Today is Memorial Day

Although established to commemorate those who died in the service of their Country, Memorial Day (formerly Decoration Day) is virtually indistinguishable from Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day) which honors all veterans of all wars. 

Regardless, be sure to think of those who gave their lives for this great Nation and thank those veterans who are still with us.  They fought so that we could enjoy the liberty and prosperity that we do today.

Both of my parents served in the Philippines during WWII.  Dad was in the Army Air Corps and Mom was a Navy nurse.  Rarely, if ever, did they speak of their wartime experiences, although I recall Mom mentioning snakes slithering in the rafters overhead in the base hospital.

Yes, they were part of what Tom Brokaw calls "The Greatest Generation" - those who grew up during the Great Depression and went on to serve in World War II.  Mom and Dad never spoke of their Depression era experiences.  Their generation didn't.

Hopefully, each generation will think of the preceding one as the "Greatest Generation", but for reasons other than wars and depressions.

My home parish in Kingston celebrates Mass in the parish cemetery on Memorial Day, weather permitting.  Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year.  A solemn and fitting commemoration - American Flags adorn the graves of all military members buried there, whether they fell in battle or died decades later, like my parents.  The VFW Color Guard stands to one side of the altar.  Some parishioners wear their old military uniforms (equally proud of the uniform and the fact that they still fit in it, I'm sure), others are relegated to wearing  their military hats along with their civvies.  God Bless America is sung during Mass and America the Beautiful at the conclusion.

Remember to think of those Veterans who gave their lives for us today.  Remember their families and the loss they endured.  And although it's not Veterans Day, if you encounter a Vet today, say "Thanks!"

Pete Stenson

Fiacco and Gilbert - your thoughts please

Dan Fiacco and  Ed Gilbert .  OK  ...if that's what they and their  families agree is  best -  well best of  luck to them .....for  now.

With  E. Chris Defruscio now  apparently  leading  what is left of the  Republican party , we'll wait and see what the  first few items of political controversy are  coming  out  of  this  years campaign  will be.

What we know to be  fact is  this:  ALL the  foolishness  drummed up by the  reform party was ineffective in 2010.  The  false  accusations  and  trumped up  allegations from Taylor and Cristo turned more people away from them and they actually  lost  support  because of their ridiculous, arrogant behavior.

Sue Mangold and Phil Malone have been doing a  fantastic  job and the  Town Board is  functioning and the  Town is running  quite  well and  effectively.  All Town Departments are working to capacity, overtime is  down and  productivity is  up !  

All of the above is because of the cooperative efforts of  McCABE, OBrien, Malone and  Mangold !!!    The nasty and  arrogant false accustions  still coming  from the  reformers and their losing  candidates have made no dent in the  affirmative and positive efforts  of  the  Supervisor and  Town Board.

For  Dan Fiacco and Ed Gilbert :  try to  stay positive in your  campaigns.  If you should  fail and  fall into the tangled  web of  deception that was so loosely woven by Taylor and Cristo,  you will be met by even more infuriated voters than they were.
 There is no room in this  Town for the  foolish behavior  exhibited by Mike and Ann this past election.  A true  election decided by voters in Town who hear the  bona-fide solutions to the everyday problems  that actually  face the  Town by the  candidates and not the  mud-slinging crap that was  started by Cristo and  Taylor  would  truly be  refreshing !!  Think about it- an actual campaign based upon real  issues !  WOW!   That would be great !

Phil and  Sue  are  currently engaged in the  business of the  Town and many tasks have been undertaken with some having been completed ,  with more to come over the next few months.  This  town is moving  forward !

Best wishes to everyone  for a safe, enjoyable  summer !!!

East Greenbush Observes Memorial Day

Memorial Day Parade, 5/28/11

The 2011 Memorial Day Parade will be held on Saturday, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. The parade will begin at Spare Time Lanes and continue west on Columbia Turnpike to the Melvin Roads Post.

Memorial Day Observance, 5/30/11 

All Town of East Greenbush Offices, including the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Satellite Office, will be closed on Monday, May 30th in observance of Memorial Day.

Thank You East Greenbush Police

My  family  sat watching the  local news last evening at  11pm when  Jim Kambrich announced on Channel 13  that a  local  youth had been arrested  for  dealing  drugs.  The  story went on to say that he was a  Columbia High School student and that he had been charged after a  long investigation by local authorities.

Well,  I for one  would  like to publicly  thank the members of the East Greenbush Police for  taking this  individual off our  streets and out of our  school.    I learned this morning  that the  boy had made bail and  was  supposed to attend  Columbia today.  I would  hope  now  that  our  District Attornies office  will take  this matter  seriously  and  deal with this  problem.   

 For  years, I have been hearing about the  drug problem at Columbia High School.    I would hope that maybe our  legal team of  local law enforcement  and  the prosecutors at the  County level  will use this opportunity to send a  clear message to others  who think East Greenbush is  a  "free-trade zone"  for  narcotics , and  maybe they will now  think twice about introducing drugs into our  schools!

 Congratulations to Chief Lavin and his  staff and  best of  luck with future investigations  such as  this  one,