Greenville Pioneer - 2021-11-19

Friday, November 19, 2021 • $1.50 

By Melanie Lekocevic 

with both laughter and tears, the county 

saluted this year’s Greene County Vetof 

Leeds. 

The annual Greene County Honor A 

Historic Catskill Point and honored 

long-time advocate and supporter of 

fellow veterans. 

“Today we are honoring Thomas J. 

Andreassen, one of our own,” veteran 

and county Treasurer Peter Markou 

said. “By so doing, we honor all veterans.” 

nam War, which was followed by a 

four-month tour of duty in Antarctica. 

He was awarded numerous medals and 

citations for his military service, in- 

Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign 

Medal, Antarctic Service Riband 

Vietnam Service Medal with Fleet 

Marine Combat Operations Insignia, 

Markou said. 

award to his list of accomplishments. 

“He has lived a life of service — a 

life of service to his country, a life of 

service to his community, a life of service 

to his family and a life of service 

to his brothers in arms,” Markou said. 

City and moved to Ulster County as a 

youngster. He has lived in Leeds for 

During that time, he has volunteered 

and advocated for veterans, including 

as a 13-year veteran of the Honeyford 

Memorial American Legion Post 110, 

including three years as its commander. 

See VETERAN, page 15 

By Joanne E. McFadden 

In the last year and a half, the world has seen too 

many cancellations to count. The Greenville area 

certainly had its fair share, including the Greenville 

Rotary’s annual Tree Lighting Festival and Cairo’s 

Holiday Parade of Lights. 

However, this holiday season, these popular 

community events are back, signaling a return to 

See HOLIDAY, page 15 

Faith groups lend a helping hand to kids in need 


CATSKILL — CarePortal is a 

blend of modern technology and 

an old-fashioned helping hand. 

The technology platform that 

links faith-based organizations 

with those in need launched in 

Greene County on Oct. 28. 

Kira Pospesel, commissioner 

of the Greene County Department 

of Social Services, introduced the 

new service that will help families 

and children in crisis. 

“Every year around Christmastime, 

many people will reach 

out and ask what can they do for 

the children that we have in foster 

care,” Pospesel said. “Everyone 

loves for people to have a 

Christmas gift. At the Department 

of Social Services, Christmas is 

every day, not only for a gift — 

a coloring book, a gift card, a 

new computer — but it may be 

the things you see up in the portal 

that a caseworker has been 

requesting. It may be diapers, it 

may be the front door that needs 

to be replaced, it may be a bed to 

sleep on.” 

CarePortal is a national program 

that launched six years ago 

and is active in 27 states nationwide, 

according to Sandra Flach, 

director of Ravena-based Justice 

for Orphans, which manages 

CarePortal in the Capital Region. 

The technology platform is 

active in Albany and Schenectady 

counties, and now in Greene 

County. 

“Before COVID, we really 

had a desire to bring CarePortal 

to Greene County,” Flach said. 

“COVID slowed things down, but 

we are here today and thrilled to 

be able to partner with the county 

and the churches throughout 

Greene County to meet the needs 

of children and families in crisis.” 

Schenectady County was the 

participate in the platform beginning 

in late 2018, and a year later, 

Albany County came on board. 

“To date, just in those two 

counties, 1,900 children have 

been served throughout the Capital 

Region through churches using 

the CarePortal,” Flach said. 

County caseworkers identify 

and vet the needs of families and 

children, input the requests into 

the CarePortal system, and then 

churches can choose to help by 

can. 

“Churches do want to help, 

they just most of the time don’t 

See FAITH, page 14

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Editor’s Note: A charge is not a conviction. 

All persons listed are innocent 

until proven guilty in a court of law. 

Charges can be amended or dismissed. 

- 

ville, was arrested Oct. 31 at 12:38 

a.m. in Cairo and charged with driving 

while intoxicated, an unclasstatus 

was unknown. 

was arrested Oct. 31 at 9:28 p.m. in 

Catskill and charged with manufacture 

of drug-related paraphernalia 

and seventh-degree criminal possession 

of a controlled substance, 

both class A misdemeanors, and 

a controlled substance, a class D felony. 

He was issued an appearance 

ticket. 

Prattsville, was arrested Oct. 31 at 

with acting in a manner injurious 

to a child under 17, a class A misdemeanor. 

Her arrestee status was 

unknown. 

- 

tleton on Hudson, was arrested Oct. 

31 at 10:40 a.m. in Coeymans and 

charged with driving while intoxi- 

- 

or. She was issued an appearance 

ticket. 

Castleton on Hudson, was arrested 

- 

timore and charged with false personation, 

a class B misdemeanor, 

and second-degree obstruction of 

governmental administration and 

seventh-degree criminal possession 

of a controlled substance, both class 

A misdemeanors. She was issued an 

appearance ticket. 

Tannersville and charged with second-degree 

aggravated harassment/ 

threat by phone, a class A misdemeanor. 

Her arrestee status was 

unknown. 

- 

a.m. in Greenville, and charged with 

manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia, 

a class A misdemeanor; 

tampering with physical evidence, 

a class E felony; seventh-degree 

criminal possession of a controlled 

substance, a class A misdemeanor; 

- 

sion of a controlled substance, a 

class D felony. He was held. 

in Coxsackie and charged with seventh-degree 

criminal possession of 

a controlled substance. He was issued 

an appearance ticket. 

- 

p.m. in Coxsackie and charged with 

second-degree obstruction of governmental 

administration, a class 

A misdemeanor. He was issued an 


male, of Catskill, was arrested 

charged with second-degree sex 

abuse of an individual under 14 

years, a class A misdemeanor. He 

was issued an appearance ticket. 

forcible touching and endangering 

the welfare of a child, both class A 

misdemeanors. He was issued an 


in Tannersville and charged with 

second-degree criminal contempt 

and second-degree aggravated harassment, 

both class A misdemeanors. 

She was issued an appearance 

ticket. 

Greenville and charged with operating 

a motor vehicle with a blood-alcohol 

content of 0.08 and driving 

misdemeanors. He was issued an 


with manufacture of drug-related 

paraphernalia and seventh-degree 


substance, both class A misdemean- 

- 

session of a controlled substance, 

a class D felony. She was issued an 


in Hunter and charged with aggravated 

unlicensed operation, a class 

E felony; operating a motor vehicle 

with a blood-alcohol content of 0.08 

with two priors, a class D felony; 

driving while intoxicated with two 

previous convictions in 10 years, a 

class D felony; and use of a vehicle 

without an interlock system, a class 

A misdemeanor. He was issued an 


Cairo and charged with seventh-degree 


substance and second-degree 

criminal use of drug paraphernalia, 

both class A misdemeanors. He was 

issued an appearance ticket. 

- 

p.m. in Athens and charged with 

second-degree obstruction of governmental 

administration and resisting 

arrest, both class A misdemeanors, 

and driving while intoxicated, 

was released on his own recognizance. 

- 

sackie, was arrested Oct. 29 at 10 

a.m. in Cairo and charged with 

class D felony. He was held. 

a.m. in Windham and charged with 

third-degree grand larceny, a class 

D felony. He was released on his 

own recognizance. 

p.m. in Catskill and charged with 

criminal obstruction of breathing/ 

applying pressure, a class A misdemeanor. 


ticket. 

Catskill and charged with operating 

a motor vehicle with a blood-alchomisdemeanor. 


ticket. 

in Catskill and charged with seventh-degree 

criminal possession 

- 

of a controlled substance, a class 


substance, a class D felony. He was 

held. 

p.m. in Hunter and charged with 

operating a motor vehicle with a 

blood-alcohol content of 0.08% 

and driving while intoxicated, both 


2:18 p.m. in Catskill and charged 

with fourth-degree grand larceny/ 

property valued over $1,000, and 

fourth-degree grand larcey/credit 

card, both class E felonies. She was 


with operating a motor vehicle with 

a blood-alcohol content of 0.08% 

and driving while intoxicated, an 


a.m. in Catskill and charged with 

hunting while intoxicated, operating 

a motor vehicle while impaired 

by drugs and driving while ability 

impaired combined drugs/alcohol, 

manufacture of drug-related paraphernalia, 

seventh-degree criminal 

possession of a controlled substance 

and second-degree criminal 

use of drug paraphernalia, all class 

A misdemeanors. He was issued an 


State announces $1.5M 

to grow Farm-to- 

School program 


to-School program, bringing locally 

grown food to schools around 

Commissioner Richard Ball last 

week announced the funding is 

available to eligible school districts. 

The Farm-to-School program aims 

to connect students in kindergarten 

through 12th grade by increasing 

the use of locally grown food on 

school menus. 

“The Farm-to-School Program 

students have access to fresh, 

healthy foods and they understand 

where their meals come from,” Ball 

said. “I’m proud that this program 

continues to help schools tap into 

the local food movement and serve 

more healthy lunches with products 

either grown in their school garden 

or purchased from their community 

farmers. This is a win-win for our 

agricultural industry and for our 

state’s future leaders.” 

program can be submitted to the 

state through Dec. 30, according to 

the Department of Agriculture. 

State Education Commissioner 

Betty Rosa said in a statement. 

“Students that have access to 

healthy, locally sourced food are 

not only better prepared to be successful 

in school, they also learn 

has been a wonderful way to supplement 

food options in schools 

across the state and I thank Gov. 

Kathy Hochul for expanding this 

important program.” 

Eligible schools include public, 

and other entities participating in 

- 

gram, the School Breakfast Program 

or the Summer Food Service 

- 

Program, that serve students in 

kindergarten through 12th grade, 

according to the department. 

The program provides grant 

funding of up to $100,000 per project 

and can cover costs including 

employing a local or regional farmto-school 

coordinator; training 

food service staff in procuring and 

preparing locally produced food; 

purchasing equipment to increase 

capacity in school kitchens to prepare 

and serve locally produced 

food; making capital improvements 

for the transport or storage of 

locally produced food; and creating 

new meals for the menu. 

- 

marked for applicants that have not 

received a Farm-to-School grant in 

previous years. 

Grant applications must be received 

by Dec. 30 by 4 p.m. 

Since the launch of the Farm-to- 

- 

lion has been committed to support 

Farm-to-School projects across the 

- 

ment of Agriculture and Markets 

has awarded a total of 119 projects, 

- 

tricts in every region in the state, 

according to the department. 

The Farm-to-School Program 

is part of the state’s ongoing efforts 

to combat food insecurity, increase 

the amount of fresh, local foods 

served in schools, and to connect 

- 

kets. 

Student Goes Hungry initiative and 

which increases the reimbursement 

schools receive for lunches from 

meal for any district that purchases 

at least 30% of its ingredients from 

Last year, 47 school districts 

achieved the purchasing requirement, 

with some school districts 

spending over 40% of their lunch 

products, according to the state Department 

of Agriculture.

adopt $1.7M town budget 


council voted unanimously 

budget for 2022. 

“It’s a flat budget,” Town 

Supervisor Paul Macko said to 

introduce the budget during a 

public hearing. “The town tax 

rate for general, highway, library 

and chargebacks is down 

a minute part of a penny, so the 

budget is very flat and it is under 

the tax cap.” 

The amount to be raised by 

taxes in 2022 is set at $790,000 

for the general, or A, fund, 

$833,000 for the highway department, 

and $117,880 for 

the library fund. An additional 

$11,224 is allocated for college 

chargebacks, which are paid 

for local students who attend 

community colleges other than 

Columbia-Greene Community 

College. 

The town tax rate is set at 

property’s assessed value for 

2022, which is a fraction of a 

cent higher than 2021. 

“If you have a house assessed 

at $100,000, your tax bill 

Macko explained. 

The budget does not include 

any cuts in services or employees. 

Town workers will see a 

bump in salary in 2022 under 

the new budget. 

“Highway and town employees, 

with the exception of people 

at the library, are all getting 

Macko said. 

Several special districts 

have essentially remained flat, 

including the lighting districts. 

The ambulance district saw 

$1,000 assessed value of the 

ville fire district tax rate went 

in 2022. 

Keeping an eye on spending 

and taxes was important to the 

town council “because we were 

very concerned about our economy 

and specifically inflation 

going into the winter months,” 

Macko said. 

“It’s a slim budget and the 

only way it will possibly work 

is if everybody makes a concerted 

effort to watch spending 

next year,” Macko said. “This 

year we probably could have 

done a little better with the budget 

but we put nearly $48,000 

into the roof in February or 

March on the old part of the 

town building.” 

