Raymond Pignone rounds up election information for Columbia-Greene Media about the nine candidates from Catskill running for four seats on the Greene County Legislature. Neva E. Wartell is running on the Democratic and Working Families, and is a WGXC volunteer programmer. She says she is running for her first elective office on a “Greene New Deal" with key issues key issues including "housing, food and health care; expanding our infrastructure; creating viable employment; and revitalizing our agricultural sector." Linda Overbaugh is an incumbent running on the Republican and Conservative ballot lines. Overbaugh is a former real estate broker and business owner, and says when asked what the top issue in the county is: "I look for ways to provide essential services and use county resources for desirable economic growth." Matthew Luvera is an incumbent running on the Republican and Conservative lines, and the newspaper does not disclose that they distribute his video program. He says "promoting business growth, local history and tourism to benefit Greene County" is the top issue in the election. Jack Keller is an incumbent on the Republican and Conservative lines. He is a former owner of Pitstop Discount Beverages and worked in advertising for Young Broadcasting, Clear Channel, and Turner Broadcasting. Asked about the top issue in the campaign, he responded: "I have worked cooperatively with village, town and county officials and I will continue to do that." Jeff Friedman is the Executive Director of Greene County Chamber of Commerce running on Democrat and Catskill United lines. He says the top issue is, "The need for a comprehensive and well-executed economic development plan to create good paying jobs, sustainable industries that are resilient and positioned for future growth and will help attract families to come live and work here." Melanie Flannery is running on the Working Families line, but did not provide the newspaper with any information about her campaign. Doreen Davis is a former Catskill Town Supervisor and retired pharmaceutical executive running on the Democrat and Catskill United lines. She says, "If we examine the communities around us; Coxsackie, Athens, Cairo, Greenville, you will see significant investment either through work with the federal or state government or through the attraction of private investors," while Catskill waits for action at the thruway exit site. Monique Chestnut is running on the Democrat and Working Families lines, but did not provide any information to the newspaper. Michael Bulich is an incumbent, and the owner of the Bulich Mushroom Farm, running on the Republican and Conservative lines. He says the top issue in the election is "standing with property owners and business owners over government growth."

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that the Department of Environmental Conservation claimed on Oct. 28 that there would be no long-term environmental effects from a massive scrapyard fire the day before at the Port of Coeymans. An air quality warning was issued for Columbia County on October 27, because of smoke from the large scrap metal fire at Eastern Metal Recycling. The fire department in Hudson was dispatched to Columbia Memorial hospital because of the smell of smoke, which turned out to be from the Coeymans fire. “DEC coordinated with state and local fire crews to monitor the scene and contain runoff from firefighting efforts,” a DEC statement read. “No long-term impacts to the environment are anticipated.” The Town of Coeymans released its own statement, explaining how officials thought the fire began. “The fire started in a scrap metal pile consisting of crushed cars, appliances, and light scrap metal. It is suspected that a battery in one of the crushed cars had shorted and started the fire. The fire originated deep in the scrap pile and spread throughout the pile. There was not any activity in the area at the time of the fire, no hot work or welding,” the statement said. Read more about this story at Porcupine Soup.

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Luis Ferré-Sadurní and Jonah E. Bromwich are reporting for The New York Times that former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was charged October 28, with groping a female aide’s breast “for the purposes of degrading and gratifying his sexual desires,” according to a criminal complaint filed in Albany City Court. The complaint was based on allegations made by one of many women whose accusations of sexual harassment against Cuomo formed the basis of a state attorney general’s report that eventually led to his August resignation. Cuomo, who has spent time living on Long Island since his resignation, will now be required to appear in court in Albany on Nov. 17 to be arraigned on a charge of forcible touching. The criminal complaint centers on an alleged interaction between Cuomo and an aide in the governor’s residence in Albany on Dec. 7, 2020. The charge caught Albany District Attorney David Soares by surprise. He said in a statement that, “like the rest of the public, we were surprised to learn” about the complaint filed by the county’s sheriff, Craig Apple. In such investigations, prosecutors and local police departments typically work together in initiating the criminal process. Cuomo’s personal lawyer, Rita Glavin, said in a statement the governor had “never assaulted anyone” and described Apple’s motives as “patently improper.” She criticized him for not communicating with the district attorney and accused him of effectively pronouncing the governor guilty at a news conference earlier this year before an investigation by his office had concluded. “This is not professional law enforcement,” she said. “This is politics.” Forcible touching is a misdemeanor that carries a penalty of up to one year in jail. It is not an unusual charge, and it can be brought in cases in which prosecutors are unable to prove that touching was done for sexual purposes. Read the full story in The New York Times.

