cairo, the five-member town board voted against allowing dispensaries within the town borders in a split vote, with two members voting to allow them. One of the votes in favor of dispensaries was cast by town supervisor-elect Jason Watts, who is set to be sworn in on January 1. "I want cash to come into the town of Cairo – the town of Cairo needs money, so I want that extra little bit of revenue," he said. "Any kind of revenue is better than nothing." Current Supervisor John Coyne was one of the three lawmakers against dispensaries. He said he "voted on the side of caution" because regulations had not been decided upon by the state, and a future town board could always opt back in. In Hunter, the dispensary vote was taken on December 13. Town Supervisor Daryl Legg did not respond to calls for comment. As of December 24, the towns of Ashland, Jewett, and Prattsville had also opted out of allowing dispensaries, according to the Rockefeller Institute of Government Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker. The town of Catskill voted to allow dispensaries, but will decide on whether to allow lounges after a mandated public hearing on the issue is held on December 29. The communities of New Baltimore, Lexington, and the village of Catskill, are holding their public hearings and votes between Christmas and New Year's Day, according to the Rockefeller Institute. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Brendan J. Lyons in the Times Union writes about the widening election fraud probe in Rensselaer County, where a public-housing apartment complex in Lansingburgh is now the focus of investigation. There have been previous reports of Republicans filing absentee ballots on behalf of citizens without their knowledge. Now board of election records show that 45 absentee ballots were filed on behalf of residents in one apartment complex, many listing "permanent illness or physical disability" as the reason for the absentee ballot. The newspaper quotes an anonymous source saying investigators visited the Lansingburgh apartment complex on 114th Street earlier this week to interview residents, but did not say if they were from the State Police, FBI, or the state attorney general's office, who are all investigating the potential ballot fraud. The Times Union reported last month that a 32-year-old Rensselaer man had absentee ballots applied for on behalf of him and his wife by someone unknown to him. The man claimed he has never voted in an election or applied to vote by absentee ballot, and that someone had forged their signatures on the documents. And then days after that story was published in the Times Union, the tires on his vehicle were slashed outside his residence. Rensselaer Mayor Michael Stammel had his mobile phone seized during the investigation, and has been about the only Republican whose name has emerged in the investigation to make any public comment. "I myself or nobody affiliated with me during the election process, that I am aware of, had anything to do with any wrongdoing with any absentee ballots or any voting intimidation or anything to with the election other than assisting those people who wanted to vote by absentee ballots with their approvals," Stammel said a day after he was interviewed by an investigator. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman is reporting the Opus 40 Sculpture Park, located in Saugerties, has received a $300,000 grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation for the repair and conservation of the park’s 6.5-acre bluestone sculpture created by artist, sculptor and Bard College professor Harvey Fite. This grant will match an award of the same amount from the National Parks Service's Save America’s Treasures program announced in September. The grants will underwrite repair and preservation to the sculpture at the center of Opus 40’s 57-acre property. “I can say that, on behalf of our Board of Directors, staff and the many people from all over the world who spend time on our site admiring Harvey Fite’s work each year, we could not be more pleased to be working with the wonderful staff of The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to realize a multi-year program of sculpture repair and conservation at Opus 40,” said Jonathan Becker, president of the Opus 40 board of directors, in a written statement. Opus 40 was also awarded a grant of $49,500 for general operating expenses in 2022 from the New York State Council on the Arts. Read the full story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily headlines.