The Pioneer building, at the 

juncture of Routes 81 and 32, 

along with a couple of other 

big-ticket purchases in years 

past, is set to be paid off in a 

little over a year and could provide 

an opportunity for the town 

in future budgets, the town supervisor 

said. 

“There is light at the end of 

the tunnel,” Macko said. “The 

mortgage on the Pioneer building 

will be paid off in 2023. 

The three trucks that were 

purchased used will be paid 

off next year, so we should be 

alright. The mortgage on this 

years ago. That will be some 

savings there.” 

With the town building 

mortgage paid off, there could 

be opportunities to improve the 

structure, he added. 

“My suggestion to the board 

is when the building is paid off, 

maybe we will work on redoing 

some of the replacement windows 

and other projects in the 

building to make it more energy 

efficient,” Macko said. 

Town Councilman John 

Bensen said funding might be 

available for a project like that. 

“There might be some public 

money for energy savings,” 

Bensen said.


County judge denied bail for a 

state trooper facing murder and 

other charges. 

Christopher Baldner, 43, of 

Durham, will remain in jail af- 

He was indicted Oct. 27. 

Baldner is charged with second-degree 

murder, second-degree 

manslaughter and first-degree 

reckless endangerment, 

according to state Attorney 

General Letitia James. 

Baldner was on duty pa- 

Thruway in Ulster County in 

December 2020 when he is accused 

of using his state police 

vehicle to ram a car occupied by 

the Goods family of Brooklyn, 

according to the indictment. 

In the indictment, James 

alleges that on Dec. 22, 2020, 

at approximately 11:40 p.m., 

Tristan Goods was driving 

in the northbound lane of the 

Thruway on the way to visit 

family for Christmas. Goods’ 

wife and two young daughters 

were also in the vehicle. 

Baldner allegedly stopped 

the car for speeding and during 

the stop, the trooper sprayed 

pepper spray into the vehicle, 

according to the indictment. 

Goods drove away at a high rate 

of speed and Baldner followed, 

prosecutors said. 

“During the pursuit, Baldner 

twice rammed his police vehicle 

into the rear of the Goods car,” 

James said in a statement following 

the indictment. “Upon 

the second strike, the Goods car 

flipped over several times and 

came to rest upside down.” 

Monica Goods, 11, was 

ejected from the vehicle and 

died. 

It is not clear at this time 

why Baldner used pepper spray. 

Goods has said he sped away 

because he was concerned for 

his family’s safety. 

Association expressed disappointment 

that bail was denied. 

lived in this area for almost two 

decades,” Thomas Mungeer, 

president of the union, said. 

“He has a family, he has kids, 

he owns a house. He’s not going 

anywhere.” 

“I believe the Bail Reduction 

Act of 2019 has worked for 

everybody,” Mungeer continued, 

“but in this case, it didn’t 

work for my trooper.” 

The union is providing Baldner 

with legal representation. 

He has been suspended from 

the department without pay. 

Supporters of the Goods 

family demonstrated outside 

By Marisa Korytko 

8 ways to support an 

Alzheimer’s caregiver 

mer’s Disease Awareness Month 

and Family Caregivers Month. To 

mark these events, the Alzheimer’s 

Association is encouraging people 

to lend a helping hand to the more 

members and friends serving as 

Alzheimer’s caregivers. 

“Caregivers are superheroes, 

but even superheroes can’t do it 

alone,” said Beth Smith-Boivin, 

executive director for the Alzheiprovides 

us an opportunity to celebrate 

the strength and dedication of 

dementia caregivers, but also recognize 

the special challenges they 

face. Whether it’s a friend, neighbor 

or co-worker, providing help and 

support to caregivers is easier than 

most people think. Even little acts 

can make a big difference.” 

The Alzheimer’s Association 

offers these suggestions for ways to 

support an Alzheimer’s caregiver: 

Alzheimer’s disease – its symptoms, 

its progression and the common 

challenges facing caregivers. 

The more you know, the easier it 

Staff will be on hand to assist residents with state-related 

matters, provide information on state resources 

and programs that residents may be eligible for, and 

discuss local issues. 

Walk-ins are welcome and no appointment is nechours. 

To protect communities during COVID-19, 

and friends who want to help with 

caregiving. The Alzheimer’s Association’s 

website (alz.org) can direct 

you to several free, online care 

calendar resources that families can 

use to build their care team. These 

make it easy to share activities and 

information within the person’s care 

for which assistance is needed, such 

as preparing meals, providing rides 

or running errands, and Helpers can 

sign up. 

a standing appointment to give the 

caregiver a break. Spend time with 

the person living with dementia and 

allow the caregiver a chance to run 

errands, go to their own doctor’s appointment, 

participate in a support 

group or engage in an activity that 

helps them recharge. Even one hour 

could make a big difference in providing 

the caregiver some relief. 

and dementia caregivers report feeling 

isolated or alone. So, start the 

conversation – a phone call to check 

in, sending a note, or stopping by 

for a visit can make a big difference 

in a caregiver’s day and help them 

feel supported. 

a list of errands that need to be run 

– such as picking up groceries or 

prescriptions. Offer to do yard work 

or other household chores. It can be 

complete these simple tasks that we 

often take for granted. 

Greene County are as follows: 

411 Main St. 

Open-ended offers of support (“call 

me if you need anything” or “let me 

know if I can help”) may be well-intended, 

but are often dismissed. Be 

to the store, what do you need?”). 

Continue to let the caregiver know 

that you are there and ready to help. 

day celebrations are often joyous 

occasions, but they can be challenging 

and stressful for families facing 

Alzheimer’s. Help caregivers 

around the holidays by offering to 

help with cooking, cleaning or gift 

shopping. If a caregiver has traditionally 

hosted family celebrations, 

offer your home instead. 

son living with the disease and 

unteer with your local Alzheimer’s 

Association chapter, participate in 

fundraising events such as Walk to 

End Alzheimer’s and The Longest 

Day, advocate for more research 

funding, or sign up to participate in 

a clinical study through the Alzheimer’s 

Association’s Trial Match. 

To learn more about Alzheimer’s 

disease and ways you can 

support families and people living 

with the disease, visit alz.org. 

Marisa Korytko is the public relations 

director for the Alzheimer’s 

Association Northeastern New York 

chapter. She can be reached at mekorytko@alz.org. 

includes Greene and Montgomery counties and parts of 

Albany, Schenectady and Ulster counties. 

Delgado named most bipartisan 

Democratic member of Congress 

sentative Antonio Delgado, D-19, 

has been recognized as Congress’s 

fourth most bipartisan member of 

Congress and the most bipartisan 

Democratic member of Congress 

in the Common Ground Scorecard. 

The Common Ground Scorecard, 

compiled by the Common 

model to assess the degree to which 

social and political issues through 

listening and productive conversation. 

leaders who are solutions-oriented 

ground, as opposed to being divisive 

and driven by partisan politics,” 

Delgado said. “We must work 

together to ensure our democracy 

can responsibly and effectively represent 

all Americans, irrespective of 

the fourth most bipartisan member 

Democrats.” 

“Americans are divided over the 

direction of the country and how to 

solve many issues we currently face. 

To make progress, leaders must 

be committed to working across 

address all our citizens’ concerns,” 

said Erik Olsen, co-founder of 

Common Ground Scorecard. “But 

while they are divided on issues, 

Americans agree that they want 

to see their representatives work 

together and solve problems. We 

hope that more lawmakers follow 

Representative Delgado’s lead and 

common ground.” 

The Common Ground Scorecard 

was released prior to the 2020 

election and updated in October 

2021 by the Common Ground 

Committee, a nonpartisan, citizen-led 

organization devoted to improving 

public discourse in politics. 

In addition to their commitments 

and personal actions, the ranking 

cial’s score in the Lugar Center/Mc- 

Court School Bipartisan Index and 

other public sources of data. 

Delgado has passed 12 pieces 

of legislation into law under both 

Republican and Democratic administrations. 

The U.S. Chamber of 

Commerce has twice awarded Delgado 

the Jefferson-Hamilton Award 

for Bipartisanship. 

Praise and 

reward go 

a long way 

By Charlene Marchand 

It is a good mental health exercise to remind ourselves 

each day of all the positive aspects of our lives, be they 

keep us balanced and positive. It is especially important 

to be grateful for loving families and close friends. 

As often happens, we can become complacent about 

the good deeds, generous people, great weather, et al. that 

surround us. To say it another way, most of us can take 

the upsides of our day for granted. And so it is with our 

companion animals – their good and desirable behavior, 

that is. 

The premier tenet of positive reinforcement is to reward 

all desired behavior – in other words, don’t take it 

for granted! If Hugo has been quiet by our side while we 

read a good book or watch a program or iron our clothes, 

remember to periodically reward that lovely, devoted, 

passive behavior with a word, pat or a treat. 

When Tommy Tom Cat explodes through the door at 

a blistering pace and Hugo leaps up to get in “his” practhat, 

IF he didn’t take those two hours of quiet time for 

granted. 

When mom and Hugo are out for their daily stroll and 

the perfect puppy has trotted merrily by her side, with a 

lot of “at attention” eye glances, it is then that she should 

be rewarding and reinforcing her canine son. Don’t take 

it for granted. 

When that tantalizing grey squirrel scoots across 

mom’s path and Hugo decides that he’s entered in the 

tractor pull at the Chatham Fair, a redirection IS probably 

in order – but the truth is that the lesson will be learned 

faster, and compliance with the rules will be more reliable, 

if we are thankful for and reward that gentle dog by 

our side. Don’t take it for granted. 

The same rules apply to Strawberry Shortcake. While 

she’s busy exercising those retractable feline nails on her 

posts or scratching boards, our praise should be lavish, 

effervescent. Falling into the trap of correcting Minnie’s 

manicuring enthusiasm when she heads for the new 

lounge, will render the lesson longer to learn. We took 

the desirable behavior, which was to have her nails done 

at the feline manicure station, for granted. Always a mistake. 

companion animal species for granted. Praise and reward. 

Is Herman sitting quietly waiting his turn at the dog doctor? 

Praise and reward. Did Polly the Puppy quickly squat 

and “do her business” while in the middle of a torrential 

downpour? Don’t take it for granted. Is Gorgeous George 

downtimes increasing with age! 

All adoptions at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society 

are sponsored for the month of October! Our food 

bank is open to any from the public in need of pet food or 

for those wishing to donate food from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

daily. Spay/neuter clinics are available for cats and dogs. 

Charlene Marchand is the chairperson of the Columbia-Greene 

Humane Society/SPCA Board of Directors.

Catskill cemetery participating 

in Wreaths 

Across America Day 

(WAA) has announced that the 

Town of Catskill Cemetery has 

once again joined in the effort to 

support the mission to “Remember, 

- 

tion for 2021. 

Wreaths Across America started 

as a simple gesture of thanks 

that has grown into a national 

movement of dedicated volunteers 

and communities coming together 

to not only remember the nation’s 

fallen and honor their service, but 

- to teach the next generation about 

freely. 

This year, there will be more 

than 2,700 participating loca- 

Wreaths Across America Day – 

Saturday, Dec. 18 – with more than 

two million volunteers coming together 

at noon. 

“We are forever grateful for the 

thousands of supporters who dedi- 

- 

ing our mission on a local level,” 

said Karen Worcester, executive director 

of Wreaths Across America. 

“These individuals and their communities 

know the value of remembering 

the fallen, honoring those 

who currently serve and teaching 

the next generation about the sacday, 

and without their continued 

support, Wreaths Across America 

would not exist.” 

Those interested in sponsoring 

a wreath for Wreaths Across America 

are invited to visit the national 

Wreaths Across America web page 

Across America Day is a free, 

non-political, community event 

open to all people. 

Wreaths Across America is the 

for placing veterans’ wreaths on the 

headstones of the nation’s fallen 

However, the organization, in total, 

places more than 1.7 million spon- 

- 

ing locations nationwide and offers 

other programs throughout the calendar 

year. These programs include 

The Mobile Education Exhibit and 

Wreaths Across America Radio, 

among other education programs. 

sponsorship goes toward a fresh 

balsam veteran’s wreath that will 

be placed on the headstone of an 

American hero as the group endeavor 

to honor all veterans laid to 

rest at the Town of Catskill Cemetery 

this December. 

Flu season may further impact Red Cross blood supply 

POUGHKEEPSIE – As the 

holidays approach and the Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention 

cases this year, it’s important that 

those who are eligible, healthy and 

feeling well make an appointment 

to donate blood or platelets. The 

American Red Cross continues 

to address an ongoing emergency 

blood shortage, and donors are 

urged to give now to combat the 

lowest blood supply levels at this 

time of year in more than a decade. 

