eedition The Daily Mail January 8 2020

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The Daily Mail Copyright 2020, Columbia-Greene Media Volume 228, No. 5

Jury selection Arson trial gets underway in Columbia County Inside, A3

The nation’s fourth-oldest newspaper • Serving Greene County since 1792

All Rights Reserved

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2020

Price $1.50

Lawrence resigns chairmanship

nFORECAST WEATHER FOR HUDSON/CA TODAY TONIGHT THU

By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media Partly sunny Partly cloudy Partly sunny with flurries

HIGH 38

LOW 17

29 23

Complete weather, A2

n SPORTS

CATSKILL — After more than 12 years at the helm of the county’s Public Safety Committee, Cairo legislator William Lawrence has decided to take a back seat.

Several county departments including the sheriff’s office, probation, public defender and emergency services come under the umbrella of the Public Safety Committee. Many of the important and controversial decisions regarding the new Greene County jail began at the committee’s meetings.

Hudson, Maple Hill girls victory

Legislature Chairman Patrick Linger, R-New Baltimore, announced at the annual organization meeting Monday that Lawrence would not be staying on as chairman.

Legislator Thomas Hobart, R-Coxsackie, has been named to succeed Lawrence as committee chairman.

“Last year as I started my new term, I asked Chairman Linger if there was another person to appoint,” Lawrence said Tuesday.

Ultimately, Lawrence agreed to continue as

Sarah Trafton/ColumbiaGreene Media

Legislator William B. Lawrence, R-Cairo, announced Monday that he is giving up the chairmanship of the Greene County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee after 12 years. He will be succeeded

by Legislator Thomas Hobart, R-Coxsackie.

See RESIGNS A8

AMID BAIL REFORM BACKLASH, TALK OF CHANGE

Hudson’s Deja Beauford (23) had a game-high 16 points in Monday’s game PAGE B1

n REGION

Resignation in dispute Former Columbia County Board of Elections employee alleges rights were violated PAGE A3 Contributed photo

The entrance to the Coxsackie Correctional Facility off Route 9W.

n LOCAL

By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media

Investigation concludes Allegations of theft of evidence at Catskill barracks are unfounded, state police say PAGE A8

n INDEX Region Opinion State/Nation Obituaries Sports Classified Comics/Advice

A3 A4 A5 A5 B1 B4-B5 B7-B8

On the web www.HudsonValley360.com Twitter Follow: @CatskillDailyMail Facebook www.facebook.com/ CatskillDailyMail/

Six days after bail reform went into effect across the state, Gov. Andrew Cuomo began discussing adjustments.

The reform, predicted to reduce pretrial detainees by 90%, eliminates bail for defendants with misdemeanor and nonviolent felony offenses, according

to governor.ny.gov. Local law enforcement, district attorneys and state representatives have criticized the law as too broad and not maintaining a judge’s discretion.

In place of bail, a defendant can be released under a variety of other conditions, such as travel restrictions, being prohibited from owning firearms,

being required to have frequent check-ins with probation and wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet, which can limit the distance the defendant travels.

While delivering the 30th proposal of his 2020 State of the State on Monday, Cuomo addressed the spike in recent antiSemitic crimes and the potential shortcomings of the law.

“Bail reform is right,” Cuomo said. “You have a criminal justice system that basically says now you get arrested, if you can make bail you’re released, if you can’t make bail you sit in Rikers for two years and get abused until you have your day in court.

And meanwhile you’ve been in Rikers and for two years and you haven’t been found guilty of

anything. And bail is predicated on wealth. So if you have access to wealth, you make bail, if you don’t have access to wealth, you don’t make bail.”

This type of system is unjust, Cuomo said.

“Justice was never supposed to be who has money in their See BAIL A8

Judge temporarily halts Farm Labor Rights Act

By Massarah Mikati Johnson Newspapers

BUFFALO — The new law that expands labor rights for farm workers will be delayed until the end of January, a federal judge ruled last week.

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Vilardo, of the Western District of New York, wrote in his Dec. 31 decision the socalled Farm Labor Rights Act would cause farmers to “suffer ‘irreparable harm’ should certain provisions of the Act go into effect on January 1, 2020.”

He ruled to temporarily restrain the law in order to preserve the status quo hearing while deliberating the merits of the case, at least until a Jan. 24 hearing.

Vilardo added the plaintiffs,

the New York State Vegetable Growers Association and the Northeast Dairy Producers Association, demonstrated in their Dec. 30 complaint a “sufficient ‘likelihood of success’ in challenging the provisions” of the law.

The Farm Labor Rights Act, which was signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo in June, extends multiple fair labor practices to farm workers, including ensuring they get paid overtime after working 60 hours a week and that they get one day off each week.

Proponents for the law have said it delivers long overdue and reasonable rights to New York’s farm workers.

See RIGHTS A8

C-GM file photo

Cows at A. Ooms and Sons Dairy Farm.

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A2 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Weather FORECAST FOR HUDSON/CATSKILL

TODAY TONIGHT THU

FRI

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Trump administration to seek death penalty in MS-13 murder case Rachel Weiner The Washington Post

Partly sunny Milder with a Partly cloudy Partly sunny with flurries little rain

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58 45

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Montreal 29/3

Massena 32/1

Bancroft 21/-8

Ogdensburg 34/-1

Peterborough 23/1

Plattsburgh 34/6

Malone Potsdam 31/0 32/1

Kingston 28/5

Watertown 31/4

Rochester 29/14

Utica 32/10

Batavia Buffalo 29/12 29/13

Albany 39/12

Syracuse 33/14

Catskill 38/17

Binghamton 28/12

Hornell 30/11

Burlington 36/8

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4:41 p.m.

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Jan 10

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by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2020

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CONDITIONS TODAY AccuWeather.com UV Index™ & AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature®

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The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. 0-2 Low; 3-5 Moderate; 6-7 High; 8-10 Very High; 11+ Extreme. The patented AccuWeather.com RealFeel Temperature is an exclusive index of effective temperature based on eight weather factors.

NATIONAL WEATHER TODAY Seattle 45/37

area.

Defense attorney Robert Jenkins said he was informed by the Justice Department of its decision, a step he said he believed was taken to support the president’s stance on illegal immigration.

