Meg Britton-Mehlisch reports in The Berkshire Eagle that on Nov. 8 everyone in indoor public spaces in Pittsfield must weak a mask. The Massachusetts city's Board of Health voted unanimously Nov. 3 to require masks in Pittsfield. The policy is in effect, with monthly reviews by the health board, and will last until the coronavirus case data come down enough to satisfy the board. If business owners or individuals refuse to follow the mask mandate in Pittsfield, the Board of Health could issue fines. In Western Massachusetts the town of Adams, Lee, Lenox, and Stockbridge also have mask mandates, while Williamstown and Great Barrington only have a mask advisory. There has been a recent uptick in COVID-19 cases in Pittsfield. Read more about this story in The Berkshire Eagle.

Today's daily news update.

Some results updated: 11 a.m.

Greene County has election results here.
Columbia County has election results here
State ballot proposition results are available here.


Greene County Legislator District 1 Catskill (top four win)
X Michael Bulich (R, C) - 1,557 votes
Monique Chestnut (D, WF) - 851 votes
Doreen Davis (D, Catskill United) - 1,128 votes
Melanie Flannery (WF) - 69 votes
Jeffrey Friedman (D) - 976 votes
X Jack Keller Sr. (R, C) - 1,380 votes
X Matthew Luvera (R, C) - 1,608 votes
X Linda Overbaugh (R, C) - 1,490 votes
Neva Wartell (D, WF) - 880 votes

Greene County Legislator District 2 Coxsackie (top two win)
Charles Martinez; incumbent; Republican, Conservative; 1.033
Thomas Hobart; incumbent; Republican, Conservative; 964

Greene County Legislator District 3 Athens (top one wins)
Edward Bloomer; incumbent; Republican, Conservative; 719

Greene County Legislator District 4 Greenville (top one wins)
X Gregory Davis (R, C) - 604 votes
Randall Schmollinger (D, WF) - 264 votes

Greene County Legislator District 5 New Baltimore (top one wins)
Pat Linger; incumbent; Republican, Conservative; 417

Greene County Legislator District 6 Prattsville, Ashland, Windham, Jewett (top one wins)
James Thorington; incumbent; Republican, Conservative; 956

Greene County Legislator District 7 Halcott, Lexington, Hunter (top one wins)
X Daryl Legg (D) - 457 votes
Charlotte Meigs (R, C) - 306 votes

Greene County Legislator District 8 Cairo (top two win)
Michael Camadine (R) - 802 votes
X Sherry B. True (R, C) - 1,008 votes
X Harry Lennon (D, C) - 935 votes >
Bill Scheriff (D, WF) - 367 votes

Greene County Legislator District 9 Durham (top one wins)
X Patty Handel (R, C) - 389
Brenna Rustick (D) - 253

Ashland supervisor (one winner)
Richard Tompkins; Republican; 143
Write-in; 1

Ashland town board (top two win)
Jeffrey Gonzalez; Republican; 140
Scott Tuttle; Republican; 142

Ashland town clerk/tax collector
Dawn Thorp; Republican; 148

Ashland superintendent of highways Larry Tompkins; Republican; 144

Athens supervisor
Michael Ragaini (R) - 485
Michael Pirrone (D) - 574

Athens town justice
Constance Pazin; Republican; 723
Write-in; 4

Athens town council (top two win)
Mary Brandow; Republican; 576
Phyllisann Dinkelacker; Democrat; 455
Carl Gardner; Democrat 399
Anthony Paluch; Republican 485

Cairo supervisor
Jason Watts; Republican, Conservative; 1,088
Ted Banta; Democrat; 592

Cairo town justice
Joan VanDenburgh; Republican; 1,186
Write-in; 12

Cairo town board
X Mary Jo Cords; Republican, Conservative; 1,096
Lewis O’Connor; Democrat; 495
X Michael Flaherty; Republican, Conservative; 1,117
Thomas Vasquez; Democrat; 471

Cairo tax collector
Susan Hilgendorff; Republican; 1,302

Catskill town board(top two win)
Jared Giordiano; Republican, Conservative; 1,640
Dawn Scannapieco; Republican, Conservative; 1,594
Write-in; 37