- 

es reached an all-time low last year 

due to masking, physical distancing 

and shutdowns across the country, 

and many Americans may have 

reduced immunity this year. 

When seasonal illness increases, 

the number of healthy blood 

donors tends to decrease. Paired 

with winter weather, busy holiday 

schedules and ongoing COVID-19 

concerns, the already struggling 

blood supply could be further impacted 

throughout winter. 

There is no blood donation 

waiting period for those who have 

- 

COVID-19 vaccine or booster, so 

long as they are symptom-free. 

Donors are urged to schedule an 

appointment now by using the Red 

Cross Blood Donor App, visiting 

RedCrossBlood.org or calling 

1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733- 

To encourage donors to help 

meet the needs of hospital patients 

this month, all who come to donate 

- 

zon.com Gift Card by email, thanks 

to Amazon. Those who come to 

give around the Thanksgiving holiof 

Red Cross socks, while supplies 

last. 

Each Red Cross blood drive and 

donation center follows the highest 

standards of safety and infection 

control, and additional precautions 

– including face masks for donors 

and staff, regardless of vaccination 

status – have been implemented to 

help protect the health of all those 

in attendance. Donors are asked to 

schedule an appointment prior to 

arriving at the drive. 

The next donation date in 

Greene County will be in Ashland 

Town of Ashland Ambulance, 

12094, Route 23. 

There will also be a donation 

Episcopal Church Barclay Heights, 

32 Church St., Route 9W. 

minutes at the blood drive by completing 

a RapidPass. With Rapid- 

Pass, donors complete the pre-donation 

reading and health history 

questionnaire online, on the day of 

donation, from a mobile device or 

computer. 

To complete a RapidPass, follow 

the instructions at RedCross- 

Blood.org/RapidPass or use the 

Red Cross Blood Donor App. 

To donate blood, individuals 

need to bring a blood donor card or 

driver’s license or two other forms 

check-in. Individuals who are 17 

parental consent where allowed 

by state law), weigh at least 110 

pounds and are in generally good 

health may be eligible to donate 

blood. High school students and 

other donors 18 years of age and 

younger also must meet certain 

height and weight requirements. 

-

By Pat Larsen 

This is a very ancient Cherokee tale 

told long ago and carried forward to be 

retold over and over again. 

Its message is one of courage, faith, 

trust, strength and love in the face of 

many challenges. It is a story of the influences 

that “mindset” can have on us. 

The metaphors contained within the 

story are timeless messengers for all of 

us to apply to our own lives in our own 

experiences. It is a very special tale that 

perhaps you will find inspiring enough 

to share with family and friends, especially 

the younger people who face so 

much adversity as they grow up these 

days. 

It is my Thanksgiving wish for all of 

you to enjoy as we surround ourselves 

with gratitude at this time of year. 

I am paraphrasing this story as it was 

told to me. 

WOLVES” 

The story of the two wolves features 

two characters: a grandfather and his 

grandson. The grandfather explains to 

his grandson that there are two wolves 

fighting within him, which is a metaphor 

for his inner sense of conflict. The conversation 

between two goes like this: 

“I have a fight going on in me,” the 

old man said. “It’s taking place between 

two wolves. One is evil — these qualities 

are anger, envy, sorrow, regret, 

greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, 

inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority 

and ego. 

“The other wolf embodies positive 

emotions — joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, 

humility, kindness, benevolence, 

empathy, generosity, truth, compassion 

and faith.” 

“Both wolves are fighting to the 

death,” the grandfather said. “The same 

fight is going on in every one of us.” 

The grandson took a moment to reflect 

on what his grandfather had said 

about the two wolves. 

He then asked his grandfather, 

“Which wolf will win?” 

The old Cherokee gave a simple reply: 

“The one you feed!” 

This parable serves as a powerful reminder 

of the fight inside that every human 

being must face. Regardless of the 

life you lead or the person you are, you 

will find yourself battling two conflicting 

emotions at some point in your life. 

It’s then important to learn the lessons 

contained within this story so that 

you will make the rightful choice of 

which one to feed. 

The final message is to feed the values 

and choices that matter most. 

One of the most important lessons 

story is the fact that you have more power 

over your happiness than you think 

you do. In this world, it’s easy to get 

beaten down by your circumstances. The 

more we focus on nourishing those positive 

emotions, the less room there will 

be for the negative feelings. 

fluence on the outcome of the situations 

that present themselves during your life. 

Feeding the positive thoughts in your 

mind will help you to filter out unpleasant 

emotions and lift up your spirits and 

those around you. 

The grandfather’s wise words remind 

everyone that change is possible 

and it can be achieved by focusing one’s 

thoughts in the right direction. 

“Healthy and Fit” is a mindset as 

well and can be achieved at any age, regardless 

of when you choose to feed that 

aspect of yourself with the thoughts of 

possibility. It doesn’t matter when you 

begin. 

My fondest wishes for a blessed 

Thanksgiving to all. 

May this coming holiday season 

bring you the blessings of renewal and 

faith that together we can do anything. 

Pat Larsen is a licensed fitness instructor 

certified in hypnotherapy. For 

more information call 518-275-8686 or 

email Pelarsen5@aol.com. 

30th annual Christmas 

Craft Fair 

everyone is getting ready to shop — so stay 

close to home and support the local Auxiliary 

of the Greenville Volunteer Fire Company. 

iary will be hosting its 30th annual Christmas 

Craft Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greenville 

fire station at the intersection of Routes 

32 and 81. 

As in years past, there will be local artisans 

with unique “handmade” gifts like winter 

hats, scarves, doll clothes, solar lights, Christmas 

decorations, animal toys, wooden signs, 

candles, soaps, baby items, small pouches, 

hand towels, jewelry, gnomes, stuffed animals, 

wreaths, wall hangings, lanterns, quilts, 

pot holders, sock monkeys, face masks, table 

runners, teddy bears and honey. Some crafters 

will even take special orders. 

The sale is well-known, offering only quality 

handcrafted items. 

The Auxiliary will be selling hot dogs, 

homemade chili and home baked goodies all 

day, but arrive early as they sometimes sell out 

quickly. 

Come shop for unique gifts with your family 

and friends and support the local Auxiliary 

of the Greenville Volunteer Fire Company. 

15 different varieties 

on the stand 

Open 7 Days a Week from 10am-5pm 

(518) 731- 6196 • Cty Rt 26, Climax, NY 12042 

(1/4 Mile Past Quarry Steakhouse onCounty Route 26. Big red barn on the hill) 

BoehmFarmLLC.com

Department of Environmental Conservation 

Commissioner Basil Seggos 

has announced the adoption of 

new regulations governing the public 

use of Wildlife Management Areas 

(WMA) and the simultaneous 

repeal of three obsolete area-specific 

regulations. 

These regulations will become 

effective Jan. 1, 2022. 

DEC’s Division of Fish and 

several Unique and Multiple Use 

Areas across the state. Collectively 

known as the WMA system, these 

acres. 

“Visitor use and enjoyment of 

DEC’s wildlife management areas 

across the state have increased 

gos said. “To protect these special 

places for future generations and 

sustainably welcome visitors, DEC 

is updating our rules to ensure the 

WMA system continues to meet the 

primary goals of conserving wildlife 

and providing opportunities to 

safely hunt, trap, and appreciate 

wildlife.” 

DEC adopted the new regulations 

following a public comment 

tions include provisions to: 

• Restrict the use of motor vehicles 

and some motorized equipment, 

such as chainsaws, in WMAs. 

Snowmobiles will be allowed on 

designated routes covered by a minimum 

of three inches of snow or ice 

and only from the close of the regular 

big game hunting season until 

March 31. This measure will help 

prevent the degradation of trails and 

habitat, particularly during winter 

and spring thaws. 

• Prevent the introduction of 

aquatic invasive species. 

arms other than for hunting or trapping 

to designated areas. Only paper 

targets will be allowed. 

• Restrict the use of boats to 

electric or non-powered boats. 

Boats may not be stored or anchored 

overnight on WMAs. 

• Require that dogs be kept on 

a leash and under control. Exceptions 

include when dogs are being 

legally used for hunting, training 

for hunting on lands designated as 

dog-training areas during training 

seasons, or when participating in a 

WMAs should always be aware 

of the rules governing the WMA. 

Each WMA has a webpage that lists 

featured activities, available faciland 

a map of the area. 

annual Troy Turkey Trot, presented by Pioneer. 

donation in return for supplying the event 

with volunteers. 

“Although the Trot drew 41% of its 

anniversary on Thanksgiving morning, 

The Trot is the nation’s 12th oldest road 

race and attracts thousands of runners and 

spectators to historic Troy for the Capital 

Region’s largest Thanksgiving Day road 

race. 

A signature event of the Collar City’s 

holiday festivities, the Trot begins at 8 a.m. 

with the Capital Region’s only Thanksgiving 

Day 10K. The 10K course will close at 

9:30 a.m. to facilitate the start of the Grade 

School Mile and Turkey Walk at 9:30 a.m. 

said Troy Mayor Patrick Madden. “We 

hope Trotters’ giving spirit continues this 

year as the event returns to in-person this 

Thanksgiving. This year’s fundraising goal 

of $20,000 will help support these organizations 

that play a vital role feeding hungry 

families and providing warm shelter to 

homeless men, women and children.” 

For those looking to stretch out their 

muscles before their event takes place, 

Choice Physical Therapy will offer a series 

of warm-up sessions at Fourth Street and 

River Street’s Monument Square. Family 

members are invited to show their support 

by cheering on loved ones. 

when six runners entered, the Trot has 

grown to become one of America’s largest 

road races with more than 7,000 participants,” 

said longtime Event Director 

George Regan. “It’s important for people 

to recognize this event is steeped in history 

and tradition and they can experience that 

during our anniversary year.” 

Besides offering a welcome return to 

in-person racing, this year’s Trot will again 

feature a virtual option for those concerned 

Greenville falls 

to Beekmantown 

in Class B 

regionals 


PLATTSBURGH — The Greenville boys’ soccer team fell 

The team lost a 2-1 heartbreaker in penalty kicks, but the 

season had the entire community cheering on the Spartans. 

“Greenville loses to Beekmantown in PKs,” according to a 

statement on the district website. “Our hearts break for our boys. 

Amazing season, boys. The Greenville community is proud of 

you.” 

post-season with a 20-1 record. The team won the Patroon Conference 

and Section II Class B championships, and were ranked 

second in the state in Class B. 

One week prior, the Spartans earned a Section 2 Class B title 

by defeating Mechanicville. 

The state regional game, played at Plattsburgh High School, 

was a nail biter, with Greenville and Beekmantown tied 1-1 at 

The two regulation play scores came from Greenville’s Caleb 

Motta, with an assist by Cole Flannery, and Beekmantown’s 

Markel Mosley. 

half. Mosley tied up the game with a goal with 23:39 left in 

regulation play. After the regulation play clock wound down, the 

game moved into double overtime, where the score remained 

snarled at 1-1. 

The contest moved into penalty kicks, where Beekmantown 

edged the Spartans 4-3 in the overtime shootout. 

In the sixth round of penalty kicks, Beekmantown’s Rocco 

Golden blocked a shot from Greenville’s Joseph Davis, locking 

ries for the Spartans. 

where they were scheduled at press time to face off against 

Haverling. 

about being around others or who plan to 

be away. Virtual participants will use a custom 

mobile app, which allows them to race 

with others in real time, regardless of their 

location. 

Last year, 14 other Troy communities 

cials from Troy, Kansas; Troy, Michigan; 

and Troy, Illinois took advantage of the 

app during the event’s three-day virtual 

running window. 

Fall recreation is fun and exciting, 

but can also be challenging and 

partment of Environmental Conservation 

warns. 

Whether you’re going hiking, 

with a list of 10 essentials, guidance 

on what to wear, and tips for 

planning your trip with safety and 

sustainability in mind. 

Wear proper gear and attire, including 

sturdy, comfortable boots: 

• Moisture-wicking synthetic 

fabrics that keep your skin dry and 

help regulate your body temperature 

in both cold and warm weather 

— avoid cotton as it holds moisture. 

• Layered clothing is recommended 

even for summer hikes. 

• Light-colored clothing, which 

will make it easier to see ticks. 

• Waterproof, sturdy, and comfortable 

shoes or boots. 