“I strongly suspect politics is playing a significant role rather than whether or not this is the appropriate thing to do to serve justice,” Jenkins said. “Whether or not they truly believe that justice would be served by seeking the death penalty I think is maybe a secondary concern versus what political chips they can gain with his base by appearing to be tough on illegal immigrants.”

Jenkins said Martinez, an immigrant from El Salvador, did not have a violent criminal history and is not alleged to have inflicted blows in either slaying.

In their filing, prosecutors said Martinez has a history of uncharged violent conduct, including assaults, stabbings and another attempt at kidnapping and homicide.

While in jail awaiting trial, they say he was twice found with a shank.

The deaths of Edvin Mendez, 17, and Sergio Triminio,

14, came during a grisly spike in violence in the Washington region that has since abated amid a crackdown by law enforcement. Killings connected to the gang in the area fell from at least 33 in 2016 and 2017 to seven the following year.

It was in the summer of 2016, according to court documents, that a member of the Park View Locos Salvatrucha group saw the photos on Mendez’s Facebook page that would lead to his death: a man surrounded by three 6s. The image led them to mark Mendez, an aspiring member, as a spy for the rival 18th Street Gang. Authorities said local MS-13 leaders agreed Mendez should be killed, sending members from Maryland to Virginia to help.

They lured Mendez to Holmes Run Stream Valley Park under the pretense of a gang meeting, according to an indictment, where they killed him and buried his body. They took turns filming the murder, authorities allege, a video that was sent to gang leaders to help the killers earn promotions.

Mendez’s family spent the weeks after his

British teen who recanted gang rape claim in Cyprus is given suspended sentence

Montreal 29/3 Toronto 26/10

Minneapolis 15/14

Detroit 28/19 New York 41/23

Chicago 25/22

Denver 59/25

San Francisco 57/50

Washington 46/25 Kansas City 52/43

William Booth

Los Angeles 66/46

Atlanta 60/38

The Washington Post

El Paso 61/36 Houston 68/58

Chihuahua 73/45

Miami 76/69

Monterrey 69/51

ALASKA HAWAII

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PHOTO FOR THE WASHINGTON POST BY EVELYN HOCKSTEIN

Police remove crime scene tape on March 2, 2017, in Fairfax County, Va., from the area where two sets of human remains were found in Holmes Run Park in northern Virginia.

Winnipeg 4/1 Billings 48/28

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WASHINGTON - The Justice Department plans to pursue the death penalty for a member of the MS-13 gang accused in the kidnappings and killings of two Virginia teenagers in 2016, a move that comes as the Trump administration fights to restart federal executions.

Elmer Martinez, 27, is alleged to be the leader of the Fairfax County clique that authorities say killed a 17-year-old suspected of belonging to a rival gang and a 14-year-old who revealed that crime to the victim’s family.

In a court filing Monday, prosecutors said Martinez was singled out for death among the dozen-plus people charged in connection with the crimes because of his “substantial planning and premeditation” and “his lack of remorse for his violent acts.”

The Trump administration announced plans in July to resume executing federal prisoners, after a 16-year moratorium. A judge blocked the executions in November, determining that the Justice Department’s proposed lethal-injection procedure “is not authorized” by federal law. The Supreme Court refused to let executions resume while the legal battle continues.

President Donald Trump makes frequent references to MS-13 by its full name, La Mara Salvatrucha, including in his most recent State of the Union address, in which he said a border wall was needed to keep the “savage gang” out. The gang formed in Los Angeles during the 1980s by El Salvadorans and has taken over large swaths of Central America and regions in the United States, including pockets of the Washington

disappearance searching anxiously for information.

His brother reached out on Facebook to Triminio, an acquaintance. An associate of MS-13, Triminio admitted that Mendez had been targeted for death by the gang, authorities said.

A day later, according to court records, Triminio got a message on Facebook telling him to go to Fairfax for a gang meeting. His family last saw him leave their Alexandria, Virginia, apartment in his pajamas to take out the trash.

His body was found near Mendez’s in another shallow grave.

That killing was also recorded. A video recovered from one participant’s phone showed a young man in pajamas being attacked with a kitchen knife and machete as he lay face down on the ground, according to a federal indictment.

Prosecutors say the gang had come to believe Triminio also spoke to the police.

Beyond Martinez, 10 more gang members will go to trial in connection with the killings but are not facing the death penalty. Two more were not charged with murder, although court records indicate they were involved.

They could be called to testify at trial.

Jay Lanham, the executive director of the Northern Virginia Regional Gang Task Force, said the Holmes Run killings represented a peak in the gang’s activity in recent years.

“That was high tide of homicides,” Lanham said.

“Since then, homicides have subsided somewhat. We are still seeing MS-13 members keep a low profile. We saw them lose a lot of leadership.”

The Washington Post’s Mark Berman, Devlin Barrett and Justin Jouvenal contributed to this report.

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NATIONAL CITIES City Albuquerque Anchorage Atlanta Atlantic City Baltimore Billings Birmingham Boise Boston Charleston, SC Charleston, WV Charlotte Cheyenne Chicago Cincinnati Cleveland Columbus, OH Dallas Denver Des Moines Detroit Hartford Honolulu Houston Indianapolis Kansas City Knoxville Las Vegas

Today Hi/Lo W 49/26 pc -6/-11 pc 60/38 s 44/27 s 43/20 s 48/28 c 61/39 s 46/32 sh 44/21 sf 63/39 s 43/21 s 58/31 s 49/24 s 25/22 pc 39/27 s 30/20 sn 34/22 s 64/54 s 59/25 pc 34/30 pc 28/19 pc 39/17 sf 82/72 sh 68/58 pc 35/28 s 52/43 s 54/28 s 60/39 pc

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City Little Rock Los Angeles Miami Milwaukee Minneapolis Nashville New Orleans New York City Norfolk Oklahoma City Omaha Orlando Philadelphia Phoenix Pittsburgh Portland Portland Providence Raleigh Richmond Sacramento St. Louis Salt Lake City San Francisco Savannah Seattle Tampa Washington, DC

Today Hi/Lo W 61/43 s 66/46 s 76/69 pc 23/19 c 15/14 c 57/38 s 65/56 s 41/23 sf 54/32 s 60/48 pc 40/35 pc 69/54 s 42/22 pc 68/43 pc 31/16 sn 38/11 sf 46/38 sh 42/20 sf 56/29 s 52/24 s 56/41 pc 47/40 s 40/31 c 57/50 pc 64/39 s 45/37 sh 68/55 s 46/25 s

Thu. Hi/Lo W 61/57 r 62/43 pc 78/73 pc 47/34 r 37/16 pc 61/55 pc 75/66 c 34/32 pc 44/35 s 65/52 c 47/23 c 77/65 pc 36/29 s 63/43 s 41/37 pc 27/18 s 46/38 c 34/24 pc 51/36 s 46/32 s 55/36 sh 58/53 r 40/26 sf 58/42 sh 71/59 pc 43/38 c 76/65 pc 40/32 s

Weather(W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.