Coxsackie supervisor
Richard Hanse; Republican, Conservative; 982

Coxsackie town board (top two win)
Patrick Kennedy; Democrat; 660
Thomas Burke; Democrat; 678

Coxsackie town clerk
Bambi Hotaling; Republican, Conservative; 1,067

Coxsackie superintendent of highways
Lawrence Ross; Democrat; 715

Coxsackie tax collector
Valerie Murphy; Republican, Conservative; 1,047

Durham supervisor
Shawn Marriott; Republican, Conservative; 462
Write-in; 3

Durham town justice
Michele DeCarlo; Republican, Conservative; 467

Durham town board (top two win)
Lisa M. Cirillo; Republican, Conservative; 387
Edward Kerrigan; Republican, Conservative; 400
Kiley Thompson; Democrat; 276

Durham town clerk/tax collector
Janet Partridge; Republican, Conservative; 479
Write-in; 1

Durham superintendent of highways
Joseph VanHolsteyn; Republican, Conservative; 473

Greenville supervisor
Paul Macko; Republican; 690

Greenville town board (top two win)
X Richard Bear; Republican; 552
Michelle Clark; Democrat; 332
X Travis Richards; Republican; 586
Greenville town clerk/tax collector
Jessica Lewis; Republican; 582
Michelle Clark; Working Families; 176

Greenville superintendent of highways Michael Dudley; Republican; 690

Halcott supervisor
Yukari Day; Democrat, Republican; 80

Halcott town justice
Kenneth Williams; Democrat, Republican; 81

Halcott town board (top two win)
A. Innes Kasanof; Democrat, Republican; 76
Judith DiBenedetto; Democrat, Republican; 78

Halcott town clerk
Patricia Warfield; Democrat, Republican; 80

Halcott superintendent of highways
Russell Bouton; Democrat, Republican; 79

Halcott tax collector
Robin White; Democrat, Republican; 80

Hunter supervisor
Sean Mahoney; Democrat, Republican; 690

Hunter town justice
Kimberly Prince; Republican, Conservative; 516

Hunter town board (top two win)
Andrew Poladian (R, C) - 314 votes
X Ernest Reale (D) - 423 votes
X Dolph Semenza (D, R, C) - 656 votes
Hunter superintendent of highways
John Farrell; Democrat; 602

Jewett supervisor
James Quackenbush; Democrat; 122
Gregory Kroyer; Republican, Conservative; 213

Jewett town board
Elida Bell (D) - 117 votes
Taylor Coloton (D) - 123 votes
John Giordano (R, C) - 201 votes
James Pellitteri (R, C) - 196 votes

Lexington supervisor
Jo Ellen Schermerhorn; Democrat; 195

Lexington town justice
Joe Cuesta; Democrat; 109
Steven Rossignol; Republican; 152

Lexington town board (top two win)
Michael Barcone; Democrat; 151
Susan Jo Falk; Republican 136
Bradley Jenkins; Republican; 148

Lexington town clerk/tax collector
Charlotte Jaeger; Democrat, Republican; 264

Lexington superintendent of highways
Kevin Simmons; Democrat, Republican; 254

New Baltimore supervisor
Jeffry Ruso; Republican, Conservative; 387

New Baltimore town board (top two win)
X Kelly Downes (R) - 327 votes
X Shelley Van Etten (R, C) - 343 votes
Thomasina Winslow (D, WF) - 290 votes

New Baltimore town clerk/tax collector
Barbara Finke; Republican, Conservative; 403

Prattsville supervisor
Greg Cross; Republican; 196

Prattsville town justice (vote for two)
Daniel Beckham; Republican; 155
David Rikard; Democrat, Republican; 189

Prattsville town board (top two win)
Kenneth Aurigema; Republican; 104
Mason Chase; Democrat; 91
Eli Martin; Republican; 155
Andrew Rikard; Democrat; 109

Prattsville town clerk
Kathleen Sherman; Democrat, Republican; 214

Prattsville superintendent of highways
William Sutton; Democrat; 147
Eric Jaeger; Republican; 92