• A watch or other time-keeping 

device. 

• Trekking poles will reduce leg 

fatigue and joint pain. 

• Snowshoes and traction devices 

in the winter. 

While registering online, participants 

are encouraged to donate to the event’s two 

main charities, the Regional Food Bank 

viate homelessness in the Capital Region. 

its participating in the event’s Volunteer 

Incentive Recruitment Program, an initiative 

in which local charities receive a cash 

Carry these essentials in a day 

pack on all hikes for a safe and enjoyable 

experience. 

pass, GPS system, extra batteries. 

• Insulation/rain gear: Waterproof/windproof 

jacket, hat, 

gloves, thermal undergarments 

(pack extra), wool socks (pack extra), 

goggles and a face mask for 

winter trips. 

lanterns, extra batteries. 

• First aid supplies: Use a premade 

kit or build your own. 

• Emergency kit: Whistle, signal 

mirror, duct tape, pocket knife/ 

multi-tool, bright-colored cloth 

• Fire: Matches in a waterproof 

tein and high-calorie items, pack 

extra food and in the winter, break 

food into small pieces and pack in 

the center of your pack to avoid 

freezing. 

• Water: Pack at least 2 liters per 

person, carry more than you think 

tion or purifying system, and in the 

winter, insulate your hydro-tubing 

or pack water in the center of your 

a.m. (Grade School Mile/Turkey Walk), 

Free event parking is available at a 

number of Front and River Street parking 

lots. A comprehensive map of Troy parking 

lots can be found at troyny.gov/parking. 

keyTrot.com via ChronoTrack Live and 

will also be posted at the awards tent. A 

available online at TroyTurkeyTrot.com/ 

results by 3 p.m. 

For more information or to register, visit 

www.TroyTurkeyTrot.com. 

DEC: Stay safe during 

outdoor activities 

pack to avoid freezing. 

• Sun and insect protection: 

Sunglasses, sunscreen, hat, bug repellent, 

a bug net. 

• Emergency shelter: Tent, 

space blanket, tarp. 

One extra thing to be cautious 

about this time of the year — wet 

leaves. 

As foliage season nears an end, 

many trees have shed their leaves 

onto trails below. While the crunch 

and swish of dry leaves on the trail 

is a signature sound of fall, wet 

leaves can be a hazard for hikers 

and bikers. 

When freshly fallen leaves get 

rained on, they can become very 

slippery. They can hinder the traction 

of your boot or tire treads and 

increase your chances of slipping 

and falling. This is especially true 

when wet leaves conceal rocks, 

roots, or muddy patches. 

Avoid injuries from slipping 

on wet leaves by taking your time 

and stepping carefully. When biking, 

slow down at turns. This might 

mean your trip takes longer to complete, 

so plan accordingly. Wear 

sturdy boots and use bike tires with 

substantial treads to increase your 

overall traction. Hiking with trek 

poles can provide added balance.

By Sarah Trafton, Tobacco-Free Action 

Wrestling with nicotine addiction and the 

decision to quit smoking is no small task. On 

average, quitting may take 8-11 attempts before 

a smoker successfully breaks the habit. 

The support of family and friends, as well 

as a health care provider, increase a smoker’s 

chances of quitting. In fact, those that seek 

help from their physician double or even triple 

their odds. 

With Thanksgiving on the horizon, it’s the 

perfect time to count your blessings and appreciate 

how much quitting smoking has improved 

or could improve your life. In addition 

to Thanksgiv-ing, the Great American Smoke 

The annual ob-servance became a nationwide 

event in the 1970s. Each year, the American 

Cancer Society en-courages people to start 

their journey to a smoke-free lifestyle on the 

Whether you’ve already quit, are considering 

quitting, or would like to encourage and 

support a loved one with their quitting process, 

it’s important to remember the immense 

State Department of Environmental 

Conservation Commissioner 

Basil Seggos announced 

deer and bear in the Southern 

DEC encourages hunters to 

review new safety regulations 

and changes this season that 

will enhance their hunting experience. 

among the state’s most important 

conservationists,” Seggos 

said. “Hunters help to balance 

deer and bear populations with 

local habitats and land uses 

while providing more than 11 

million pounds of quality, locally 

grown, organic meat to 

sustain families. With more op- 

- 

ers to continue practicing the 

key tenets of hunter safety for 

a safe and enjoyable time outdoors.” 

20 through Dec. 12. 

The Southern Zone regular 

most popular hunting season, 

- 

ers participate. Harvest during 

this season accounts for nearly 

The average life expectancy for smokers 

is 10 years shorter than for nonsmokers. 

That’s another decade you get to spend with 

your friends and family. Twenty minutes after 

your last cigarette, your heart rate returns 

to normal and over time, your risk of heart 

attack, heart disease, stroke and 12 types of 

cancer is greatly reduced. 

- 

ings, such as drinking more water, exercising 

and avoid-ing caffeine and alcohol, will contribute 

to your overall health and well-being. 

Smoking wrinkles your skin, yellows 

your teeth and stains your nails. Quitting 

smoking can make you appear younger and 

your dentist will thank you. People who feel 

insecure about their teeth often avoid smiling, 

a behavior that releases endorphins and can 

worry about the lingering smell of cigarettes 

on your clothes, in your car or in your home. 

Smoking a pack per day means spending 

about $2,292 per year. That’s $2,000 

that you could put toward a vacation — and 

this doesn’t even include medical costs from 

smoking-related illnesses. Smoking weakens 

your immune system, and smokers are more 

likely to have respiratory infec-tions. 

statewide bear harvest. 

Following the regular deer 

and bear seasons in the Southern 

Zone, late bowhunting and 

muzzleloading seasons run from 

Dec. 13 through Dec. 21, and 

latter of which is an extension 

from past years. Hunters taking 

part in these special seasons 

must possess a hunting license 

and either bowhunting or muzzleloading 

privileges. 

regular deer and bear hunting 

season opened Oct. 23 and closincludes 

the Adirondacks, Tug 

Hill Plateau, Eastern Lake Ontario 

Plain, and the Champlain 

and St. Lawrence valleys. A late 

bowhunting and muzzleloading 

season for deer will be open in 

13-year-old hunters can hunt 

- 

companied by a licensed, experienced 

adult in counties that 

“opted in” to the pilot program. 

State Legislature through 2023, 

this pilot program applies only 

to upstate counties that choose 

to participate. The program does 

not apply to Westchester or Suffolk 

counties; Erie and Rockland 

counties did not opt in to 

upstate counties opted in. 

Also new, DEC extended the 

daily hunting hours to run from 

30 minutes before sunrise until 

30 minutes after sunset, allowing 

hunters to utilize the full 

daylight period. Hunters should 

check the sunrise and sunset 

times before hunting each day. 

All hunters pursuing deer 

- 

- 

ing, either a hat, vest, or jacket 

safety record, but this change 

will make hunting even safer. 

Hunters are reminded to folsafety: 

• Point your gun in a safe direction; 

• Treat every gun as if it were 

loaded; 

• Be sure of your target and 

beyond; and, 

trigger until ready to shoot. 

When hunting in tree stands, 

hunters are advised to use a safety 

harness and a climbing belt, 

as most tree-stand accidents occur 

when hunters are climbing 

in and out of the stand. Also, 

hunters should never climb in or 

Smoking affects your sense of taste and 

smell. Why not enjoy Thanksgiving dinner to 

quality time with family and be more engaged 

in holiday fes-tivities without having 

to step outside for a smoke. If you’re hosting 

this holiday season, your home will be more 

inviting and healthier for guests without the 

- 

ier knowing you are not exposing your loved 

ones or pets to secondhand smoke — plus 

smokers are more likely to snore. 

Writing down your reasons for quitting 

and reminding yourself of them often can 

help keep you focused on your goal. 

Similar to how keeping a gratitude journal 

- 

ing your-self of your reasons can help you 

navigate through your cravings and triggers. 

It’s also important to celebrate your milestones—whether 

you made it through your 

month or year. 

matter what date you pick, or how many 

times you’ve tried, you can quit on your own 

terms, for your own reasons, with the support 

and methods that work for you. 

Firearms season for deer, bear hunting begins 

out of a tree stand with a loaded 

Bucks Go and Watch Them 

see and take more older bucks 

than ever before. Older deer 

have larger antlers and yield 

more meat, vocalize more, and 

create more rubs and scrapes. 

Chronic Wasting Disease 

(CWD) continues to spread in 

other states, and hunters can 

introduced, CWD could spread 

rapidly and be practically impossible 

to eliminate once established. 

Hunters can help pro- 

CWD by following these tips: 

• If hunting any type of deer, 

elk, moose, or caribou outside 

- 

mal before bringing it back. See 

CWD Regulations for Hunters. 

illegally imported carcasses and 

parts; 

• Do not use deer-urinebased 

lures or attractant scents, 

as these could contain infectious 

material. Choose synthetic lures 

instead; 

• Dispose of carcass waste in 

In addition to enlisting the support of your 

friends, family and health care provider, you 

can also receive free support by calling the 

- 

dential counseling via telephone, chat box or 

text, as well as free nic-otine patches. 

BecomeAnEx is a free online quit service 

that allows you to create a customized quit 

plan, pro-vides text message support, interactive 

guides and tools, tips and advice, and 

connects you to a community of other people 

on their quit journey. Visit becomeanex.org to 

sign up. 

For youth looking to quit vaping, “This is 

Quitting” is a free and anonymous text messaging 

ser-vice tailored to teens and young 

adults. To join, text DITCHVAPE to 88709. 

For a full list of resources, visit our website 

at https://www.rvwtobaccofree.org/ 

quit-resources/ 

The Healthcare Consortium is a local 

charitable organization with a mission of improving 

access to healthcare and supporting 

the health and well-being of the residents in 

our rural community. The agency is located at 

- 

mation: visit www.columbiahealthnet.org or 

• Report any deer that appears 

sick or acting abnormally; 

and 

• Hunt only wild deer and 

support fair chase hunting principles. 

The outbreak of epizootic 

hemorrhagic disease (EHD) that 

will impact the experiences of 

hunters in the hardest hit areas. 

EHD is a viral disease caused 

by a biting midge that affects 

deer but is not infectious to humans. 

The outbreak ends when 

had its fourth and largest EHD 

outbreak this summer, with 

about 2,000 dead deer reported. 

The hardest hit areas were 

in eastern Ulster, western 

Dutchess, and western Columbia 

counties. The disease does 

not affect deer populations uniformly, 

and hunters may see 

variable impacts with few deer 

on some properties hit hard by 

EHD and plenty of deer elsewhere. 

DEC will continue to monitor 

the impact of EHD through 

the hunting season and make 

any necessary management adjustments 

next year.

By Bob Beyfuss 

I hope you escaped some of 

parts of the region experienced 

in recent days. 

event recently dumped as much 

the higher elevations of the 

Catskills. My rain gauge only 

by Tuesday afternoon. I would 

guess another inch fell at my 

house that did not get recorded. 

Heavy rains such as this are 

more easily absorbed by the 

rapidly growing foliage during 

mid-summer, but by now, leaf 

growth and evapotranspiration 

rates have slowed to a standstill. 

The result is saturated soils that 

I always worry that Prattsville, 

in Greene County, will 

once more be washed away, 

as was the case when Tropical 

Storm Irene dumped about 20 

inches of rain in 24 hours. As of 

yesterday, the Schoharie Creek 

had not reached the street level. 

The “Beyfuss Brook,” aka 

the drainage ditch across the 

road from my house, turned 

into a raging river that would 

have easily swept a car away 

or drowned anyone who fell in 

it. Fortunately, after my road 

washed out earlier this summer, 

the local highway department 

installed more culverts and they 

seemed to do their job. Kudos to 

the highway guys once again. 

I did not think I would ever 

say this, but I have to admit 

that this year’s fall color display 

has been a bit disappointing 

so far. In order to develop 

the intense and brilliant hues 

of shades of yellow, orange and 

gold produced by certain speand 

carotene, it is critical for 

the chlorophyll pigment to disappear 

completely. Chlorophyll 

masks these pigments, which 

have been present in the leaves 

all season long. Chlorophyll 

degradation only happens when 

the plant shuts down water to 

the chloroplasts, which is where 

the pigment is produced. Cold 

weather, particularly hard freezes, 

trigger this process most 

quickly. This fall, we have yet 

to receive a single hard freeze, 

at press time, even at higher elevations 

in the Catskills. 