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Noah Eckstein is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a local law intended to protect tenants from evictions without cause was rejected December 21, by the Hudson Common Council in a 5 to 5 tie. The vote was a shock to renters in the community, many of whom were hoping the law would cap rent increases at 5 percent. An earlier version of the Good Cause eviction law was approved by the council in September on a vote of 8 to 0. But 1st Ward Alderperson Rebecca Wolff argued that Mayor Kamal Johnson should veto the bill because it was missing key protections such as a guarantee that renters would not be displaced if a property owner chose to sell. The bill was vetoed in October. Wolff said, “Hindsight being 20/20, I wouldn’t have suggested the amendment." Further delays by the city's former council, Jeff Baker, and Council President Tom DePietro's failure to reintroduce the bill soon enough, caused it to languish, Wolff said. DePietro said he will make sure the Council gets back to the legislation in January. Claire Cousin, president of the board of Hudson/Catskill Housing Coalition, said, “The people who sit on the Council don’t represent the people in their district. They represent self-interest. I’m not surprised, but I’m very disappointed." Disheartened by the outcome, Second Ward Alderperson Tiffany Garriga said, “We have seen people in the city suffer for years. People are losing their houses and this law would have made it fair.” Third Ward representative Ryan Wallace and 4th Ward representative John Rosenthal said they voted against the measure over fears that property owners would sue the city. Voting "no" were Dominic Merante, Jane Trombley, Eileen Halloran, Rosenthal and Wallace. Those voting in favor of the measure were Dewan Sarowar, Malachi Walker, Wolff, Garriga and DePietro. Shershah Mizan abstained. Note: DePietro and Johnson are active on-air volunteer programmers at WGXC. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Bernadette Hogan and Nolan Hicks report in the New York Post that New York shattered its record of new COVID-19 cases by over 10,000 Dec. 23, announcing over 38,000 positive coronavirus cases. The fast-spreading Omicron variant of coronavirus is believed to be the cause of the record. The day before the state announced 28,924 new cases. "We are experiencing the winter surge, and numbers are expected to rise. You can also expect to reduce your chance of severe illness from COVID-19 if you get vaccinated and if you get the booster,” said Gov. Kathy Hochul in a statement. Another 63 New Yorkers also died from COVID-19, officials announced Dec. 23. Locally, Columbia County announced 69 new cases Dec. 23, and Greene County announced 86 more cases and another death. The only good news: Rensselaer County officials announced on social media that they received 70,000 KN95 masks from New York State for distribution throughout the county. That comes after Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Dec. 20 a mass mask distribution throughout the state, and funds for counties to distribute them and enforce the current mask mandate. Read more about this story in the New York Post.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media the Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk school district inducted 18 former students into the district's Athletic Hall of Fame on December 18. The Hall of Fame was created three years ago to honor both athletes and coaches who have had an impact on the district. “We started this before the pandemic in 2018 and then we had another class in 2019,” said teacher and coach Bob Dorrance before the ceremony. A committee of six former coaches and athletic administrators from Ravena review lists of former players and coaches to choose the cream of the crop. Of the 18 2021 inductees, four were brothers from the Baranska family, each earning recognition in sports as diverse as wrestling, football, track and basketball. Two of the inductees are coaches and 16 were athletes, spanning the years 1953 to 2006. Four families had multiple inductees, the Baranska, Conners, Sinnigen and Stott families. Gary VanDerzee was one of two coaches inducted. He has coached five sports at RCS — football, wrestling, bowling, baseball and outdoor track. He also served as RCS athletic director from 1999 to 2005. Coach Bruce Stott was also inducted into the Hall of Fame for his work with the football, boys’ and girls’ basketball, and softball teams. Read the full story in The Ravena News-Herald.

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation December 23, announced that Roe-Jan Brewing Company in Hillsdale is one of nine projects and one individual being recognized with a 2021 New York State Preservation Award for their efforts to preserve the state’s history. Roe-Jan Brewing is being recognized for Excellence in Historic Rehabilitation for the adaptive reuse of the former Buckley Store building. Built in 1851, the building sat vacant for a time before it was rehabilitated into a craft brewery and restaurant with the help of Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credits. Other recipients include the Wethersfield estate in Amenia, Dutchess County; Gloversville Public Library in Fulton County; Grant Cottage State Historic Site in Saratoga County; Building B at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in Brookyn; Point O'Woods historic district on Fire Island, Suffolk County; the Clinton Avenue Rowhouses in Albany; the Kreiner Malt House and Grain Elevator and Northland Corridor Redevelopment project, both in Buffalo; and Lucy Rockefeller Waletzky. State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid said, "The diversity of the projects being recognized demonstrates that preservation begins with passionate local individuals expanding their advocacy into productive partnerships." Read more at parks [dot] ny [dot] org.

Today's daily news update.

Diane Valden reports in the Columbia Paper that Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka will not present a beating case involving a Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy to the grand jury again after Columbia County Judge Richard Koweek dismissed several charges against the four defendants on Dec. 10. Czajka could have appealed the judge’s decision or presented the case to the grand jury again. Instead, he will go to trial with far fewer, and lesser, charges. Koweek dismissed second degree gang assault charges against all four defendants, and some other charges after four people beat Harold Handy of Kinderhook to near-death at the home of a sheriff's deputy on July 5, 2020. The judge said there was insufficient evidence for the gang assault charges against former Valatie gym owner Alex Rosenstrach, 38; County Sheriff's Deputy Kelly Briscoe Rosenstrach, 34; IRS law enforcement agent Bryan Haag, 37, and Cory Gaylord, 31, a contractor. Handy was hospitalized for two days and needed two surgeries because of the beating he took at the home of the Rosenstrachs on County Route 21. He had a large hematoma over his left eye, and a broken orbital bone and one of the surgeries was to put a "plate" to cover the area where the operation was performed, according to the judge's decision. Pretrial hearings on the few remaining charges will be held over two days starting April 4, 2022 at 9:15 a.m. Read more about this story in the Columbia Paper.

Porcupine Soup reports that State Police are warning local seniors about a "“grandparents scam” on phone calls recently. Scammers phone claiming that someone’s grandchild or other relative has been arrested and a bail as high as $30,000 needs to be paid immediately to get them out. In Chatham, the victims left $12,000 outside of their house to be picked up by a “courier.” In another case, state police say the callers got the victims to send payments of cash through the mail hidden inside old magazines. They calls also have claimed relatives are in serious accidents. Any phone request for cash should be treated skeptically, police say, first with a pause to figure things out, and make calls to other relatives to confirm any details. Seniors should also phone the police for help if they are unsure about the call. Police also warn to never send cash through the mail or buy pre-paid debit cards or gift cards to send money to someone requesting it by phone. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup .

Cloey Callahan reports in the Times Union about the obituary that went viral across the nation this week that was written by a man from Prattsville, in Greene County. Andy Corren submitted electronically the obituary from the Fellow Mountain Café in Hunter to the Fayetteville Observer about his mother Renay Mandel Corren. “A plus-sized Jewish lady redneck died in El Paso on Saturday,” the obituary began, hinting at what was to come. “Renay lied a lot,” a later section read. “But on the plus side, Renay didn’t cook, she didn’t clean, and she was lousy with money, too.” The obituary also praised his mother for “dyeing her red roots, weekly manicures, dirty jokes, pier fishing, rolling joints and buying dirty magazines,” In a few days, the obituary had been shared, quoted, and liked by thousands of people all over the country. “How I write comes from a centered, daily practice,” said Corren, who described himself in the obit as his mother’s “favorite son, the gay one who writes catty obituaries in his spare time.” Corren said he doubted that the newspaper would publish the obituary, and did not think it would go viral. He had to go to Hunter to send the obituary because of the lack of internet service in Prattsville. “I lived there during the dark days of the pandemic until now,” Corren said of Prattsville. “It’s been a tremendous blessing in my life. I love Greene County.” Read more about this story in the Times Union.

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Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene the Hudson Board of Education Tue., Dec. 21, announced the appointment of Lisamarie Spindler as the district's new superintendent. Spindler, 43, succeeds Maria L. Suttmeier, who will retire in January after 23 years with the Hudson City School District, the last 10 as superintendent. Spindler said, “I am excited to build upon the school district’s mission and vision and look forward to meeting our scholars, staff and community members and getting to work.” Spindler previously served as assistant superintendent of finance at the Newburgh Enlarged City School District, and the assistant superintendent of curriculum and a kindergarten through fifth grade principal in Newburgh. Before that she was employed by the Warwick Valley Central School District and the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District, both in Orange County. Hudson City School District Human Resources Manager Rachel Rissetto said Spindler will be paid an annual salary of $185,000. No other contractual details were made public. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Brendan J. Lyons is reporting for the Times Union the Rensselaer County Legislature December 21 voted to give Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin a $20,000 annual salary increase, just three weeks after being arrested and indicted on charges that he misused campaign funds and falsified campaign filings. Democratic county Legislator Cynthia B. Doran of Troy was one of four lawmakers to vote against the package of raises for McLaughlin and dozens of other county employees. She said the paperwork with the details of the pay hikes had been shared with legislators one hour before the meeting. Doran said that Michael E. Stammel, chairman of the Legislature, defended the raise for McLaughlin, whose annual salary of $121,300 will now increase to $142,000. "I think the county executive and his operatives, ... have brought a bad name to the county, and we are looked upon as being possibly a bit corrupt," Doran said. Peter Grimm, the Legislature's Democratic minority leader said, "It’s interesting that Mike Stammel, who is also being investigated, introduced and sponsored a bill that would give the county executive — who has been arrested for (alleged) criminal behavior — such a raise. It’s just defining the corruption that’s here." Stammel's own conduct is one area of focus in an unrelated investigation of alleged ballot fraud in the November election. Grimm said a second resolution, which would have given McLaughlin and other elected officials in the county automatic 2 percent annual raises, was withdrawn after he questioned whether it was legal for the lawmakers to vote to raise their own salaries. McLaughlin, a Republican, has been indicted on two felony counts, grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing. His second term begins in January. Under state law, McLaughlin would have to leave office if he's convicted of a felony. Read the full story in the Times Union.

Nick Reisman is reporting for State of Politics the labor union that represents correction officers in New York on Wed, Dec, 22, called on state prison officials to either temporarily suspend visitations or put stricter rules in place as the number of COVID-19 cases surges statewide. The union has proposed requiring visitors and vendors to show either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test. Gov. Kathy Hochul December 22, announced that more than 28,000 people in New York had tested positive for the virus during the most recent 24-hour period, a new record daily total, up from 20,000 on each of the previous three days. Officials are watching to see if the more contagious omicron variant will result in a similar increase in hospitalizations. Prisons, like any congregate setting, have seen the virus spread quickly during the nearly two years of the pandemic. More than 7,000 members of the New York State Correctional Officers PBA have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic, as have 7,995 incarcerated people. Read the full story at nystateofpolitics [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.

Spectrum News reports that Rep. Antonio Delgado has tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 21. On social media, Delgado wrote he is "currently experiencing mild symptoms," and that, "I'm grateful for the protection of a safe and effective vaccine and booster and encourage all who are able to get both." Several other Congresspeople and Senators including Rep. Jason Crow (D - Colo.), and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D - Mass.) and Cory Booker (D - N.J.) have tested positive recently. Read more about this story at Spectrum News.