Chris Bragg reports in the Times Union that Zephyr Teachout, who voters in New York's 19th Congressional District have seen on the ballot three times recently, is running again next year, for the Democratic nomination for attorney general. Teachout previously ran for governor in 2014, losing to incumbent Andrew Cuomo; for Congress in 2016, losing to Republican John Faso; and losing a four-way primary for attorney general in 2018. On Oct. 28 the Fordham Law professor registered a campaign committee to raise money to run for attorney general again. Current Attorney General Letitia James intends to run for governor against incumbent Kathy Hochul, making room for Teachout's campaign. There have been reports about others considering a run for attorney general, including Queens State Sen. Michael Gianaris, Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Read more about this story in the Times Union.

Melanie Lekocevic is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Democrats Tiffany Garriga [Gae-REEH-guh] and Abdus Miah [Aahb-doose ME-yah] are competing for the Hudson 2nd Ward supervisor seat. Garriga [Gae-REEH-guh], 43, has lived in Columbia County for 20 years. She is employed as an office manager and business owner and is the co-founder of two organizations. She is also vice-chair of It Can Happen To You, a criminal justice reform organization. Garriga has been the Hudson Common Council Majority Leader for seven years and is serving as the 2nd Ward Alderperson. Her name appears on the Working Families line. The top issue facing the city is ADA compliance, Garriga said. She is proud that citizens will now have the ramp they have been requesting for years in the park at Promenade Hill, off of Front Street. "I am very proud that I managed to have the money secured and allocated for the ramp. ... I am also happy and proud of helping to secure housing in the city [as well as] support for housing in the city," Garriga said. "The people in the 2nd Ward know I am an elected official that they can rely on." Incumbent Miah [ME-yah], 60, has lived in the county for 25 years. He is employed as a front-end associate at the Home Depot Catskill store. His name appears on the Democratic and Conservative ballot lines. Miah previous served as the 2nd Ward Alderperson for 11 years and has held the 2nd Ward seat on the Board of Supervisors for four years. "Many people in the U.S. are facing the economic and financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Community people are out of work and struggling to afford adequate food and pay the rent, etc. I will work with the county to support and help our communities like donating food, medical supplies, supporting local businesses, check-in on seniors or the disabled in your neighborhood, and so on," Miah said. His other issues of concern: Public safety, housing affordability and job availability. "I believe I will be a good supervisor because of my previous political background as well as my work on the diversity/minority peoples in the community. I am one of the candidates who has more experience, has been more dedicated, serving many years in the Hudson community in so many areas," Miah said. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Hudson Hall, October 28, announced the return of Winter Walk, this year marking its 25th anniversary. The yearly celebration will take place from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 4, and feature an assemblage of outdoor attractions, "including locally grown music, art, dance and family fun," according to a press release. Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb says, "Given the high number of partially or fully vaccinated residents in our county and state, we are in a totally different place than we were in 2020. Winter Walk is an event that many look forward to each year and one that promotes community spirit and good will. With the focus on outdoor activities, we look forward to celebrating Winter Walk's 25th Anniversary on December 4." Hudson Hall has also announced the winners of the Winter Walk 25th Anniversary Artist Grant Program. Created to honor the diversity, ingenuity and perseverance of Hudson’s creative community, the $15,000 in grant funds given to artists and creative teams provides financial support to help create work to be featured at the December 4 event. Recipients of the 25th Anniversary Winter Walk Artist Grants include: Artschatz, Diata Diata International Folkloric Theater, Dmitry Wild, Flow Chart Foundation, the Hudson Festival Orchestra, Jonah Bokaer Choreography, sound artist MMS, experimental jazz group Microfauna and others. The Hudson Opera House produced its first Winter Walk in 1997 to help bring foot traffic back to Warren Street after a long period of decline. Today, Winter Walk covers the full mile-long stretch of Hudson’s main street, and beyond, on the first Saturday in December. Voted Best Winter Community Event numerous times, Winter Walk kicks off the holiday season by highlighting the shops, galleries and restaurants and artistic community behind the city’s creative economy. Read more at hudsonhall [dot] org or phone (518) 822-1438.