I don’t think leafspot diseases, 

which were very common 

this wet summer, have much to 

do with this, but anything that 

causes premature leaf drop is 

always a factor. The golden color 

of sugar maple, our predominant 

tree species in the region, 

has appeared muted due to lingering 

chlorophyll in the leaves. 

It is certainly visible, but not as 

brilliant as we would like. 

It is not only the yellow colors 

that are muted, but other pigments, 

which are responsible for 

the red, purple and deep maroon 

shades, require sunlight to fully 

develop. These chemicals are 

produced in the fall (for reasons 

no one understands) and are not 

present all season long. This fall 

has been pretty cloudy, except 

when it has been pouring rain. 

So the combination of warm, 

cloudy or rainy days and night 

temperatures above freezing 

are the main reasons why it has 

been a bit disappointing. But I 

did say “so far.” Different tree 

species develop their fall colors 

at different times of the fall. 

Maples and hickories, sumac, 

birch, aspen, (poplar), hop hornbeam, 

black locust and ash are 

red oak and beech are the last. 

These two major species are 

still pretty green in most locations 

and they will eventually 

turn red and golden yellow. 

Beech in particular is usually 

the last tree species to turn and 

by the time that happens, we often 

have had enough frost and 

subsequent leaf loss to make the 

change less noticeable. Beech 

trees continue to photosynthesize 

quite late in the fall, provided 

there is adequate soil moisture. 

There is certainly plenty of 

soil moisture available. 

I am noticing some particularly 

vivid fall color on beech 

right now that we don’t usually 

see, and the oaks are yet to 

come in many locations. Beech 

leaves sometimes go from green 

to brown, to gone, in a hurry, but 

this year I am observing some 

lovely shades of rusty, yellow 

appearing. 

So, if it ever stops raining, 

and some sunny days, I think we 

will be treated to a later season 

of fall color than “normal.” 

I expect that some of the 

beech and oak leaves will linger 

until Thanksgiving this year, especially 

in the valley towns. 

To quote a line from the song 

“My Little Town,” by Paul Simon, 

“It’s not that the colors are 

black, it’s just imagination they 

lack.” 

Reach Bob Beyfuss at 

rlb14@cornell.edu. 

By Toby Moore 

When my dad told me four 

years ago he was going to be a 

syndicated columnist, I gave it 

that he could do anything he 

wanted. 

I didn’t know much about his 

column. He was calling it “Positively 

Speaking!” and it was 

about having a positive mindset. 

That was nothing new to me; as 

far back as I can remember, he 

promoted thinking positively. 

He was a motivational speaker 

for a time. 

I was a busy kid and was involved 

in many different sports. 

Whenever my dad drove me to 

practice, he’d pop in a cassette 

tape or a CD, and we listened to 

Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins, Jim 

I would’ve rather listened to 

Ten years from now 

some ‘80’s hair bands instead. I 

pretended not to hear, but I was 

listening. 

As I grew older, I began to 

listen to them myself. In college, 

I was reading the books 

I’d heard about in the car with 

my dad. 

He was a big thinker — he 

taught me that anything was 

possible as long as I believed 

and worked hard. 

It’s been three months since 

he passed away. He always kept 

a positive attitude about dying. 

If you were a fan of his columns, 

you probably remember that he 

didn’t accept that he would die 

soon. He planned on living a 

few years longer. 

About 10 days before he 

died, he asked me to continue 

writing his column on his behalf. 

It wasn’t something I envisioned 

myself doing. I was apprehensive, 

but how do you tell 

your dying father no? 

who all of his contacts were with 

the newspapers. By the time I 

- 

tinue the column, he didn’t have 

the energy to teach me how to 

get it to the editors every week. 

Sometimes I post links to 

his old columns on social media. 

They consistently receive 

many more likes than mine. 

If you were a fan of my dad’s 

few, you probably thought to 

yourself, “This kid doesn’t have 

anywhere to go but up!” 

I’ve enjoyed getting to know 

a couple of his old friends 

through this process. Lynda, 

with a “y,” is of great encouragement; 

she will laugh when 

she reads that! Hi Lynda! 

Another is a lady named Judith. 

I thought she was an editor 

- 

ple of weeks. She emailed me 

about how to be a better writer. 

She gave great advice; after 

was a writing friend of my dad’s 

and not a newspaper editor. She 

and my father shared a love for 

writing. 

Judith recently recommended 

I write a column about how 

my dad might have been if he 

lived another 10 years. 

That’s a tricky thing to write. 

He was very excited about 

the company we started, Cubestream. 

He and our partner Ted 

helped to develop it from the 

beginning. He had big plans to 

make it an international company. 

We would have gone on a 

couple of family road trips. We 

planned on doing one earlier 

this year, but he was too sick. 

He wanted to go out west to see 

the mountains and the buffalo 

like we did when I was young. 

He would’ve enjoyed seeing 

his two grandsons, Caleb 

school — they were everything 

to him. 

He may have even started 

lifting weights again. When I 

was a child, he was a big weightlifter 

and was very strong. 

As he grew older and became 

more affectionate, he made sure 

to let us know how much he 

loved us. 

- 

ly wrote emails to my two siblings 

and me telling us things 

about his life we never knew to 

help us understand him better. 

It’s hard to say all the things 

he might have done if he lived 

another 10 years, but one thing I 

do know — he would have continued 

to be more loving, affectionate 

and caring. 

Love you, Dad. 

Toby Moore is a columnist, 

the star of Emmy-nominated “A 

Separate Peace,” and the CEO 

of Cubestream Inc. 

WHITTLING AWAY 

by Dick Brooks 

By Dick Brooks 

My biological clock has recently 

clicked onto fall. I have 

my annual dose of what I refer 

to as “Squirrel Syndrome.” 

I get this anxious feeling 

deep down in the parts of me 

where the ancient animal lives 

and I start to scurry around the 

property trying to get all the 

jobs I wanted to get accomplished 

during the warm months 

done. I have so far resisted the 

primal urge to stuff my cheeks 

with peanuts while doing this 

for fear that the neighbors will 

worry, but it’s been hard. 

Everywhere I look there 

are signs of the “big sleep” 

approaching. The gardens are 

Transcribed from her diary by 

Kathy Saurer Osborne 

to Church. Gertrude Joyce Adri- 

I went to the Van Alslyne Anat 

another place. Called on Lite. 

Home to tea. Chuck here later. 

washed. I couldn’t hang out the 

etc. Did some straightening up. 

Girls at school. Sent some letters. 

squalls. Went to Westerlo, Gene 

1 P.M. Cleaned the cellar a lit- 

Thurs. Adam brought us a nice 

wilted and what flowers remain 

are fading fast, in spite of 

the occasional warm weather. 

Brown, dried leaves are starting 

to collect under some of the 

plants and trees. I noticed one 

of the deer browsing on some 

of our perennials was carrying a 

legal pad, probably making out 

a winter menu or map of where 

the tastier plants can be found 

in our gardens. I burned our 

copy of “Bambi” recently. 

I took a break and sat at the 

picnic table and watched one 

of my fellow squirrels hopping 

from garden to garden, trying to 

find seeds or nuts. I didn’t have 

the heart to tell him the deer had 

already eaten all of them. As often 

happens on such occasions, 

I had a little ponder. 

venison roast. Thank you! Gertrude 

at Zerberry’s today. Made 

relish etc. 

too. 

JoAnn came. Gertrude in bed 

all day. Had a good time. Chuck 

- 

ning. HB,OS 

Did cleaning. Girls washed etc. 

Crocheted. Chuck here in the 

evening. 

all day. Wind. Did Sat. work. 

We once had an impromptu 

gathering at a local restaurant. 

We had around a dozen old 

friends, the combined age of the 

group would have totaled over 

days and current medical conditions 

were the main topics of 

conversations. It was really enjoyable. 

I looked around the group 

and couldn’t help thinking 

about my gardens. As a group, 

we looked a little wilted and 

bowed before the weather. The 

time of our big sleep is getting 

closer than most of us would 

like to admit. However, just as 

when a garden is at rest during 

the winter, life can be found 

with a little digging and warming. 

Grandma Mackey’s Diary 

1950 life in Medusa 

Girls did their work. Ironed 

etc. Don had to work today. A 

Joyce didn’t go out. Too stormy. 

His mother called. He’s staying 

here tonite. Joyce got hit by a 

skinned. Monday noon. 

P.M. Bad storm, Rev Starr had 

no sleep, helping over at Mitchel 

Hollow. Chuck went home 

gone to the Movies tonite. They 

have no electric. 

put away. Finished Joyce’s 

white scarf. Girls at the Mov- 

- 

It was comforting to find the 

signs of life in our little group 

— the eyes still sparkled, the 

smiles and laughter came easily 

and often. A shared memory 

would shed the white hair and 

wrinkles and 30 or 40 years 

would slip away and we were 

young again, excited by our 

journey down life’s dusty road. 

Just as I have faith that my 

gardens will bloom again in the 

spring, it’s pretty easy at times 

like this to have the faith that 

my friends will bloom again in 

a garden further down the path. 

The hopping little gray 

squirrel drew me out of ponder 

mode when he hopped close to 

the picnic table, having seen 

no movement to frighten him. I 

wished him well, which scared 

D.k. 

odd jobs. Fixed drawers etc. 

with Don. Joyce phoned she got 

$93 for her bump by the car. (Dr 

Campbell’s) 

Cloudy. Light snow. Washed 

the kitchen windows. Bad time! 

one for Adrienne. War news in 

Korea bad, bad, bad! 

Gertrude went to Chris 

Home by 2 P.M. Had a nice 

the she-bangs out of him, and 

he flew up the nearby maple 

tree and proceeded to tell me in 

an angry voice what he thought 

of my intrusion into his search 

for lunch. 

The idea of lunch reminded 

me that snack time was rapidly 

approaching. I reluctantly left 

the sun-warmed picnic table 

and the irate squirrel and retreated 

to the peace and quiet of 

the refrigerator. One must keep 

their strength up. 

Thought for the week — 

“Experience is something you 

don’t get until just after you 

need it.” — Olivier 

Until next week, may you 

and yours be happy and well. 

Reach Dick Brooks at Whittle12124@yahoo.com. 

time. Mrs. Ketchem brought 

her back. Children out learning 

Christmas Carols. Carl on his 

way to Japan. 

Friday, Dec. 1: Cloudy. 

- 

Joyce came with Don. The girls 

went to the dance with Dave. 

Joyce went too. HB, HA KE 

Saturday, Dec. 2: Did nec- 

Hill for groceries in the late 

school auditorium in the eve- 

Very nice program.

DEC: 230K pounds of pesticides, chemical waste collected 

ronmental Conservation Commissioner 

Basil Seggos announced the collection of 

230,000 pounds of pesticides and chemthis 

year. 

the week of May 10, included counties 

in the Hudson Valley (DEC Region 3), 

and the second event was held during the 

week of Oct. 11, and included counties 

in the Capital Region (DEC’s Region 4). 

helps promote healthy and sustainable 

communities by providing opportunities 

for proper disposal of unwanted and/or 

obsolete pesticides and other chemicals. 

forts to protect public health and our environment 

it’s critical to remove excess 

pesticides and other chemical wastes 

Seggos said. “We are pleased that so 

many farmers, businesses and institusafely 

removing potential hazards from 

the environment.” 

ical wastes from 89 participants in Ulster, 

Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Dutchess, 

Putnam and Westchester counties. 

ticipants in Albany, Columbia, Delaware, 

Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, 

Schenectady and Schoharie counties. 

DEC employees visited four sites for 

the collection of waste chemicals unsafe 

to transport due to the poor condition 

of pesticide containers and storage areas. 

DEC also facilitated safe disposal 

handling and transporting waste chemicals 

to collection locations. 

DEC schedules and organizes Cleanportation. 

Collection events were held at 

multiple DOT facilities. 

The 2021 events mark the 29th and 

30th collection events administered by 

inception in 2002. The program has resulted 

in the collection of more 2 million 

mental mercury. 

plastic pesticide containers, including 

pesticide drums, which would otherwise 

collected and properly recycled. 

The program is endorsed by Cornell 

Cooperative Extension, the Agricultural 

Container Recycling Council, Soil and 

tural associations. 

to agricultural and non-agricultural professional 

pesticide applicators, schools, 

and certain businesses that use pesticides 

such as golf courses, cemeteries, 

and marinas. Homeowners cannot participate, 

but information about reducing 

household hazardous waste is available 

on DEC’s website. 