Prattsville tax collector
Carole Cangelosi; Republican; 197

Windham supervisor
Thomas Hoyt; Republican, Conservative; 382

Windham town justice
Carol Donnelly; Republican, Conservative; 383

Windham town board (top two win)
Wayne VanValin; Republican, Conservative; 356
Ian Peters; Republican, Conservative; 300

Windham highway superintendent
Gary Thorington; Republican, Conservative; 371

Windham tax collector
Katherine Murray; Republican, Conservative; 387

Columbia County Sheriff
David P. Bartlett (R) - 8,707
X Donald J. Krapf (D) - 10,505

City of Hudson
Treasurer Heather Campbell; incumbent; Democrat; 935
Michael Hofmann; Working Families; 241

First Ward Alderperson (top one wins)
Claire Cousin, Democrat, Working Families; 251

First Ward Alderperson (top two win)
"Write-in," 187
Art Frick; Democrat; 163;
Gary Purnhagen; Democrat; 137.

Second Ward Alderperson (top one wins)
Abdus Miah; Democrat, Conservative; 150
Tiffany Garriga; Working Families; 45

Second Ward Alderperson (top two win)
Dewan Sarowar; Democrat, Conservative; 157;
Mohammad Rony; Democrat; 133.
Lee Bradshaw; Republican; 14

Third Ward Alderperson (top one wins)
Michael Chameides, Democrat, Working Families; 208
Write-in, 7

Third Ward Alderperson (top two win)
Ryan Wallace; Democrat, Conservative; 170;
Calvin Lewis; Democrat; 131.
Write-in; 118

Fourth Ward Alderperson (top one wins)
Linda Mussmann, Democrat; 135
Write-in, 6

Fourth Ward Alderperson (top two win)
Malachi Walker; Democrat, Conservative; 129;
Theodore Anthony; Democrat; 120.
Write-in; 6

Fifth Ward Alderperson (top one wins)
Richard Scalera, Democrat; 250
Write-in, 1

Fifth Ward Alderperson (top two win)
Vivky Daskaloudi; Democrat; 258;
Dominic Merante; Democrat, Conservative; 230
Rebecca Borrer; Working Families; 67.

Canaan supervisor (vote for two) William Powers; Democrat; 392
David Patzwahl; Republican; 314
John Reinhardt; Republican; 236

Claverack town board (top two win)
Douglas Colwell, Republican, Conservative; 1,112
Stephen "Hookie" Hook; Republican, Conservative; 1,112
Brenda Shufelt; Democrat, Working Families; 865
Brian Yorck; Democrat, Working Families; 795

Hillsdale town board (vote for two)
Thomas Carty Jr.; Democrat; 406
Jimmy Dawson; Republican, Conservative; 357
Joanna Virello; Democrat; 337

Livingston town board (top two win)
Casey Halladay; Democrat; 425
Philip Massaro; Republican; 605
Rebecca Schroeder Harcleroad; Democrat; 466
Thomas Shumsky; Republican 587

New Lebanon town board (top two win)
Marianna Anthonisen; Democrat, Working Families; 454
Britt Buckenroth; Democrat, Working Families; 427
Kevin Smith Sr.; VOP; 236

Taghkanic town board (top two win)
Elisabeth Albert; Democrat; 278
Joshua Plass; Republican, Conservative; 224
Linda Swartz; Democrat; 283

NYS Statewide Constitutional amendment proposals
With 15,388 of 15,485 Election Districts reporting:
Proposition No. 1: Amending the Apportionment and Redistricting Process
Yes: 1,196,940 votes (38.6%)
No: 1,508,400 votes (48.6%)
Proposition No. 2: Right to Clean Air, Clean Water, and a Healthful Environment
Yes: 1,895,175 votes (61%) No: 853,731 votes (27.5%)
Proposition No. 3: Eliminating 10-Day Advance Voter Registration Requirement
Yes: 1,174,729 votes (37.8%)
No: 1,597,456 votes (51.4%)
Proposition No. 4: Authorizing No-Excuse Absentee Ballot Voting
Yes: 1,203,441 votes (38.7%)
No: 1,558,501 votes (50.1%)
Proposition No. 5: Increasing the Jurisdiction of the New York City Civil Court
Yes: 1,667,863 votes (53.8%)
No: 983,153 (31.7%)

Note: All election results are unofficial pending certification by the state Board of Elections.