Today's daily news update.

Bernadette Hogan reports in The New York Post that New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is the latest to file paperwork to run for governor in New York next year. Williams lost a primary challenge against now Gov. Kathy Hochul for lieutenant governor in 2018. Attorney General Letitia James is expected any day to announce she will join the June primary field too. Former governor Andrew Cuomo and other Democrats could still join the race. Republicans running campaigns for governor include Rep. Lee Zeldin, Andrew Giuliani, Rob Astorino, Derrick Gibson, and Mike Carpinelli. Bernadette Hogan reports in The New York Post.

Andrea Macko reports for Porcupine Soup that a Greene County-based state trooper, Christopher Baldner, was indicted for murder, for ramming his car into another and killing an 11-year-old girl during a 2020 police pursuit on the New York State Thruway. During a summer that saw a truck drive into protesters in Minnesota, and a police car drive into protesters in New York City, Baldner drove his police car into a vehicle driven by Tristan Goods, killing his 11-year-old daughter Monica. Baldner had pulled over Goods for allegedly going too fast on I-87 in Ulster County, and while writing a ticket, things somehow escalated and he sprayed the interior of the car with pepper spray. Goods then drove off, and the chase ended with Baldner ramming the car, and Monica Goods ejected from the vehicle and dead. “Police officers are entrusted to protect and serve, but Trooper Baldner allegedly violated that trust when he used his car as a deadly weapon and killed a young girl,” said Attorney General Letitia James said, announcing the indictment Oct. 27. “While nothing will bring Monica back, we must hold law enforcement to the highest standards, which is why my office is committed to seeking justice in this case.” Baldner currently has a home in Greenville, and formerly owned a house in Catskill. He was indicted on charges of murder in the second degree, manslaughter in the second degree, and reckless endangerment in the first degree. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Melanie Lekocevic reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Heather Campbell and Michael Hofmann are competing at the polls through Nov. 2 to be the City of Hudson treasurer. Campbell is the incumbent, running on the Democratic and Heather4Hudson ballot lines, while Hofmann is challenging on the Working Families Party line. Campbell says she wants "to develop a long-range planning process that would forecast costs out two to five years, so that the city can better predict upcoming capital expenses, such as dump trucks, police cars and fire trucks that are aging out." She says she has worked on "cleaning up the city’s general ledger system," "providing early guidance on the impact of COVID-19 on city financials," and implementing Hudson's lodging-tax law. Hofmann is currently aide to Mayor Kamal Johnson, City of Hudson; development operations manager at the Fisher Center at Bard College; and a freelance stage director and stage manager, graphic designer, and singer. Hofmann says, "the single largest hurdle we face is the systemic racism embedded in our society... and we must have financial leadership that not only supports existing initiatives to mend the damage that’s been done over all these years, but also actively seeks out new opportunities for investment that prioritizes the needs of our historically marginalized neighbors." He wants new standards for public budget presentation, a long-range financial forecast, and to upgrade the city’s antiquated accounting system. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360.com.

The Village of Catskill has issued a boil water advisory until further notice. Heavy rains fell earlier this week, overwhelming the village water system. Anyone with questions should call the village at 518-943-3830.

Today's daily headlines.

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The New York Times reports that New York's attorney general, Letitia James, will announce "as soon as Thursday" that she will run for governor. James will be in a primary with incumbent Kathy Hochul, who took over the seat this summer when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid 11 sexual harassment allegations. The story was revealed by Democrats who said that the attorney general’s team was seeking commitments for early endorsements from key members of the party throughout the state. “Attorney General Letitia James has made a decision regarding the governor’s race,” an adviser, Kimberly Peeler-Allen, said in a statement. “She will be announcing it in the coming days.” Hochul is New York's first female governor; if James is elected she would be the first Black woman ever elected governor in the United States. Read more about this story in The New York Times.