For more information visit www. 

Alzheimer’s Association virtual programs 

December virtual programs. 

Registration is required. 

RSVP at alz.org.CRF, via the 

24/7 helpline at 800-272-3900 or 

trants will receive a video conference 

link to access and can sign 

in as a guest to enter the virtual 

program. 

vember and December include: 

• Dementia Conversations 

presented in partnership with 

• Meaningful Engagements: 

Activities at Home at 3:30 p.m. 

• Practical Strategies to Support 

Personal Care and Dementia-Related 

Behaviors at 4 p.m. 

Dec. 2. 

• Dementia Conversations: 

Financial Planning at noon Dec. 

3. 

• Effective Communication 

• Understanding Alzheimer’s 

tor: Understanding the Warning 

Signs and Diagnostic Process at 4 

p.m. Dec. 9. 

• Living with Alzheimer’s for 

13. 

• Legal and Financial Planning 

presented in partnership 

with Herzog Law Firm at 2 p.m. 

Dec. 14. 

• Helpful Holiday Hints for 

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Call us at (518) 797-3540 to schedule your service. 

TOWN LINE AUTO 

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6501 Route 32, Greenville, NY 1208 

(518) 966-8003 | www.townlineself-storage.com

By Mary Lou Nahas 

In the last Oak Hill and Vicinity 

column, I wrote about the early 

general stores in Durham, Oak Hill, 

Cornwallville, Potter Hollow and 

East Windham. Today I want to 

continue the story with information 

about those in East Durham and 

Preston Hollow. 

listed Bagley and Rickerson dealers 

in Dry Goods, Groceries, Boots, 

Shoes, Patent Medicine and General 

Merchandise. 

According to the map, the business 

seems to have been located 

pretty much where Furlong’s East is 

as being there. Some have said it 

served as a stop on the Catskill Canajoharie 

Railroad. 

H. Bagley is shown as having 

the house next door. I don’t know 

who H. Bagley was, but Bagley 

families moved here from Amesbury, 

Massachusetts. Cutting Bag- 

1784, his son Thomas, a veteran of 

the War of 1812, and John Bagley, 

a Revolutionary War soldier, also 

settled here. 

If someone knows the history 

of this early store or more about H. 

Bagley, I hope they will contact me. 

The Baptist church, built about 

is a photo of the church and street 

in “Picturesque Catskills” by Lionel 

DeLisser that does not show the 

side of the road that the store was 

on, but we have some sense of the 

what the early community was like. 

There were likely other stores in 

the 1800s, but Lawyers and Tubbs 

were the 1900s ones many people 

remember today. 

Both the Lawyer and Tubbs 

families moved to East Durham 

had been grocers. They were the 

grandsons of Irish immigrants, so 

ceipts from 1903 show that C.D. 

Tubbs was a dealer in choice groceries 

and provisions, paints, oils, 

varnish. Seneca Elliott, of Shady 

sold teas, coffees, sugar and spices 

and had a telephone connection. On 

dozen eggs for $3.40. 

The original Lawyer’s store was 

in what was later Mooney’s, but 

it later moved down to Lawyer’s 

Hall. Loretta Lounsbury, who lives 

in Oak Hill today, remembers that 

Lawyer’s was on one end of East 

Durham and Tubbs was on the other. 

the Shamrock House, commented 

there was no competition in those 

days, people just lived and worked 

together as members of the community. 

That attitude is illustrated by 

the picture of the Catskill Mountain 

Hotshots, which Kevin Ferguson 

included in his book, “Dancing at 

the Crossroads,” a band that included 

Stanley Lawyer (drums), Millard 

(sax) and Lyman Tubbs (banjo). 

Lawyer’s was also the place 

where the East Durham Volunteer 

Company was organized: “In East 

Durham on September 23, 1927, 

a small group of ‘public spirited 

men,’ realizing that the village 

lic meeting at Lawyer’s Hall. Exactly 

four months to the day, after 

Volunteer Company had been organized, 

incorporated, a Hose House 

erected and a Pumper installed. On 

October 14, 1927, the following 

Utter, president; John Lawyer, vice 

president; H.B. Tubbs, secretary; 

W.A. Fox, treasurer; B.G. Snyder, 

chief; M.J. Coventry, assistant 

chief; George Williams Sr., Millard 

Tubbs, and Daniel Ahern, trustees. 

People today have warm 

memories of both stores. Loretta 

Lounsbury remembers that Mr. 

had a big yellow angora cat that 

was always on the counter. I think 

both of his sons were in the store, 

Stanley and Raymond. I know Ray 

was on the Durham school board, 

she said. 

Tubbs, which later became 

Reynolds, was down across from 

Furlong’s. One resident remembered: 

Ken Tubbs owned/ran the 

store for many years, and his dad 

helped out a lot. The dad, whom 

everyone called “Old Man Tubbs,” 

lived upstairs over the store and Ken 

and his wife lived next door. Assessment 

records from 1931 show 

“Tubbs, Harry store East Durham 

valued at 1100; Tubbs House and 

lot East Durham at 800.” 

Reynolds was still there into the 

late ‘70s or so, Kitty Kelly remembered. 

“Reynolds was over the top 

of the creek across from Mooney’s. 

Reynolds.” Melinda Merritt King 

remembers walking to that post ofif 

she had mail from her friends. 

Geri Moran remembered: 

“There was a phone booth there in 

I went to make a call and a whopping 

$10 in coins spilled out of the 

phone. I actually called the operator 

and asked her what to do with it all 

(a fortune then) and she said, ‘Oh, 

keep it hon, you probably need it 

more than the phone company.’ I 

was thrilled.” 

Reynolds: “What memories! We 

would walk to town from Hervey 

walk home! Then when I was old 

Kevin Weis Sr. said: “I remember 

Bazooka gum for a penny and 

asking the owner if I could climb up 

the metal pole at checkout.” Dale 

Handel replied: “Ten cents and you 

had a pocket full of Bazooka gum 

and the comics were fun.” 

Sadly, the Tubbs/Reynolds 

building is no longer there. There 

is still a Lawyer’s store in East 

Durham, but it is no longer run by 

the Lawyers, although members of 

the family still do live in the town 

of Durham. 

According to the book “People 

Made It Happen Here,” Preston 

was named for Dr. Samuel Preston, 

who emigrated from Connecticut 

and settled there about 1789. 

An early map shows H.T. Devereux 

and H. Haynes both listed as 

dealers in General Merchandise. “In 

the early days, every little cluster of 

homes needed the services of the 

‘country store.’ Most families did 

not even have a horse and wagon 

to go from hamlet to hamlet.” As 

early as 1828, Robert W. Murphy 

had a general merchandise store 

store in Preston Hollow.” 

“People Made It Happen Here” 

is a wonderful collection of quotations 

from early newspapers and 

books and a collection of memories 

from residents who lived in the 

town of Rensselaerville. Sometimes 

it is hard for me to merge all the 

memories into one consistent story, 

but the store most can remember 

today was Elsbree. “In 1893, W.P. 

Elsbree built a store and house. This 

was passed down to his son Bayard. 

The next owners were Harold Stedman, 

Franklin Clapper, Charles 

Radick, and Henry Theiss.” 

Advertisements Elsbree was 

running in the Oak Hill Record give 

us a clearer picture of their merchandise 

and philosophy: “A word 

about Ready Made Clothing — we 

are receiving new goods nearly every 

week — impossible to tell you 

about them all. It will be to your 

interest to look through our stock 

before purchasing. All goods are 

will speak for themselves. Men’s 

Dark Suits at 3.00. Men’s black 

allowed to inspect with your spectacles 

on if you wish. Large assortment 

of children’s goods. Gents’ 

There is no longer a general 

store in Preston Hollow, however 

the Elsbree building still stands.

By Mary Schoepe 

Have you ever had trouble 

driving to a familiar place, or 

organizing a grocery list? Do 

you sometimes forget appointments, 

names or other important 

facts? Have you ever walked 

into a room and forgotten why 

you went in there? 

If you answered “yes” to 

these questions like I did, 

you’re not alone. According to 

recent statistics, more than a 

half a million Americans will 

die from Alzheimer’s disease 

this year, making it the third 

leading cause of death. 

My grandfather passed away 

from Alzheimer’s disease when 

I was in my early twenties. He 

was a hard-working, blue-collar 

man who loved his wife and 

and a cold Rheingold beer. Over 

the years, his mental health declined 

and it was hard to watch 

(and a bit scary) him go from an 

intelligent person to one who 

didn’t recognize friends or family. 

What scares me is thinking 

that I may end up with the same 

fate as my grandfather. 

In his bestselling book, 

“Grain Brain,” David Perlmutter, 

M.D., a leading neurologist, 

states that “Alzheimer’s 

is preventable through proper 

diet. Diets that are high in sugar 

and carbohydrates and low in 

fat are devastating to the brain. 

heimer’s.” 

And now Mayo Clinic research 

reveals that diets rich 

in carbohydrates are associated 

with an 89% increased risk for 

dementia, while diets rich in 

healthy fats are associated with 

a 44% reduced risk. 

If you have a family history 

of Alzheimer’s or you’re worried 

it might happen to you as 

you age, cheer up. One of the 

best things you can do is to 

make simple lifestyle changes. 

Here’s a rundown of diet-related 

strategies you can start using 

today. 

Most people don’t realize 

the trillions of bacteria in their 

gut have a major influence on 

creating health or disease. Renowned 

psychiatrist Dr. Kelly 

Brogan and other health experts 

have begun prescribing a 

whole-foods diet rich in probiotics 

to help people with anxiety, 

depression and other mental 

illnesses. Adding fermented 

foods to your diet that are naturally 

rich in friendly gut bacteria 

or a probiotic supplement 

is the easiest way to recolonize 

your gut with friendly bacteria. 

fact, 70% of it is fat! Omega-3 

fats help prevent cell damage 

caused by Alzheimer’s disease 

by slowing down its progression 

and lowering your risk for 

the developing it. 

Vitamin D is imperative 

for proper functioning of your 

immune system to combat inflammation 

that is associated 

with Alzheimer’s. Experts recommend 

getting between 1,000 

and 4,000 IU daily for optimal 

brain and immune function. 

And finally, research shows 

that exercise, particularly exercise 

that gets your heart rate 

up, increases the size of your 

hippocampus — your brain’s 

memory center. Exercise triggers 

a change in the way the 

amyloid precursor protein is 

metabolized, which slows down 

the onset of Alzheimer’s. 

Losing your memory isn’t a 

part of the “normal” aging process 

and is entirely preventable 

through supplementation, dietary 

and lifestyle changes. 

STATEMENT OF OWNERSHIP, 

MANAGEMENT AND CIRCULATION 

(REQUIRED BY 39 U.S.C. 3685) 

1. Publication Title: Ravena Greenville News-Herald 

Pioneer 

2. Publication No.:. 

3. Date of Filing: 11/19/21 10/1/19 

4. Issue Frequency: Friday Thursday 

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6. Annual Subscription Price: $36.00 $70.00 7. Complete 

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Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publish- 

er: Mark Vinciguerra 11 Augusta 164 Main Ct, Street, Clifton Park Ravena NY 

NY 12065. 12143 Editor: Editor: Melanie Kate Lekocevic Lisa 164 2283 Main State Street Route 385 

Ravena, 

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FAITH, from page 1 

know exactly where the needs are, 

how to help or what the needs are, 

and CarePortal will really simplify 

that process,” Flach said. “It 

goes into the system, it goes out 

to the churches, and the churches 

respond.” 

calls to Child Protective Services 

in Greene County, Flach said, and 

those are families that could be 

helped through CarePortal. 

There are essentially four situations 

in which the platform 

can help, Flach said — to help 

prevent a child from entering 

the foster care system; to stabilize 

biological, foster or adoptive 

families and kinship placements; 

ological family; or to help youth 

who are aging out of foster care 

begin their new life. 

Assistance can range from 

providing beds or bedding to purchasing 

diapers or baby wipes, replacing 

a broken door or window, 

and more. 

For one family in Albany 

County, help meant four new 

beds for the mom and her three 

children with autism. 

“The four of them were sharis 

very common in communities 

all around us,” Flach said. “That 

is the number one need throughout 

the portal, not only locally but 

nationwide. So when the churches 

showed up that day, that family 

of four each had their own bed.” 