LONDON - A British teenager who was found guilty of lying about being gang-raped while on vacation in Cyprus was given a suspended fourmonth sentence Tuesday - and is now free to return home to England.

The 19-year-old woman had accused a dozen young Israeli men of raping her in a hotel room in the popular resort town of Ayia Napa on Cyprus in July.

The woman, her identity shielded in both Cyprus and Britain, was put on trial herself after she recanted her claim. She was found guilty in Famagusta District Court last month of “public mischief” for making a false charge.

However, the British teen’s lawyer said Cypriot police pressured her to falsely confess to lying about the incident - a charge that police denied.

The tangled case has been splashed across the pages of British, Cypriot and Israeli newspapers for months.

When the young Israelis were released from Cyprus and returned home, they were greeted by family and friends, who popped champagne at the airport to

chants, in Hebrew, of “The people of Israel live” and “The Brit is a whore.”

One of the teen’s lawyers also charged that the Israelis posted video on social media of them having sex with the woman as an act of “revenge porn.”

In Israel, where revenge porn is now illegal, commentary on the case was mixed, with some saying the young men were unfairly tarred and others believing they had acted immorally.

The “public mischief” conviction was also a source of tension between Britain and Cyprus. Britain’s Foreign Office stated that it was “seriously concerned” over whether the teen received a fair trial.

Through the British tabloids, before her sentencing, the woman made a direct appeal to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “I am 19 and all I want to do is clear my name and come home to my family,” the Sun reported her saying. “Time is running out for me. Please, please help.”

Her cause was also adopted by human rights campaigners and #MeToo activists, from abroad and on the island, who complained that police bungled the case and treated a victim of alleged

sexual assault with cruelty.

Outside the courtroom on Tuesday, the BBC reported that several dozen demonstrators from Israel, Britain and Cyprus chanted, “We believe you” and “No means no.”

The woman is now allowed to leave the Mediterranean island, and her family said she would return to England immediately. Her lawyer, Lewis Power, told reporters he would appeal the conviction.

Outside court, the teenager’s mother told her daughter’s supporters, “I just want to thank each and every one of you for turning up today, having belief, having faith and making sure we get justice,” according to the BBC. Judge Michalis Papathanasiou told the courtroom he was “troubled” by the case but was prepared to give the woman a “second chance” with a suspended sentence.

The teen spent a month in jail before being released on bail.

She was ordered to pay $150 in legal fees.

“All the evidence shows that she had lied and prevented the police from doing other serious jobs,” the judge said, according to media reports from the court.

“Twelve people were

arrested, and seven of them were there for at least 10 days. That was also a serious offense,” he said.

Citing “her psychological state, her youth, that she has been away from her family, her friends and academic studies this year,” Papathanasiou added that “this has led me to decide to give her a second chance and suspend the sentence for three years.”

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Wednesday, January 8, 2020 A3

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

CALENDAR Wednesday, Jan. 8 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens n Catskill Town Zoning Board 6 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Greene County Economic Development Corporation 4 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 4th Floor, Room 419, 411 Main Street, , Catskill n Greene County Legislature health services; county resources and public safety 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill n Jewett Town Board 7 p.m. Jewett Municipal Building, 3547 County Route 23C, Jewett

Thursday, Jan. 9 n Coxsackie Village workshop

meeting 6 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie n Greene County Legislature finance audit 4 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill n Windham-Ashland-Jewett CSD BOE audit finance committee 5:15 p.m. in superintendent’s office; regular meeting 6 p.m. in the School Library, 5411 Route 23, Windham

Monday, Jan. 13 n Ashland Town Board 7:30 p.m.

Town Hall, 12094 Route 23, Ashland n Catskill Village Planning Board 7 p.m. Catskill Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill n Coxsackie Village Board 7 p.m.

Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie n Greenville CSD BOE Business/ Budget 1 meeting Senior Citizen & Disabled Tax Exemption Hearing 6:30 p.m. MS/HS Library, 4976 Route 81, Greenville n Greene County Legislature special health services committee; county services; public works; economic development and tourism; Gov. Ops.; finance and Rep. and Dem. Caucus 6 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Tuesday, Jan. 14 n Cairo Public Library Board

of Trustees 3:30 p.m. Cairo Public Library, 15 Railroad Ave., Cairo 518622-9864 n Catskill Town Planning Board 7 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill n Coxsackie Village Historic Preservation Committee 6 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie

Wednesday, Jan. 15 n Catskill Central School District

BOE 6:30 p.m. High School Library, 341 West Main St., Catskill n Catskill Library Board 6:45 p.m. at either the Catskill Library, 1 Franklin St., Catskill or Palenville Library, 3303 Route 23A, Palenville n Catskill Town Board committee meeting 6:30 p.m. Town Hall, 439 Main St., Catskill n Greene County Legislature regular meeting No. 1 6:30 p.m. Greene County Office Building, 411 Main St., Catskill

Thursday, Jan. 16 n Coxsackie Village Planning

Board 7 p.m. Village Hall, 119 Mansion St., Coxsackie

Monday, Jan. 20 n Catskill Town Offices closed n Coxsackie Village Offices closed n Greenville Village Offices closed

Tuesday, Jan. 21 n Athens Village Planning Board 6:30 p.m. Village Hall, 2 First St., Athens n Durham Town Board 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 7309 Route 81, East Durham n Hunter Town Board 7 p.m. at the Town Hall, 5748 Route 23A, Tannersville

Wednesday, Jan. 22 n Catskill Village Board 7 p.m. Se-

nior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Monday, Jan. 27 n Catskill Village Planning Board 7

p.m. Catskill Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill

Tuesday, Jan. 28 n Athens Village Board 6:30 p.m.