Roger Hannigan Gilson reports in the Times Union that in 2008, Democrats began outnumbering Republicans in Columbia County, but did not have many electoral victories to show for their size. But in this fall's election, the countywide candidate Democrats backed for sheriff, Don Krapf, defeated long-time Republican sheriff David Bartlett. By 2017, Democrats outnumber Republicans in Columbia County 55 percent to 45 percent, and that was roughly the unofficial election night vote total in the sheriff's election. Krapf was a former Republican, running as an independent backed by Democrats. Bartlett's defeat might not be due to inevitable demographics. Bartlett's campaign was haunted by the beating of Harold Handy, at a July 4, 2020 Kinderhook party hosted by one of his deputy sheriffs. Currently four people are facing trial for the beating, and Bartlett's office was criticized for his handling of the case. Columbia County sheriff's deputies, for instance, erroneously told superiors that Handy was not severely hurt, but he was put in in the intensive care unit at Albany Medical Center, where doctors said he was severely beaten. Bartlett's deputies also initially claimed that the partygoers -- many working in law enforcement -- were too drunk to be interviewed, according to a deposition taken by State Police and obtained by the Times Union. “Justice for Harold” signs were seen on lawns last summer, and there were several protests. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Joshua Solomon reports in the Times Union that state voters approved a constitutional amendment guaranteeing New Yorkers the right to "clean air and water and a healthful environment," but voted against two expansions of voting rights, and a change to the redistricting process. The "Green Amendment" was approved 61 percent to 26 percent, according to unofficial results on election night. The state's Republican Party opposed the proposition, saying it would lead to unnecessary regulation and costly litigation. Republicans also opposed changes to the state's redistricting process, and voters agreed, with only 39 percent in favor of the changes that good government groups said would give the majority party redistricting power, rather than creating a nonpartisan way to draw the lines. Same-day voter registration also failed, losing 39 percent to 50 percent. And voters did not want no-excuse absentee voting, which was allowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some Republicans warned, without evidence, that those changes would increase the risk of voter fraud. A fifth constitutional change that expanded the jurisdictional powers of New York City's civil courts was approved. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

The Daily Freeman reports that voter turnout was light on election day in Ulster County. Democratic Commissioner Ashley Dittus said that turnout was low, but wait times at some polling places were longer than usual. Dittus attributed that to voters taking their time with the six propositions on the back of their ballots. Dittus said there was also some resistance from voters to the Board of Elections’ mandate for face masks at all times inside polling places. “We’re just asking them to wear a mask for five minutes, and some of them won’t,” Dittus said. “We’re just trying to keep people safe.” Voters who didn’t comply were not kept from voting, but after they left, poll workers sanitized anything they touched. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily headlines.

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

U.S. Rep. Christopher Jacobs is calling on the Federal Trade Commission to quickly approve a merger between Tops Friendly Markets and Price Chopper. The merger was announced a year ago and requires approval from the FTC, but there has so far been “radio silence” from the board, Jacobs said this week. “The financing for this project will expire on November 8,” he explained. “If the FTC does not act before then this deal is dead and there is potential that many of our Tops Markets will be forced to close.” Jacobs represents a district in western New York where there are almost 30 Tops Markets, he said, adding that “in many of the rural communities I represent, Tops is the only grocery option for more than an hour drive.” In Greene County, Tops has stores in Greenville, Tannersville and Coxsackie. Price Chopper has a store in Catskill. Jacobs sent a letter to the FTC highlighting his concerns and calling on the board to make a quick decision. The FTC did not respond to a request for comment. Price Chopper/Market 32 and Tops Markets first announced the planned merger in February 2021. Price Chopper/Market 32 is based in Schenectady and operates 130 Price Chopper and Market 32 grocery stores, employing 18,000 people. Based in Williamsville, Tops Markets operates 162 grocery stores; they are the largest private, for-profit employer in western New York with more than 14,000 associates. If the merger is approved, the new parent company will be headquartered in Schenectady.