Eight churches in Greene 

County had signed up to participate 

in CarePortal as of the 

launch date — Gospel Community 

Church in Coxsackie, Lighthouse 

Church in Athens, Rock 

Solid Church in Hudson — which 

will meet the needs of families in 

Greene County, Full Life Church 

in Catskill, the United Methodist 

Churches in Catskill and Palenville, 

and St. Patrick’s Church 

of Catskill and Athens. All have 

been enrolled and trained to work 

with the portal, and it is hoped 

more will join, Flach said. 

“An ongoing goal of Justice 

for Orphans is to continue to enroll 

churches to utilize the platform,” 

she said. 

CarePortal’s launch in Greene 

request and response — a single 

mother with no present income 

who was diagnosed with COVID 

while pregnant with twins, who 

also has other health issues, ina 

leg injury. 

“Her most pressing concern 

at this time is the need for diapers 

and due to safety concerns 

with the two toddlers, mom has 

the children cannot jump off an 

elevated platform bed and hurt 

themselves,” Flach said. “This 

results in mom having to get up 

her physical limitations in doing 

so. Safety rails for the two toddler 

beds will assist mom in keeping 

the children safe and preventing 

her from having to bend over to 

After a launch countdown, a 

representative from Gospel Comhelp” 

button to assist the family 

by purchasing diapers and two 

bed rails for the toddlers. 

The Rev. Bartly Heneghan 

from Gospel Community Church 

said his church will meet the 

needs of that family and others 

moving forward. 

“We thought it was a great 

opportunity to help. People want 

to help, but they don’t know what 

the needs are,” Heneghan said. 

“Case workers identifying the 

needs make it a lot easier for us.” 

all too well that strokes can happen 

to anyone, regardless of age 

she was a 38-year-old Burnt Hills 

business owner who just didn’t feel 

right. On her way to a night out with 

a friend, Silver suffered a stroke. 

Silver shared her story at the 

2021 Go Red for Women Luncheon 

in Albany. October 29 was World 

Stroke Day. 

“I had been having a headache 

and dizziness, and feelings of disorientation, 

was diagnosed with 

a sinus infection and an ear infection,” 

Silver said. “The doctor had 

set up a scan, and while I was waiting 

for it, I had that sense of impending 

doom that you hear about 

before an event. On Feb. 23, 2008, 

when Christianne called to say we 

should go out, I could barely lift my 

head. But I agreed to go, and before 

we went out, I called all my family 

members to tell them I loved them.” 

It’s a day that sticks in Silver’s 

friend Christianne Smith’s memory, 

too. Smith, owner of Designsmith 

Studio, is co-chair, with Michele 

Kollmer of CAP COM, of the Go 

Red for Women Luncheon. 

“We were driving to dinner and 

Lisa got a phone call from her sister 

Jessica,” Smith said. “She called 

her Jen, and was quite curt with 

me when I corrected her. It’s not 

like Lisa to be so abrupt. Her sister 

asked to talk to me, and we both 

knew Lisa needed to go to Urgent 

Care. Immediately.” 

Silver remembers hearing a 

back seat of the car, and when 

she tried to tell Smith that she had 

an MRI appointment, she said 

“UFO” instead. At Urgent Care, she 

couldn’t remember Christianne’s 

name. 

“We’ve been friends for 20 

years, and that was terrifying,” 

Smith said. 

It was a few days until Silver 

was diagnosed with a stroke, and 

She has moved to Florida to be closer 

to family, and is able to be active, 

kayaking, biking and being outside. 

“Strokes can happen to anyone,” 

said Dr. Alan Boulos, chair 

of neurosurgery at Albany Medical 

Center and president of the Capital 

Region Board of Directors of the 

American Heart Association. “We 

all need to know the warning signs 

and what to do because you never 

know when you’ll need to help 

yourself or someone else having a 

stroke. Time to treatment is critical 

to improving outcomes so we all 

must stay vigilant to look for signs 

of stroke among our family, friends, 

colleagues, and community members.” 

Each year approximately 

Michael Pirrone, representing 

the community of St. Patrick’s 

Church of Athens and Catskill, 

said CarePortal helps faith-based 

groups come to the aid of families 

in a way that they need. 

“We understand that there are 

needs and this provides a more 

direct way to meet the needs of 

people who are in need,” Pirrone 

said. “Instead of doing things 

helter skelter, this is a more organized 

way to help.” 

Kathi Sewak, of Ravena, 

has been working with Justice 

for Orphans for years. Initially, 

the group focused on increasing 

awareness of adoption and foster 

care, but broadened its focus 

when they heard about CarePortal. 

most people to consider fostering 

cult ask and that’s where we started, 

to raise awareness of those 

needs, which are still there,” 

Sewak said. “But when I learned 

about CarePortal, more people 

— just about anyone — can get 

involved and help. Prevention is 

huge — some of these kids don’t 

even have to go into foster care 

if we can just provide the parents 

with the things that they need.” 

Helping through CarePortal 

is voluntary for churches, and 

gives them a simple way to get 

involved, Greene County Legislator 

Ed Bloomer, R-Athens, said. 

“There are needs, people who 

need help, and a church might be 

quest,” Bloomer said. “This gives 

them the opportunity to help — 

no one is obligated, no one is 

forced, it is strictly volunteer and 

it saves a great deal of money. It 

is win-win, certainly for the county 

and for the people in need.” 

Stroke survivor 

shares her story 

800,000 people in the U.S. suffer 

a stroke. Worldwide, one in four 

will suffer a stroke in their lifetime. 

Knowing stroke warning signs 

and seeking immediate medical 

attention can make the difference 

between recovery and disability or 

death. 

The American Stroke Association 

encourages people to learn 

the acronym F.A.S.T. to help them 

remember the warning signs for 

stroke. F.A.S.T. stands for: 

• Face Drooping – Does one 

side of the face droop or is it numb? 

Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s 

smile uneven? 

• Arm Weakness – Is one arm 

weak or numb? Ask the person to 

raise both arms. Does one arm drift 

downward? 

slurred? Is the person unable to 

speak or hard to understand? Ask 

the person to repeat a simple sentence 

like “The sky is blue.” 

• Time to Call 911 - If someone 

shows any of these symptoms, even 

if the symptoms go away, call 911 

and get to a hospital immediately. 

Check the time so you can tell 

emergency responders when the 

Research shows that while most 

people say they would call 911 in a 

stroke emergency, real-world data 

or family. Strokes are most treatable 

right after they happen. Delaying 

getting help often means people 

can’t get treatment in time and are 

more likely to be disabled or die 

from their stroke. 

Along with learning stroke 

warning signs comes another important 

message from the American 

Heart Association and American 

Stroke Association: Don’t Die of 

Doubt. 

“If you or someone around you 

shows signs of stroke, get it checked 

out right away. It’s always better to 

err on the side of caution with stroke 

signs because you’re losing brain 

cells every minute during a stroke,” 

said Dr. Boulos. “Remember that 

even during a pandemic, hospitals 

are still the safest place for you to be 

when medical emergencies strike. 

Please let us help you—don’t die of 

doubt.” 

“The Go Red for Women movement 

is all about educating people,” 

Smith said. “I’m so honored that 

Lisa is sharing her story at the Go 

Red for Women Luncheon so that 

we can save more lives like hers.” 

For information or to register for 

the Go Red for Women Luncheon, 

cheon.heart.org. 

Learn more and test your stroke 

knowledge at stroke.org/warningsigns.

HOLIDAY, from page 1 

quasi-normalcy as the world continues 

to navigate the COVID-19 

pandemic. 

Last year, the Rotary Club set 

up four tall, donated trees in place 

- 

sored by community members. 

This year residents and businesses 

again have the opportunity to sponnature-friendly 

decorations such as 

ornaments crafted from pinecones, 

birdseed ornaments, popcorn, and 

cranberries, avoiding non-biodegradables 

like ribbons, garland, 

plastic and glass. 

Trees will be set up around the 

gazebo in Veterans Park and in front 

of the Greenville Public Library. 

Each tree will have a sign in front 

of it listing the business’ name or an 

“in memory of” inscription. 

While Santa and Mrs. Claus did 

not appear for the event last year, 

they will be part of the festivities on 

- 

bo, greeting children from afar. 

While in years past every child 

had the opportunity to have a photo 

with Santa, the Rotarians are not yet 

reinstituting that tradition. 

“We’re doing the tree lighting, 

but we’ve scaled back the Santa 

Claus part and all the other things 

that we did,” said Debbie Smith, 

who chairs the event for the club. “I 

know that some children are going 

to be disappointed, but we’re just 

trying to be careful. We’re hoping 

next year that we’ll be back to normal.” 

While there won’t be photos, 

there will be a toy for each child, 

as was the custom in festivals past. 

Rotarians will be on the steps of the 

gazebo handing out gifts to children 

as they pass by waving to Santa and 

Mrs. Claus. 

“We’re excited to be on the road 

getting back to normal and to bring 

the beauty back to Greenville on the 

four corners,” Smith said. “When 

you drive by and see all those trees 

lit, it’s such a great feeling.” 

Another one of the area’s feelgood 

events is Cairo’s Holiday Parade 

of Lights, hosted by the Cairo 

Hose Company and Auxiliary. 

Last year, organizers called off 

the parade at the last minute. 

restrictions, we couldn’t take a 

chance,” said Brian Feml, president 

of the Cairo Fire Company. 

This year, the parade returns. 

Street will be ablaze with lights. 

All are welcome to participate. 

Creatively themed and decorated 

vehicles, from automated garbage 

Where: Town Gazebo in 

Veterans Memorial Park, 

Greenville 

Where: Main Street 

in Cairo. Participants assemble 

at the Hannaford 

and Oak, Birch and Cedar 

Streets 

More Info: Contact Bri- 

4147. 

trucks all the way down to golf carts 

and four-wheelers will be part of 

the lights display. Some years, there 

have even been horses adorned 

with lights marching in the parade. 

“The more lights, the better,” 

Feml said. 

Participants will be lining up at 

the Hannaford and Oak, Birch, and 

head down Main Street, turn right 

onto Railroad Ave., and then end 

Santa will light an over 20-foot 

Christmas tree donated by the Cairo 

Fire Company, and then three 

trophies will be awarded for lights 

displays. Santa will go to the Cairo 

Public Library after the awards ceremony 

so children can come in and 

visit with him. 

Vendors will be on hand on the 

front lawn of the Town Hall and in 

the rear of it, as well as on Main 

Street. 

The evening ends around 8 p.m. 

- 

sored by the town of Cairo and the 

Cairo Hose Company. 

Traditionally, the parade has 

drawn people from a sizeable radius, 

including Earlton, Coxsackie, 

Catskill and Kiskatom. Feml encourages 

the community to attend. 

“They need to get out and get 

fresh air,” he said. “It was a tough 

year.” 

VETERAN, from page 1 

He is also a life member of the 

- 

erans of America and the Sullivan-Teator 

Veterans of Foreign 

Wars Post 770 in Catskill. Over 

the years, he has volunteered for 

many veterans’ causes, includ- 

- 

east USA Vietnam Veterans 

Reunion Association, based in 

Greenville. 

Andreassen said he was honored 

to have been selected as 

Greene County Veteran of the 

“I want to thank the Honor 

A Vet Committee for my selection,” 

Andreassen said. “It 

certainly was a humbling shot 

to me as I feel there are many 

veterans who have gone through 

much more and are much more 

deserving than I who should be 

standing behind this podium. 

There are many hero veterans 

out there that need to be recognized 

and honored.” 

During the ceremony at The 

Historic Catskill Point, members 

of Greenville American 

Legion Post 291 conducted the 

- 

and commendations from the 

Delgado, D-19, and state Sen. 

Assemblyman Chris Tague, 

R-102, presented an Assembly 

citation to Andreassen, calling 

him “a man who truly exempliand 

a good neighbor.” 

“Having served our nation 

Seabees as equipment operator 

second class, as well as an additional 

tour in Antarctica, Thomas 

has answered the call of duty 

several times and served bravely 

in defense of our nation and 

all of it values and liberties,” 

Tague said. 

After being honorably discharged 

from the military, Andreassen’s 

service to his community 

continued, Tague said. 

“The degree to which he has 

served our nation is incredible 

enough on its own, but even 

after completing his service, 

Tom still wanted to do more,” 

Tague said. “Ever since, he has 

worked non-stop to support our 

veterans and do everything he 

can to make Greene County the 

best place to live and work that 

it can be.” 

Andreassen was also presented 

with citations by Greene 

County Legislature Chairman 

- 

more; Greene County Veterans 

Service Agency Director 

Michelle Romalin Deyo; and 

Catskill Town Supervisor Dale 

Finch, among others. 