Stockport arson trial begins

By Amanda Purcell Columbia-Greene Media

HUDSON — The trial of two Columbia County men accused of setting fire to a house in October 2017 for $1 million in insurance began Monday in Columbia County Court.

Barry Goldstein, 76, of Stockport, was arraigned Nov. 14, 2018, on charges of first-degree insurance fraud, a class B felony; third-degree arson, a class C felony; and first-degree reckless endangerment, a class D felony.

Goldstein is suspected of setting fire to his home at 290 Route 25 in Stockport on Oct. 1, 2017, a blaze that put neighbors and firefighters at risk, authorities said.

Goldstein, through his attorney, Roy K. Nestler of Delmar, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

But Goldstein did not appear to act alone, police said.

William P. Travis III, 33, of Stuyvesant, is also suspected of setting fire to the home and is being tried as a codefendant in the case. Travis was charged Dec. 20, 2017, with third-degree arson, a class C felony, in connection with the Oct. 1 fire that destroyed the Stockport home.

Police accused Travis of going to the home and starting the fire, police said. Columbia County Sheriff’s

FILE PHOTO/CONTRIBUTED

Flames swept through a home in Stockport on Oct. 1, 2017. Two men, William Travis and Barry Goldstein, have been charged with arson.

Office investigators probed the incident for more than a year before making their arrest. Police said they believe an accelerant was used in the blaze.

Columbia County Judge Richard M. Koweek, who is presiding over the case, listened to excuses from potential jurors throughout the day Monday. Prosecution and defense attorneys were

expected to question potential jurors in small groups as part of voir dire, a legal term that means attorneys can reject certain jurors from hearing the case if there is a conflict.

Bringing the fire under control required manpower and many hours from several nearby volunteer fire departments. About a hundred firefighters worked from 10

p.m. to 7 p.m. the next day to make sure the blaze and all hot spots were fully extinguished.

The size and age of the home were challenging for firefighters. The fire required a staggering amount of water, Stockport Volunteer Fire Company Second Assistant Chief Matthew Tuczynski said in October 2017. What remained of the structure

was demolished the day after the blaze.

Four phone calls — three made by Travis and one by his wife, Raquel — to Goldstein were monitored by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office as part of the investigation. They are expected to be played for the jury.

Travis is being held in Columbia County Jail in lieu of $20,000 bail. Goldstein, who was held on $25,000 bail, was released after posting bond.

Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka declined to comment on Travis’ connection to Goldstein or his motive, saying it would come out during the trial.

Goldstein was out of town and no one was inside the home when the fire started, fire officials said in October 2017. Goldstein did not receive the $1 million insurance payment.

If convicted, Goldstein faces 25 years in prison.

Goldstein has been living on the county Route 25 property in a mobile home, where he was arrested Nov. 14, 2018, Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett said.

He bought the house in 1998.

To reach reporter Amanda Purcell, call 518-828-1616 ext. 2500, or send an email to apurcell@ thedailymail.net, or tweet to @ amandajpurcell.

Notice of claim alleges violation in Columbia County

By Amanda Purcell Columbia-Greene Media

HUDSON — The Columbia County Board of Elections, Columbia County and Democratic Election Commissioner Virginia Martin face a possible legal challenge from James Dolan, who claims his former employer violated his First Amendment rights and forced him to resign under duress.

In a notice of claim sent to County Attorney Robert Fitzsimmons on Dec. 18, Martin, Democratic Deputy Commissioner Diane Boice-Yorck and the Columbia County Board of Elections allegedly created “a hostile work environment” while Dolan was employed as an election specialist at the Board of Elections at 401 State St. Dolan was employed by the county Board of Elections from March 29, 2016, to Oct. 2, 2019.

Martin confirmed in an email to the Register-Star on Sept. 24 that Dolan had resigned. But Dolan, in his notice of claim, states that Martin and Yorck illegally agreed, and conspired and cooperated, to terminate his employment.

It’s unclear when Dolan and his attorney intend to file a formal complaint as part of a lawsuit against the parties named in the notice of claim.

“Mr. Dolan is considering whether he will file a complaint,” Dolan’s attorney, Lewis Oliver, of Albany, said Monday. “He does believe the election process should be bipartisan and efficient and should not be political.”

Dolan, a Democrat, was working alongside his unnamed Republican counterpart in the office, sharing information with Republican members of the Board of Elections as required by law, according to the claim. Martin and Yorck allegedly discouraged Dolan from being friendly and cooperative with Republican staff, promoted an atmosphere of “us against them,” or Republican commissioners and staff versus their Democratic counterparts, according to the claim.

FILE PHOTO

Columbia County Board of Elections, 401 State St.

“Commissioner Martin and Deputy Commissioner Boice-Yorck agreed and conspired and cooperated together to create discord and hostility between the Democratic employees of the Board and the Republican employees, and unlawfully directed claimant to engage in divisive behavior against Republican colleagues,” according to the notice of claim.

His bosses “minimized impossible working conditions, such as flea infestation in the office and other office misconduct, physically separated the desks of the Republican and Democratic Election Specialists immediately prior to claimant’s termination so it was more difficult for them to work together and undermined the mission of the Board of Elections to provide bipartisan service to the residents and voters of the county,” according to the claim.

A flea infestation at the Columbia County Municipal Building at 401 State St. forced the closure and emergency renovation of the county Board of Elections office, officials said in September. The problem had persisted since mid-July. Staff were

Facebook!

sent home and the office has been closed early on “several occasions” after the fleas were seen “hopping around” and staff reported being bitten in the past five weeks, Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell said in September.

Murell could not immediately be reached for comment about the lawsuit Monday.

Dolan allegedly expressed disagreement and dissatisfaction with

Martin’s alleged efforts to alienate the Republican staff, the claim states.

No action has been taken against any employees, and the Columbia County Democratic Committee has not verified any of Dolan’s claims. At this point, the county is still conducting its own investigation into Dolan’s allegations.

“We know what the allegations are, but we don’t know what the facts are at this point and we are waiting to see what actually happened,” Columbia County Democratic Committee Chairman Keith Kanaga said.

