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Weekend in review
Nov 18, 2013 7:00 am
Some of the stories that made the news Nov. 15 to Nov. 18:
Michael Ryan reported in the Windham Journal Stacy Post is the winner in the Windham Town Supervisor race. Post was declared the winner over incumbent supervisor Stephen Walker after absentee ballots were counted at the Greene County Board of Elections, Thurs., Nov. 17, winning by six votes. Post has served as the Windham police chief since 2009. She is expected to resign from that post sometime before she is sworn in as supervisor on Jan. 1. Read the full story in the Windham Journal.
Groups calling for the end to the Common Core Standards are asking New York parents to participate in a nationwide public protest and keep their children home from school, Mon., Nov. 18. In a statement released by the Hudson Valley Americans for Freedom and the 518 Liberty Action Alliance United to Protest Common Core in New York, Sat., Nov. 16, the group recommended students remain at home in an effort to "send a message to the state and federal government[s]" in recognition of the "deleterious influence of the common core standards" on children and educators. Organizers will hold a silent public protest in front of the State Education Building in Albany, beginning at 11 a.m.
Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail the Town of Catskill has adopted a $7 million budget for 2014, a 3.7 percent increase over the current year. The Town Board adopted the budget at its regular meeting early this month. A public hearing was held with no comment received. Under the new spending plan, the tax levy will increase 2.3 percent town wide, and 2.1 percent within the village. In Athens, Melanie Lekocevic writes, town officials are considering a preliminary 2014 budget that, if approved, would mean a 2.39 percent tax increase for property owners. The tax increase exceeds the state's mandated tax cap. The proposed budget does not cut any services, with the exception of the recycling station. Town salaries are expected to increase. Non-union employees, including elected officials and members of the Town Council, will receive raises of 1.5 percent under the plan. Both the budget and the tax cap override law will be discussed at a public hearing, Mon., Nov. 18.
Jordan Carleo-Evangelist reported at Capitol Confidential the Capital Region’s two congressmen split along party lines on the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2014, which would allow Americans to keep health insurance plans that don’t comply with requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson voted with the House’s ruling Republicans for it. Gibson has several times pushed for an outright repeal of the act. Amsterdam Democrat Paul Tonko voted with most Democrats to oppose it the legislation. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.
Art Cusano is reporting in the Register Star the 93rd Annual Edith Casey Christmas Stocking Fund will begin its registration drive Mon., Nov. 18. Last year the program, named for a former Columbia County caseworker, provided gifts to nearly 1,200 children from newborns to 17-year-olds from more than 400 families. Columbia County families can register in person at the county DSS office, located at 25 Railroad Ave. in Hudson. The program relies on toy and monetary donations from the public. DSS will accept, new, unwrapped toys at its Railroad Ave. location and a variety of other locations around the county, including Hudson City Hall and the Columbia County Department of Motor Vehicles. Read the full story in the Register Star.
Michael Ryan reported in the Windham Journal Stacy Post is the winner in the Windham Town Supervisor race. Post was declared the winner over incumbent supervisor Stephen Walker after absentee ballots were counted at the Greene County Board of Elections, Thurs., Nov. 17, winning by six votes. Post has served as the Windham police chief since 2009. She is expected to resign from that post sometime before she is sworn in as supervisor on Jan. 1. Read the full story in the Windham Journal.
Groups calling for the end to the Common Core Standards are asking New York parents to participate in a nationwide public protest and keep their children home from school, Mon., Nov. 18. In a statement released by the Hudson Valley Americans for Freedom and the 518 Liberty Action Alliance United to Protest Common Core in New York, Sat., Nov. 16, the group recommended students remain at home in an effort to "send a message to the state and federal government[s]" in recognition of the "deleterious influence of the common core standards" on children and educators. Organizers will hold a silent public protest in front of the State Education Building in Albany, beginning at 11 a.m.
Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail the Town of Catskill has adopted a $7 million budget for 2014, a 3.7 percent increase over the current year. The Town Board adopted the budget at its regular meeting early this month. A public hearing was held with no comment received. Under the new spending plan, the tax levy will increase 2.3 percent town wide, and 2.1 percent within the village. In Athens, Melanie Lekocevic writes, town officials are considering a preliminary 2014 budget that, if approved, would mean a 2.39 percent tax increase for property owners. The tax increase exceeds the state's mandated tax cap. The proposed budget does not cut any services, with the exception of the recycling station. Town salaries are expected to increase. Non-union employees, including elected officials and members of the Town Council, will receive raises of 1.5 percent under the plan. Both the budget and the tax cap override law will be discussed at a public hearing, Mon., Nov. 18.
Jordan Carleo-Evangelist reported at Capitol Confidential the Capital Region’s two congressmen split along party lines on the Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2014, which would allow Americans to keep health insurance plans that don’t comply with requirements of the Affordable Care Act. Kinderhook Republican Chris Gibson voted with the House’s ruling Republicans for it. Gibson has several times pushed for an outright repeal of the act. Amsterdam Democrat Paul Tonko voted with most Democrats to oppose it the legislation. Read the full story at Capitol Confidential, a Times Union blog.
Art Cusano is reporting in the Register Star the 93rd Annual Edith Casey Christmas Stocking Fund will begin its registration drive Mon., Nov. 18. Last year the program, named for a former Columbia County caseworker, provided gifts to nearly 1,200 children from newborns to 17-year-olds from more than 400 families. Columbia County families can register in person at the county DSS office, located at 25 Railroad Ave. in Hudson. The program relies on toy and monetary donations from the public. DSS will accept, new, unwrapped toys at its Railroad Ave. location and a variety of other locations around the county, including Hudson City Hall and the Columbia County Department of Motor Vehicles. Read the full story in the Register Star.