The Columbia County Board of Supervisors and Congressman Chris Gibson are conducting a survey to gather needed information and data that will allow us to address the lack of access to high quality broadband. I know some of you may have completed similar surveys in the past, but please take a few minutes to complete this survey as it will provide us with vital information that will be used in attaining new and cost effective broadband accessibility throughout our county.

Take the survey here.

A joint Public Hearing by the towns of Claverack and Ghent Planning Boards will be held Wednesday, May 14th, 7:00 pm, at the Ghent Town Hall (located at 2306 Route 66).

A copy of the site plan and related materials can be found here.

The Columbia County Health Department is looking for an individual who may have picked up a dead deer on County Route 16 in Hollowville on Friday morning. The deer had been acting strangely and may have had rabies or another serious disease. Anyone with information should call the Columbia County Health Department at 518-828-3358 or the Columbia County Sheriff's Office at 518-828-3344.

Several area fire departments - three from the town of Claverack - battled a large brush fire on Route 217 just east of Court Ln in Claverack today. The A.B. Shaw Fire Company was first to respond and quickly summoned help from Churchtown, Mellenville, and other surrounding departments as the wind pushed the fire out of control. A preliminary report indicated that approximately 10 acres burned. Firefighters were able to contain the fire and keep it away from nearby homes.  Many thanks to all of the volunteers who dropped what they were doing to respond to this threat. We owe all of our volunteer fire departments a great debt.  Please do what you can, whenever you can, to support them and their departments!

Photos by Lance Wheeler

We were advised on Wednesday, at a meeting of the County Board of Supervisor’s Pine Haven subcommittee, that work on the Pine Haven building project was being suspended.  It was explained that this was being done to allow the County time to explore all available options related to the facility.

I want to reiterate to the residents of Claverack that I will continue to fight for Pine Haven. Most important to me are the residents that live there and the care that they receive. Several members of my own family, including my father, were residents of Pine Haven and received good, compassionate care while living there. This facility is important to me, as it is so many other families in Columbia County.  

I understand that times are tough and budgets are tight, and I agree that we have a responsibility to the taxpayers of Columbia County to ensure every tax dollar collected is spent in the most fiscally responsible way possible. Several cost cutting measures have been employed at the facility already, but we continue to see large operating deficits.  I understand the need to do what we can to bring these costs under control.

What I’m not willing to compromise on is Pine Haven’s future. We must do everything in our power to ensure Pine Haven remains open, in Philmont, providing top notch care, and good quality jobs for years to come.  I will continue to fight for Pine Haven’s future!

Please, if you have any concerns or ideas related to Pine Haven – or any other town issue for that matter – send me an email at [email protected].