A monetary amount was not included in the notice of claim. As a result of his alleged resignation under duress, Dolan suffered lost wages and salary, medical and vacation benefits, loss of pension, damage to his political reputation and standing in the community; emotional distress, anxiety, degradation and public humiliation and other injuries and damages, which hare unknown at this time.

Fitzsimmons and Martin did not immediately return a call for comment Monday.

To reach reporter Amanda Purcell, call 518-828-1616 ext. 2500, or send an email to apurcell@thedailymail.net, or tweet to @amandajpurcell.

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A4 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

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OUR VIEW

Food service employees spared state fiat on tip credit For several years, we have spoken out against Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s habit of manipulating the wages required to be paid to certain employees in certain industries.

With little regard for the financial strains they confront, Cuomo has at times unilaterally decided that merchants make enough money to pay wages that are more to his liking. This is but one example, we’ve previously reminded readers, of how New York is not open for business.

More than two years ago, Cuomo took issue with the tip credit paid to many people who work in food service and hospitality jobs. This is the difference between the minimum wage and the cash wages offered to employees who receive tips. If workers earn enough in tips, their employers can pay wages below the minimum wage.

But Cuomo saw things differently.

“At the end of day, this is a question of basic fairness.

In New York, we believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work and that all workers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect,” Cuomo said in a news release issued by his office Dec. 17, 2017. “There should be no exception to that fairness and decency.”

The governor directed the state Department of

Labor to hold hearings on the issue. And a funny thing happened during the one at the Dulles State Office Building in Watertown in April 2018.

Many restaurant employees whose interests Cuomo claimed to be protecting told authorities they prefer the system the way it is. They can actually make more money than they could with a standard wage set up law.

Last month, the state Department of Labor announced that the subminimum wage was being eliminated. Once again, Cuomo has chosen to act as the chief financial officer for New York businesses — he does this without the possibility of suffering any consequences in how his decisions will affect these companies.

“The order impacts over 70,000 tipped employees and will end confusion and outright wage theft that evidence shows robs them of tipped income they rightfully earned,” opined a socalled news release issued Dec. 31 from the governor’s office. “Workers that will be impacted by the new measure include: nail salon workers, hairdressers, aestheticians, car wash workers, valet parking attendants, door-persons, tow truck drivers, dog groomers and tour guides.”

Fortunately, this an-

nouncement wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Servers and other employees of the hospitality industry who receive tips will not be affected.

“The state will phase in the change with two steps.

The subminimum wage will increase to $10.90 per hour for many low tip workers and $10.35 for many high tip workers by June 20, but then both workers will receive minimum wage

by Dec. 31, 2020, which will equal $12.50 for upstate New York workers,” a story published Thursday by the Watertown Daily Times reported. “The minimum wage has increased annually for the past several years. The subminimum wage has been increasing over the years. Restaurateurs will pay tipped food service workers $7.85 per hour, so long as they receive at least another $3.95 per hour in tips, but will have to pay them $8.35 per hour by Dec. 31, 2020, so long as they earn at least another $4.15 per hour in tips, according to the Labor Department.”

Food service employees expressed themselves at the state hearings, and thankfully the people in charge listened to them.

We could use more of this attitude in Albany, but this is a good start.

Watertown Daily Times

Will he or won’t he?

John Bolton is playing a very cagey game.

WASHINGTON — Former national security adviser John Bolton, lobbing a hand grenade into the midst of the impeachment proceedings, announced Monday that he is prepared — if subpoenaed by the Senate — to testify after all. Perhaps this is the ultimate in cynical maneuvers: a canny Washington player making an offer that he knows Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can afford to refuse.

No doubt that is McConnell’s instinct. The majority leader is not interested in getting to the truth of President Trump’s dealings with Ukraine and, therefore, has no desire to hear the kind of firsthand testimony that a former national security adviser could offer about his dealings with the president and his inner circle — what Bolton characterized as a “drug deal” being cooked up by acting White House chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and Gordon Sondland, the ambassador to the European Union, in former National Security Council aide Fiona Hill’s memorable retelling.

But are McConnell’s fellow Republicans so heedless of their constitutional duty, so committed to a see-noevil, hear-no-evil approach to Trump, that they would fail to take up the opportunity to hear from Bolton? After all, it would only take four of them to stand up — to McConnell, to Trump, to the GOP base — to amass the votes necessary to subpoena Bolton.

That could have been done absent Bolton’s statement, of course. But the significance of his announcement is to signal that calling him to testify would not be a fruitless maneuver,

destined to be tied up in months of litigation. Instead, Bolton — or so he said — stands ready to talk. Significantly, and Bolton is a careful lawyer, he did not suggest that his willingness to answer questions would be limited in any way by concerns over executive privilege.

The road to this moment has been twisting, and Bolton’s moves and motives obscure. Is this offer a bit of carefully calibrated payback for a president who fired him by peremptory tweet? “I informed John Bolton last night that his services are no longer needed at the White House,” Trump wrote. “I disagreed strongly with many of his suggestions, as did others in the Administration, and therefore I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning.” Bolton, disputing Trump, said he offered the resignation without being asked.

If revenge is a dish best served cold, Bolton has now waited nearly four months — and he can frame his appearance as a reluctant willingness to perform his constitutional duty.

Bolton has been playing a cagey legal game throughout the impeachment proceedings — seeming to want to tell his story but not to appear to be doing so voluntarily. In response to a House subpoena, Bolton’s former deputy, Charles Kupperman, went to court to ask for instruction about whether he should comply with the subpoena or the president’s order not to testify. Bolton, represented by the same lawyer, said he would abide by the ruling in that case. But the House withdrew its subpoena, and the judge last month dismissed the case as moot.

“It now falls to the Senate to

fulfill its constitutional obligation to try impeachments, and it does not appear possible that a final judicial resolution of the still-unanswered constitutional questions can be obtained before the Senate acts,” Bolton said in a statement posted on his political action committee’s website. “Accordingly, since my testimony is once again at issue, I have had to resolve the serious competing issues as best I could, based on careful consideration and study. I have concluded that, if the Senate issues a subpoena for my testimony, I am prepared to testify.”