Bill Williams is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media that an air quality warning was issued for Columbia County on October 27, because of smoke from a large scrap metal fire at the Port of Coeymans south of Albany. Fire companies from Albany and Greene counties helped battle the blaze. The fire was burning in a large pile of crushed cars and scrap metal, fire officials said. The site of the fire is rented by Eastern Metal Recycling and no buildings were damaged. Heavy black smoke from the blaze could be seen 15 miles away. Columbia County Emergency Management recommended that residents keep windows closed, air conditioners off, if possible, and recommended that people with a medical history of breathing issues avoid prolonged time outside, due to the amount of smoke in the air all day. The Hudson Fire Department was called to an odor of smoke at Columbia Memorial Health, but it turned out to be smoke from the Coeymans fire. The fire began at around 6:30 a.m., when departments from Selkirk, Ravena, Coeymans Hollow, and New Baltimore were sent to the scene at 2170 River Road. The large fire burned out of control until crews were able to knock it down about three hours later. Excavators were brought in to pull apart the large pile, so water could reach the areas that were burning. The piles of metal were three stories high in some areas. The State Department of Environmental Conservation responded to the scene with their Spill Response Team and Emergency Management, to work with firefighters and the state office of Fire Prevention and Control. The fire could burn for up to 24 hours before it is fully extinguished. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Natasha Vaughn-Holdridge is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media an unvaccinated Columbia County man under the age of 40 has succumbed to COVID-19, an indication that the pandemic is maintaining its grip on the area. The Columbia County Department of Health marked the occasion on October 26. “It’s tragic, he had comorbidities, and his parents didn’t think that he should get the shot because of the comorbidities,” Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said. “A lot of doctors would say, get the shot. It just continues the same story that we’ve seen with unvaccinated people.” The man's death was the second to occur in the county this month. As of October 26, 288 new coronavirus cases were reported in the month of October. “I think it’s interesting, I watch the other counties around us and we’re all experiencing numbers that aren’t going down,” Mabb said. “This past week I think was the highest by, I think, just a few positives, that we’ve had all month long. It’s not relenting, it’s not going down. A lot of it is schools, a lot of it is kids,” he said. The state COVID report card tracker shows that since the beginning of the school year, districts in Columbia County have recorded positive rates that range from two students and one staff member testing positive in the New Lebanon school district to 77 students, four teachers and three staff members testing positive in the Ichabod Crane school district. According to state data, the six school districts located in the county have reported 132 students tested positive since the beginning of the school year. Read more about this story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com. Meanwhile in Greene County, there was another death there Oct. 22 from COVID-19. Andrea Macko reports in Porcupine Soup that last week three Scott M. Ellis Elementary School students tested positive for COVID-19, putting 48 students in quarantine. The Greenville school has had 10 students, and two staff members and two teachers test positive for COVID-19 this year. Those in quarantine will not be allowed to attend the trunk or treat event at the school on October 29, but parents can email ellispta@greenvillecsd.org for a quarantine candy pick up. Read more about this story in Porcupine Soup.

Raymond Pignone has a rundown for Columbia-Greene Media of the Greene County Legislature District 7 contest between Daryl Legg, running on the Democratic line and Charlotte Meigs, running on the Republican and Conservative lines. Both are hoping to represent Halcott, Lexington, and Hunter in the county legislature. Legg, 55, was born and raised in Greene County and is a resident of Haines Falls. He is a business owner. Legg previously served as a member of the Hunter Town Board for six years; and has been the Hunter Town Supervisor for ten years. Legg said, "I believe housing and employment in Greene County are a current issue and would advocate for affordable housing within the county. The housing market has reached a level that it is not affordable for residents to remain within the county. We have growing businesses in our community that will require and continues to require more employees. ...The county must participate with local offices and contractors to create affordable housing to sustain the current economy." He said as a first-term legislator, his objective would be to ensure the county spends its funds efficiently "...while conducting business...to its full potential." Meigs is a lifelong resident of the county and now lives in Hunter. She is employed as a Senior Investigator with the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, according to her Linkedin profile. Meigs says, "I have witnessed our district go through highs and lows, economically, financially and personally. We have rallied through natural disasters and slowly regaining footage in the midst of our global pandemic. ..." She said the community's core goals remains the same: to maintain and improve infrastructure; economic growth; availability of services for youth, elderly, health; affordable housing; job opportunities and growth; public safety; promoting small and start up businesses; travel and tourism. " I will be an aggressive advocate for meeting these needs, in whatever shape it takes. I am no stranger to grant researching and writing, budgets, subcommittees. I have the follow-through to make sure we see the end result. ...I have been engaged in county legislative meetings and have a good working relationship with the current Greene County Legislature. I am well informed of the top issues of our county," Meigs said. Read more at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.

Today's daily news update.