Greene County Sheriff Peter 

Kusminsky paid tribute to Andreassen 

for his dedication to 

both the military and his community. 

“I admire and respect Tom 

not only for his distinguished 

service as a veteran, but for his 

true devotion to his fellow citizens 

and his country,” Kusminsky 

said. “Tom is a large-thanlife 

hero and his picture should 

be next to the word ‘patriot’ in 

the dictionary. He cares about 

his country and is not afraid to 

tell it like it is.”

By Dr. Billy Holland 

As our spiritual values become 

more centered on God, it’s normal 

to start looking forward to our eternal 

existence. 

For those who are in Christ, 

how exciting it is to know that our 

heavenly Father and His Son Jesus, 

our loved ones, our new name, our 

ship, and crowns and rewards are 

all a part of our glorious future. 

this world and the only thing we 

will take with us when we depart 

is an account of how we lived and 

loved. How wonderful to know 

less praise, everlasting joy, perfect 

peace and contentment without 

darkness, suffering, worries or sorrow. 

It’s true that God loves everyone, 

but we will not enter heaven 

just because we are good or deserve 

it. We are given eternal life when 

we repent, confess, believe and 

accept by faith that within God’s 

grace, the blood of Jesus is the only 

price that can pay the ransom for 

our sins. Redemption is all about 

God’s plan that was accomplished 

on the cross. 

Listen to these lyrics from the 

song “East to the West” by Casting 

Crowns: “In the arms of your merfar 

the east is from the west... from 

one scarred hand to the other.” 

I cannot imagine a more optimistic 

and exciting thought than 

going to heaven and spending an 

eternity in God’s presence. For the 

Christian, this promise should be 

a wellspring of joy reminding us 

that our trials cannot be compared 

to the glory that awaits us. May we 

tape this to our bathroom mirror to 

remind us every morning of how 

God’s amazing grace provided a 

way for us to live with Him forever. 

The fundamentals of our salvation 

can be basically described as 

God’s love intervened as a rescue 

mission of mercy in order to save 

those who were hopelessly lost. 

I Peter 1:3-4 promises, “Blessed 

be the God and Father of our 

Lord Jesus Christ, who according 

to His great mercy has caused us 

to be born again to a living hope 

through the resurrection of Jesus 

Christ from the dead, to obtain an 

inheritance which is imperishable 

away, reserved in heaven for you.” 

distractions and for most of us, it’s 

exhausting to keep up. As our daily 

routines weigh us down with stress 

and frustration, it’s important to be 

aware of a much higher reality. 

If we only consider eternity 

when we attend funerals, we are 

missing a vital component of our 

relationship with God that can keep 

us excited and rejuvenated with His 

joy and hope. 

I’m giving the eulogy for my 

aunt this week, and it’s truly going 

to be a celebration as we rejoice 

that her eternal life is just beginning. 

She loved the Lord and always 

said that spending time alone 

with Him was never intended to be 

a last resort but rather a daily privilege. 

She was always happy and 

loved to laugh. She had her share of 

struggles, but we can live in a positive 

state of mind and stand strong 

in our faith no matter what trials we 

are going through as Titus 2:13 reminds 

us, “Looking for that blessed 

hope and the glorious appearing of 

the great God and our Savior Jesus 

Christ.” 

Do you have a happy place 

when facing a crisis? In Psalm 

chapter 91, there is actually a secret 

place under the shadow of the Al- 

His peace and safety. This awareness 

of His presence is a state of 

mind that can be attained for those 

who enjoy having a personal relationship 

with Him. 

God desires to abide in the conscience 

of His children and this, in 

turn, allows Him to be our Lord and 

King. Being attentive to His voice 

will not come without serious determination. 

He must be our highest 

priority or the distractions of 

this life will slowly turn our eyes 

away from His promises. 

Many do not realize that as 

Christians our allegiance is to King 

Jesus and our citizenship has been 

transferred from this world to the 

spiritual reality of His glorious 

eternal kingdom. The concept of 

abandoning our independence has 

everything to do with trusting His 

plans for our lives. 

How much does God love you? 

How far is the East from the West? 

Discover more about the Christian 

life at billyhollandministries. 

com.

By Thomas Christopher 

The title of Robert Kourik’s 

new book is “Sustainable 

Food Gardens,” a must-have for 

those who want to raise their 

own food in an environmental- 

Solutions” is the subtitle, and 

Robert devotes plenty of text 

to exposing the former and proposing 

the latter. 

I should at this point share 

the fact that I have been an admirer 

of Robert Kourik’s work 

for many years, and that I wrote 

the foreword to this book. I do 

not benefit financially from its 

sales, though I do intend to put 

it to work in my garden. 

As the spouse of a scientist 

and someone trained to seek out 

evidence-based solutions, I am 

often frustrated by the gardening 

media, where opinions readily 

pass themselves off as facts 

and tradition commonly trumps 

science. Robert’s writings are 

refreshingly different in this regard. 

He’s a dogged researcher, 

and an avid reader of horticultural 

journals and reports. He’s 

not afraid to contradict popular 

opinion, although he’s more interested 

in getting to the root of 

the issue (a special knowledge 

of plant roots, incidentally, and 

how their habits affect plant 

growth and maintenance is one 

of Robert’s accomplishments 

and the subject of a chapter in 

this book). 

Robert has had his hands 

in the soil for a long time. He 

started on of the first organic 

landscape-maintenance companies 

in this country back in 

1974 and he is still experimenting 

with new techniques and 

testing new methods. He was 

a personal friend, for example, 

of Bill Mollison, half of the 

Australian duo that founded the 

Permaculture movement, and 

Robert shares insights that he 

learned from this sustainable 

gardening pioneer. 

sustainable vegetable gardening 

Robert’s not slow, however, 

to depart from Permaculture 

dogma when he finds it contradicting 

peer-reviewed horticultural 

studies or his own experipages 

to a largely positive critique 

of permaculture, suggesting, 

however, ways in which 

its teachings may be adjusted 

to better reflect the realities of 

American suburban gardening. 

Robert doesn’t hesitate to 

call out his own mistakes as 

well. He devotes a full page 

of this book to decrying a list 

of “dynamic accumulators” he 

Dynamic accumulators are 

plants that will, through the 

action of their roots, bring into 

solution and concentrate in 

their tissues minerals from the 

soil, making them available 

ultimately to their less enterprising 

neighbors in the garden. 

Robert has since come to 

question the reliability of his 

sources for the original list, 

and though he still maintains 

the value of the concept, he includes 

lists in this present book 

based on more reliable research 

such as the meticulous work of 

the late Dr. James Duke of the 

United States Department of 

Agriculture. 

“Sustainable Food Gardens” 

is a remarkably comprehensive 

guide that will benefit both beginners 

and experienced gardeners 

alike, taking them from 

Soil” (Chapter 4) to “Attracting 

Beneficial Insects” (Chapter 

11) and “Designing Sustainable 

Gardens” (Chapter 12). He has 

even included a chapter (Chapter 

13) on “Sustainable Garden 

Play,” as there should be room 

in such a guide for ideas of how 

to create children’s games, as 

well as a recipe for persimmon 

margaritas (as well as many others, 

including “mocktails” for 

those who prefer their beverages 

and play to be alcohol-free). 

I don’t always agree with 

Robert. For example, he cites 

in this book the publications of 

Professor Arthur Shapiro of the 

University of California, Davis, 

which emphasize the beneficial 

role that introduced plants 

play in hosting butterflies and 

caterpillars in suburban California. 

This seems to me to be 

contradicted by the findings of 

ecologists such as Dr. Douglas 

Tallamy of the University of 

- 

rango of the University of Massachusetts, 

Amherst. I respect 

the fact, though, that Robert is 

not expressing a personal opinion 

but rather the peer-reviewed 

results of legitimate research. 

I would love to listen in on a 

debate between the respective 

scientists. 

As a paperback book priced 

costly purchase, but I believe 

pages make it a bargain. If 

nothing else, Chapter 8, “Free 

Fertilizers,” will quickly save 

you back the cover price and 

more, while putting your gardening 

on a more sustainable, 

more environmentally friendly 

path. I highly recommend this 

book for any gardener’s winter 

reading. 

“Sustainable Food Gardens” 

by Robert Kourik, is published 

by Metamorphic Press, Santa 

Rosa, California, and distributed 

by Chelsea Green Publishing, 

Inc. To listen to a conversation 

with Robert Kourik, log 

onto the Berkshire Botanical 

Garden’s “Growing Greener” 

podcast at www.thomaschristophergardens.com. 

Be-a-Better-Gardener is a 

community service of Berkshire 

Botanical Garden, located in 

Stockbridge, MA. Its mission, to 

provide knowledge of gardening 

and the environment through 

a diverse range of classes and 

programs, informs and inspires 

thousands of students and visitors 

each year. Thomas Christopher 

is a volunteer at Berkshire 

Botanical Garden and is the author 

or co-author of more than 

a dozen books, including Nature 

into Art and The Gardens 

of Wave Hill (Timber Press, 

2019). He is the 2021 Garden 

Club of America’s National 

Medalist for Literature, a distinction 

reserved to recognize 

those who have left a profound 

and lasting impact on issues 

that are most important to the 

GCA. Tom’s companion broadcast 

to this column, Growing 

Greener, streams on WESUFM. 

org, Pacifica Radio and NPR 

and is available at his website, 

https://www.thomaschristophergardens.com/podcast. 

WE WANT TO HEAR 

FROM YOU! 

The Greenville Pioneer wants to hear 

from you. Send information about upcoming 

events and news to news@ 

greenvillepioneer.com. 

We need to have announcements 

at least two weeks in advance.)

By Russell Gloor 

Dear Rusty: 

earn as much as possible without having 

their Social Security taxed. We would still 

be paying into Social Security, which would 

help the fund. 

I also feel that all people earning over 

$100,000 should pay into Social Security 

because they can afford it. This would 

help fund Social Security without hurting 

- 

as much as we can without a portion of our 

Social Security being taxed. 

Signed: Overtaxed Senior 

Dear Overtaxed Senior: 

Few would argue that paying income tax 

- 

theless, Congress enacted taxation of Social 

package which restored Social Security to 

solvency at the time. 

Is taxing Social Security fair? 

- 

ried couples who earned more than $32,000. 

That was the law until 1993 when Congress 

added another threshold for both single and 

- 

ers who earned more than $34,000 and for 

Ever since they were enacted, those laws 

have been viewed as unfair by many senior 

organizations and especially by the individ- 

The unfortunate reality is that eliminatwithout 

also implementing other offsetting 

reforms would exacerbate Social Security’s 

Security’s revenue in 2020). Thus, calls 

today for repealing income tax on Social 

worth noting that 13 U.S. states also levy a 

Although the payroll taxes you pay into 

Social Security while working are different 

- 

ple earning over $100,000 today do pay 

into Social Security through a FICA tax 

(or self-employment tax) on their earnings. 

Paying this tax is what entitles you to re- 

The 2021 threshold after which SS contributions 

are no longer taken from earnings 

is $142,800, and this amount goes up a bit 

each year. But even completely removing 

that payroll tax cap and further taxing higher 

earners would not fully resolve Social Se- 

Social Security’s trustees predict that 

starting in 2034 unless Congress acts to reform 

the program. Eliminating income tax 

being considered in reform proposals, as is 

increasing (or eliminating) the payroll tax 

cap. Whether Congress will include either 

of those suggestions in future Social Security 

reform legislation is anyone’s guess. 

So, while we agree that levying income 

“double taxation” (because you also pay 

income tax on your earnings used to qualify 

for Social Security), taxing your Social 

Security income is, nevertheless, permitted 

under current law. 

As unpalatable as that law may be, and 

as unfortunate the effect is on struggling seniors, 

the AMAC Foundation can only offer 

guidance on how existing Social Security 

laws and regulations affect those who contact 

us. However, our parent company, the 

Association of Mature American Citizens, 

is very well aware that paying income tax 

on Social Security “isn’t fair” and regularly 

lobbies Congress on that topic. 

This article is intended for information 

purposes only and does not represent leopinions 

and interpretations of the AMAC 

Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited 

by the National Social Security Association 

(NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Founor 

endorsed by the Social Security Administration 

or any other governmental entity. 

To submit a question, visit our website 

(amacfoundation.org/programs/social-security-advisory) 

or email us at ssadvisor@ 

amacfoundation.org.

Greenville Pioneer - 2021-11-19

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