If. Why would any senator charged with the grave responsibility of trying the president on articles of impeachment not want to hear Bolton’s account? How could any senator justify refusing to hear from someone so central to Trump’s handling of Ukraine? McConnell’s ability to keep his caucus under control should not be underestimated — he orchestrated the successful blockade of Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland — but it is also not complete. Under pressure, albeit with a thinner majority, he acceded to an FBI investigation, however inadequate, of then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.

Republican senators with a modicum of self-respect need to ask themselves: Did they really work this hard, did they really go to Washington, just to cover for Trump? Are there four members who can handle the truth?

Ruth Marcus’ email address is ruthmarcus@washpost.com. (c) 2020, Washington Post Writers Group

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

National Grid needs to come clean To the editor: I’m writing to comment on National Grid’s tactics regarding its proposed E37/Albany Loop fracked gas pipeline. It has been reported that National Grid has asked local government officials and leaders of development agencies to submit testimony to the Public Service Commission (PSC) concerning this proposed fracked gas pipeline extension. Many of the solicited individuals did so, and National Grid supplied information to the authors for inclusion in their testimony.

It has also been reported

that the PSC received postcards from citizens stating that the E37/Albany loop pipeline is inconsistent with New York State law and policy. These postcards were an efficient and transparent mechanism for conveying a broadly held sentiment. They should not be compared to the letters solicited by National Grid, which in fact raise ethical questions.

Did the solicited authors verify the information supplied to them by the company?

Did the authors cite National Grid as their source? Did their letters provide independent

expertise or insight? Had National Grid already conveyed the same information to the PSC? If so, did recycling information through solicited allies serve a legitimate purpose? Did the letters explain why natural gas is preferable to renewable energy sources for future development? Were the actions of National Grid consistent with the spirit and purpose of public comment? These questions deserve further attention.

KENNETH PHELPS BOARD MEMBER, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT CASTLETON

National Grid not playing nice

The Daily Mail welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must contain a full name, full address and a daytime telephone number. Names will be published, but phone numbers will not be divulged.

Letters of less than 400 words are more likely to be published quickly. The newspaper reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity and content.

Letters should be exclusive to this publication, not duplicates of those sent to other persons, agencies

or publications. Writers are ordinarily limited to one letter every 30 days.

To the editor: I must communicate my displeasure, at the very least, regarding the National Grid tactic of trying to shut people up who disagree with its expansive plans. This has degenerated into a case of one of the biggest and most powerful companies in NYS basically attempting to push through its agenda for its E37/Albany Loop fracked gas pipeline proposal by any means it can.

National Grid does not have the right to try and invalidate our filed E37/Albany Loop testimony with the NYS

SEND LETTERS:

environmental policy take place behind our backs simply because “we” don’t have the money and lawyers that they do.

We out here will continue to fight this and other battles like it.

We hope that the PSC will see fit to address the practice of “bullying” by National Grid and set the record straight for all to see.

KENNETH SCALLON STOP NY FRACKED GAS PIPELINE MEMBER NASSAU

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

n Mail: Letters to the editor

The Daily Mail 1 Hudson City Center Hudson, NY 12534 n E-mail: editorial@thedailymail.net

Public Service Commission (PSC) or that of several others who are in opposition to this project, while it is being properly vetted.

Apparently, National Grid’s game plan at this point is to attempt to keep others who disagree with out of the formal deliberative process.

Based on past experience, we know that they also prefer to limit full discussion by having only one public hearing and then expect to go on their monopolistic way.

Those days are over — we are fed up with having

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Wednesday, January 8, 2020 A5

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

How to submit obituaries and death notices Obituaries: Are paid notices. We reserve the right to edit all copy. Funeral directors may email us the information at obits@columbiagreenemedia.com anytime. Include life background information on the deceased, a full list of immediate survivors, services and the name of the funeral home. Any questions or for rate information, call 518-828-1616, ext. 2461.

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Frank L. Bedell Frank L. Bedell, 72 of Livingston passed away surrounded by his loved ones on January 1, 2020. He was born in Hudson, NY on February 2, 1947 to Henrietta & Levi G. Bedell. Besides his parents, Frank was predeceased by his sister Irma Scofield.

He leaves behind his best friend and wife of forty five years, Vera. He also has five children, Lisa (Jamie) Lee, Francis L. Bedell Jr., Kimberly (Mike) Williams, Jennifer Bedell and Joseph Bedell. In addition to his children he has six grandchildren Andre’, Jamie Jr., Taylor, Mikey, Micari and Milani. As well as a few cousins, nieces and nephews.

Frank was a lifetime member

of the Washington Hose Fire Department, The Kalicoontie Rod & Gun Club and the Fish & Game Club. In his early days, he loved to hunt and fish and raise some hell!

When his grandchildren came, they were the light in his life. His sense of humor and bright smile will be long remembered.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Center for Disability Services in Albany, NY. A gathering to celebrate his life will be held at the Fish & Game Club 293 Fish & Game Rd. Hudson, NY on January 18th 2020 1-5pm.

We would like to thank all of you who have been there for our family during this time, especially Sara, it is truly appreciated.

Carol A. Dimelow Carol A. Dimelow, age 69, of Port St. Lucie, Florida, formerly of Hudson, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2020.

Carol was the daughter of the late Alan and Eileen Dimelow.

She was a graduate of the Academy of St. Joseph, Brentwood, NY and Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY. For 23 years, Carol worked in the corporate trust business at several banks, eventually attaining the position of Senior Vice President at Key Trust Company in Albany. She then finished her working career at the Columbia County Department of Social Services.

Carol was a member of the Zonta Club of the Upper Hudson Valley where she once served as president. She then moved on to hold the position of Area 1 Director of District 2 of Zonta International. She was also a former member of the A.B. Shaw Fire

Auxiliary where she also once served as the president. She currently was a member of the Newcomers Club of Port St. Lucie.

Carol was predeceased by her husband and best friend David S. Sagendorph. She is survived by two stepchildren; Scott Sagendorph (Toni Holze) and their children Kaleb and Blake, and Pamela DiStefano (Peter) and their children; Joseph and Caronia, as well as her brother in law and his wife Gregg and Julie Sagendorph. She has many cousins and friends.

Private graveside services will be held at a later date in Cedar Park Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to the Columbia Greene Humane Society, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson, New York 12534.

To leave condolences for Carol’s family please visit www.batesanderson.com.