MidHudson News is reporting Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed legislation that prohibits Insurance companies from canceling a homeowner policy just because the property owner has a pit bull, rottweiler, or other breeds of dog viewed as dangerous. Brian Shapiro of Woodstock, state director of the Humane Society of the United States, supports the measure. “This legislation would ensure that there is no discrimination against people who have pit bulls or German shepherds or dogs that might look like that and an insurance company saying you can’t have a homeowner’s policy; we’re going to discriminate against you. It is totally not found in science the basis for that. This is a good bill and we are pleased the governor has signed that,” he said. Owners of dogs that have been declared dangerous based on behavior are not covered by the bill, making it possible for insurance companies to base their decisions on actual risk rather than outdated stereotypes, Shapiro said. The next step, he said, will be to introduce legislation with the same protections for renters’ policies. Read the full story at MidHudsonNews [dot] com.

The Ravena News-Herald is reporting the New York State Department of Health has announced Greene County Family Planning, a division of Greene County Health, has been awarded funding to provide reproductive and other health services to the county in the coming year. The county has been awarded just under $229,000, an increase of $65,000 over the amount awarded in 2021. So far this year, the clinic has seen 842 clients for 1,800 visits. The clinic offers low-cost access to same-day contraception, pregnancy testing and pre-conception counseling, testing for sexually transmitted infections and HIV, hepatitis C and screening for breast, cervical and other cancers. The clinic also provides treatment for opioid-use disorder and harm reduction services, including Narcan and fentanyl test strips, as well as counseling by a licensed medical social worker. The department’s health educator provides health education to the local school districts and Columbia-Greene Community College on healthy reproductive decisions and staying well. The department plans to increase the number of clients it serves in the coming year. It also intends to partner with Greener Pathways for mobile outreach services in local communities. Read the full story in the Ravena News-Herald.

Today's daily news update.

Ted Remsnyder reports for Columbia-Greene Media that on Sept. 7 Catskill Town Justice Richard Paolino ruled that a storage container on Stanley Livingston's Liberty Street property was too large and in violation of Catskill village law, and that two permanent tents there were in "violation of the Zoning/Buildings Laws that exists on the listed property.”. A week later, Catskill village officials withdrew its prosecution of Raven and let him keep the shipping container and tents on his property while the home repairs are ongoing. That upset Paolino. “I’m kind of like aggravated because the time wasted on this matter since June of this year and then all of a sudden now, because somebody doesn’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings, they’re going to change the law, but not really change the law, they’re just going to cover up the violations,” he said. “That doesn’t work in my court. So figure it out and come back to this court when it’s either figured out or for a bench trial or some kind of appeal notice to the county.” The judge continued. “You wasted my time for the last four or five months.... So don’t come back to me with stuff like this ever again,” he said. “Seriously. It’s totally wrong, and again, I feel the village is circumventing the actual law on the books.” Neighbor Paul Moyer says Livingston is getting special treatment. “Our issue is not with whether or not there’s a roof on the shipping container, it’s how the village board went out entering into this stipulation agreement,” he said. “Any normal citizen would go to code enforcement and apply for a building permit.” Catskill Village Board of Trustees President Peter Grasse said the village made the agreement because the container came before the village’s codes. “I didn’t want to believe that I would allow my code enforcement officer [Michael Ragaini] to be persuaded to interpret something to enforce new zoning on something that was there prior and doesn’t seem to be very clear,” he said. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

Nick Reisman reports for New York State of Politics that while world leaders are deciding not to take too many big steps to slow global warming at the Glasgow Climate Change Conference, New York is taking small steps. On Nov. 2 Gov. Kathy Hochul signed laws making it easier to recycle and compost waste. "With the fate of the planet at stake, New York must continue to lead the way in the global fight against the climate crisis," Hochul said. "This package of legislation will make sure New Yorkers are recycling, composting and phasing out wasteful plastic products, putting our state on the path to a cleaner, greener future." One bill ends single-use plastics on SUNY and CUNY campuses, the other is meant to increase recycling and composting. Read more about this story at New York State of Politics.