Dolores M. Host Dolores M. Host, 77, of Claverack, passed away peacefully December 30, 2019 at home surrounded by her family. She was born on October 30, 1942 in Brooklyn.

Dolores worked as a clerk on the 4th floor at Columbia Memorial Hospital for many years prior to her retirement. She always put others above herself and always had her head up and a smile on her face. Affectionately she will be remembered for her strong will, and proud Irish heritage. She enjoyed baking, quilting, basket making, and anything craft related. Visiting Amish country was something that her and her late husband enjoyed doing. She enjoyed teaching others, and sharing her knowledge and experience. Also, she was a long-

time member of the Hudson VFW Post.

Dolores is survived by her devoted son; Robert Host Jr., her adoring granddaughter Jaylyn (Christopher Smith). Her great grandson Carter. She is also survived by her four brothers; Larry, David, John and Gary Dysard.

Dolores was predeceased by her husband; Robert Host Sr. in 2015. In addition to her two sisters; Patricia Taylor, Lori Dysard and brother, Billy Dysard.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, January 11, 2020 from 1:30 to 3:30 at Bates & Anderson – Redmond & Keeler Funeral Home, 110 Green Street, Hudson.

To leave a message of condolence please visit www.batesanderson.com.

More homes were within buyers’ budget in 2019, new study says Michele Lerner The Washington Post

Affordability is a hot topic these days, with many wouldbe buyers feeling left out of the housing market because of high prices.

As home prices have climbed in recent years, wage increases have failed to keep pace. From the third quarter of 2018 to the third quarter of 2019, home prices rose 5.3%, while household incomes rose by 3.5%, according to Realtor.com. On the bright side, low mortgage rates under 4.0% have reduced interest costs and therefore monthly payments to at least partly offset high home prices.

Realtor.com’s analysis of home prices and median household incomes generates an “affordability score.” An affordability score of one or greater on the index indicates that a metro area’s housing market is generally more affordable to households across all incomes.

In the third quarter of 2019, the majority of metro areas were unaffordable. Only 18 of the nation’s largest 100 metros had a

score of one or greater and the national score of 0.84 registers as unaffordable.

The good news, though, is that a combination of low rates, higher wages and slowing price appreciation meant that in the third quarter of 2019, 81 of the nation’s 100 largest metro areas became more affordable compared to the third quarter of 2018.

Whether homes in your market are more affordable, though, depends on your budget and local market. Better affordability doesn’t mean that buyers in every price range will be able to find a more affordable house.

The top three markets where affordability improved the most between the third quarter of 2018 and the third quarter of 2019 include: 1. Allentown-Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, where the affordability score increased from 0.98 to 1.11.

2. Des Moines, where the affordability score increased from 0.90 to 1.04.

3. Atlanta, where the affordability score increased from 0.77 to 0.89.

Former Trump adviser Michael Flynn should get jail time, prosecutors say

By Andrew Harris Bloomberg News (TNS)

WASHINGTON — Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser who twice pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about his contacts with a Russian ambassador, should serve time in jail for his offense, prosecutors told a U.S. judge in Washington, D.C., withdrawing their previous recommendation for leniency.

Prosecutors told U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan in a court filing on Tuesday that they believe Flynn should receive a sentence of up to six months. The government in 2018 had recommended only probation, based on his cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, but changed its position as Flynn adopted a more confrontational approach.

Actions and comments by Flynn and his lawyer since his last sentencing hearing “negate the benefits of much of the defendant’s earlier cooperation,” prosecutors said, adding that they no longer believed he deserved credit for accepting responsibility for his actions.

“Indeed, the government has reason to believe, through representations by the defendant’s counsel,

OLIVIER DOULIERY/ABACA PRESS/TNS

Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn arrives at U.S. District Court for his sentencing hearing on Dec. 18, 2018 in Washington, D.C.

that the defendant has retreated from his acceptance of responsibility in this case regarding his lies to the FBI,” prosecutors said.

A former Army general, Flynn served just three weeks as President Donald Trump’s national security adviser before he was fired for lying about his contacts

with Sergey Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the U.S. at the time. Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 and initially agreed to cooperate.

According to prosecutors, that cooperation broke down over the last year or so. Before Flynn’s December 2018 sentencing, his attorneys implied their client

may have been tricked into pleading guilty by the agents who questioned him. Sullivan subsequently re-arraigned Flynn, who reiterated his guilt. The judge postponed his sentencing to allow him to continue cooperating with the government.

Flynn then hired a new lawyer, Sidney Powell, who is also a conservative commentator and vocal critic of the Mueller investigation.

She suggested in a court filing that prosecutors were pushing Flynn to lie as a witness in an illegal lobbying case against a former business associate in Alexandria, Va. Prosecutors ultimately decided not to call Flynn as a witness in the case, which failed to produce a conviction.

Powell went on to accuse prosecutors of withholding evidence that would clear Flynn, including classified information and the original interview notes that led to the charges against him.

Claiming prosecutorial misconduct, she asked the judge to throw out Flynn’s indictment.

Sullivan denied that request last month and rescheduled the former general’s sentencing for Jan. 28.

A final defense sentencing memorandum is due on Jan. 22.

Iran general’s wake brings deadly stampede and calls for revenge Arsalan Shahla Bloomberg

Iran said it is evaluating 13 possible ways to inflict a “historic nightmare” on the U.S. for killing a powerful Iranian general, whose burial was postponed after dozens of mourners died in a stampede.

General Qassem Soleimani’s exploits in conflicts from Syria to Yemen made him a national hero, and hundreds of thousands have turned out this week as his funeral procession stopped in various cities, first in Iraq, where he was killed in a drone strike, and later Iran.

But the masses that met the cortege ahead of his burial overwhelmed his southeastern hometown, leaving more than 50 dead and 213 injured, state TV reported.

The burial was postponed indefinitely, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency said. Some of those hurt as two large crowds merged at an intersection were in a critical condition, emergency officials said.

The tragedy unfolded after Iran served notice that it was assessing 13 scenarios for reprisal.

“Even if the weakest of these scenarios gains a consensus, its implementation can be a historic nightmare for the Americans,” Ali Shamkhani, the head of Iran’s National Security Council, was cited as saying

by Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency. “For now, for intelligence reasons, we cannot provide more information to the media.”