William J. Kemble reports in the Daily Freeman that the Republican election commissioner in Dutchess County who has lost two court cases trying to block a polling site on the Bard College campus says he will keep up the fight next year. Dutchess County Republican Elections Commissioner Erik Haight said he will continue to fight the rulings next year. “It is unfortunate that the county leadership has condoned, actively or through their silence, Commissioner Haight’s efforts to undermine democracy, even as he has now wasted well over $100,000 of taxpayer money over the past decade in failed attempts at voter suppression that have been repeatedly rejected by the courts,” Bard College Executive Vice President Jonathan Becker said after an Oct. 29 State Supreme Court ruling mandating a polling place on campus. Haight calls the decision "stupid.... Voters, for a very good reason, don’t get to choose their own poll sites,” Haight said. “It’s up to the Board of Elections to choose … because the law assumes a certain level of impartiality. … So when the court … replaces its judgment for the Board of Elections’ judgment, then we end up with this stupid ruling for multiple poll sites in the same election district,” he said. But courts do get to overrule politicians when they make mistakes. Haight wants to move the polling spot from the center of the Bard College campus to the Richard B. Fisher Center for the Performing Arts at Bard. But alcohol is sold there, making it ineligible to be a polling place. Read more about this story in the Daily Freeman.

Today's daily headlines.

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

Voting this year ends today, Nov. 2, with town posts, countywide positions, five statewide ballot propositions, and a few state Supreme Court seats at stake. Voting began Oct. 23 this year, and ends today with polls open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.. Absentee ballots in this year's election can be mailed in through Nov. 2. One change in this election: A new state law passed in 2021, restores the right to vote for a person convicted of a felony upon release from incarceration, regardless of if they are on parole or have a term of post-release supervision. If a convicted felon is not incarcerated, they are now eligible to register to vote in New York.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media a lockout of all buildings in the Ichabod Crane school district on November 1, lasted approximately 30 minutes. A lockout means there was thought to a possible threat outside of the school, The threat that gave rise to district officials taking the action in Kinderhook on Monday was later determined to be false. “Our high school principal was notified by a parent of a possible threat to the campus,” Ichabod Crane School Superintendent Suzanne Guntlow said. “Out of an abundance of caution, while we investigated with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office we put the buildings on lockout.” The lockout keeps students in the buildings and prevents visitors from entering, Guntlow said. “It was first thing this morning; it only lasted about half-an-hour,” she said. The superintendent said she could not reveal any other details about the incident. The tip was shared by a parent with the high school principal and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office investigated, she said. The county Sheriff’s Office deferred all questions to the school district. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Capital Region Independent Media two candidates will face off in the November 2 general election for Coeymans Town Supervisor: Incumbent Republican George McHugh and Democrat Cindy Rowzee. McHugh, 56, is a lifelong resident of Albany County. He is an attorney by profession and is seeking his second consecutive term. He previously served as town supervisor from 2000 to 2001. McHugh served in the U.S. Army for 30 years and retired honorably with the rank of colonel in 2017. He is running on the Republican and Conservative lines. McHugh believes the top issue facing the town of Coeymans "continues to be striking the proper balance between being a great place to work and also being a great place to live and raise a family. Just like in our own personal lives, Coeymans must strike a balance. The balance in this case being between developing industry and job creation, while at the same time maintaining a healthy and safe environment so that our children and young people choose Coeymans as a place to live and raise families." Rowzee, 45, has lived in the county for more than 10 years and currently resides in the village of Ravena. She has served as the Town of Coeymans Clerk for nearly four years; her term expires December 31. Rowzee is running on the Democratic and Working Families lines. Rowzee believes the top issue facing the community is the lack of economic development. "If we are able to bring in more small businesses many other problems will fix themselves. More businesses will bring less vacant buildings, less crime, a more beautiful 9W corridor and Main Street, more sales tax revenue, more property tax revenue, more residents and an improved quality of life," she said. Read the full story story in The Ravena News-Herald