Iranian officials have previously said that U.S. forces in the region will be targets, and the Iranian parliament on Tuesday designated the Pentagon and affiliated companies as terrorists.

The U.S. issued a warning to shipping in the Middle East over the possibility of Iranian action against U.S. maritime interests, the Associated Press reported, citing a statement.

The menacing comments from Shamkhani, which were later denied by the security council, briefly roiled markets. But U.S.

equity futures edged higher, and stocks in Europe and Asia later jumped as investors set aside fears about escalating tensions in the Middle East.

In Brussels, the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the U.K. are holding an emergency meeting to discuss their options to try and defuse tensions.

A German lawmaker, Roderich Kiesewetter, said some German troops would temporarily be withdrawn from Iraq, and in Lebanon, the U.S. embassy tightened security in anticipation of retribution, according to a local news report.

The general directed the foreign operations of Iran’s military, and was instrumental in extending Tehran’s influence across the Middle East through a network of proxy militias. His death near Baghdad’s airport has rippled through the region, with the U.S. and its allies on alert for retaliation and questions swirling about the continued U.S. military presence in Iraq, deployed there to combat Islamic State and serve as a counterweight against Iran’s formidable influence.

U.S. National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien told Fox News on Tuesday that Soleimani was in Iraq planning attacks on “facilities” that contained American diplomats

and troops.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran’s foreign minister, said earlier in Tehran that the U.S. would suffer consequences for the killing of Soleimani “at a time and place of Iran’s choosing.” The countdown has begun for the U.S. exit from the Middle East, he said, warning of a multi-generational war should the region continue to rely on the U.S. presence.

The Pentagon dispatched additional forces to the Middle East, even as conflicting signs emerged about Washington’s commitment to remaining in Iraq.

The three-ship Bataan Amphibious Readiness Group was ordered to move to the Persian Gulf region from the Mediterranean, where it has been exercising, according to a U.S. official.

The group, which includes about 2,200 Marines and a helicopter unit, follows the deployment of about 3,500 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne to Kuwait late last week.

The show of force followed reports of a letter telling U.S. military officials in Baghdad that American personnel were repositioning in preparation to leave Iraq.

Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters Monday that a letter to that effect

”

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was a draft and should never have been sent. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, at a briefing alongside Milley, said “there is no decision to leave, nor did we issue any plans to leave or prepare to leave.”

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COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A6 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

n

Burning of the Henry Clay, Part 1

n Dorpfeld, Greene County

By David Historian

For Columbia-Greene Media n

This week I am pleased to present Part I of a two-part guest n column by Jonathan Palmer about the burning of the steamship Henry Clay and a family from Oak Hill that n perished as a result. Jonathan Palmer is the capable archivist nat the Vedder Research Library in Coxsackie and Deputy Greene County Historian. Part n appear next week.

II will

BURNING OF THE HENRY CLAY, PART I

n

By Jonathan Palmer The invention of the steam n engine was an achievement equal to breaking the sound barrier and the creation of the internet, tangible proof that the npower of the mind could be applied to cross the threshold of physical barriers once n thought absolute and insurmountable.

If the invention of the steam engine was equivalent to breaking the sound barrier, thennthe marriage of steam engines and wooden ships was something akin to the initial development of supersonic n jets — the learning curve was immense and the end results n often imperfect. For milwere lennia sailors had utilized the wind, tide and brute strength to conquer the vastness of the sea nand the power of Earth’s greatest rivers.

The steamboat subverted n this ancient and venerable tradition virtually overnight.

These vessels dispensed with sails in lieu of mechanical contrivances and relied on fire (once the sailor’s great foe) to spurn the wind which had so reliably borne humanity to unknown reaches for generations. It is no wonder so many doubted and feared the steamboat upon its introduction, and less shocking still that the fears of many would prove well founded as steamships grew in popularity and number during the Antebellum period.

The earliest days of steam transportation on the Hudson River are recorded in graveyards. From New York to Waterford, crumbling tombstones give mute testament to an industry fatally plagued by greed and hubris whose only victims were the innocent.

Expedience rather than prudence governed the operation of these vessels, resulting in a steady stream of accidents that were so frequent as to almost appear comical in retrospect.

Shipping companies competed neck-in-neck billing their steamboats as safer than others, while some deigned to tow their most prudent passengers in comfortable “safety barges” ostensibly beyond the range of the steamboat’s boilers in the likely advent of a mishap.

Undetectable manufacturing defects in machinery, poor business practices, and the fundamental design of the ships themselves were bad enough, but all this was compounded by the desire

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Notice that appeared in the Greene County Wig newspaper three days after the Henry Clay burned.

of captains to lay claim to the title of “fastest” on the river.

Steamboat races are a subject which has been dealt with in numerous articles. The grand summary is that these races were categorically a bad idea and often downright dangerous. Captains would push their machines literally to the melting point causing timbers to buckle and boilers to fail sometimes catastrophically.

This carnage was perpetuated in the name of vanity, though some legendary captains refused invitations to race in the name of their passengers’ safety. Such was not the case when Captains Isaac Smith and John Tallman agreed to a competition between the Henry Clay and Armenia on July 28, 1852.

Three days later the Greene County Whig carried a small announcement in that week’s edition: “The Bodies of Mr. and Mrs. Ray and their Daughter, who

were drowned at the burning of the Henry Clay, passed through this village yesterday, on their way to Durham, for internment. Mr. Ray was a son-in-law of S.W.D. Cook, who was saved.”

The churchyard of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Oak Hill, town of Durham, is a place out of time. Harkening to the holy grounds of New England’s old houses of worship, gravestones here creep right to the back walls of the Church edifice. The humble aspect of the building itself belies the prominence and affluence of the community it originally served; a fact enshrined in the stately marble stones of the hallowed dead and perhaps more so in the grand homes of the neighborhood around the church itself. Behind St. Paul’s lie lawyers, industrialists, financiers, gentleman farmers, and business owners who rode the crest of a transformative wave of industrialization

COURTESY OF THE GREENE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY’S VEDDER RESEARCH LIBRARY.

Gravestone of William Ray, his wife Abee Ann and their daughter Caroline in the Oak Hill Cemetery.

in the years prior to the Civil War. These people were masters of change who embraced the most exciting and new opportunities the young republic had to offer - in a sense becoming pioneers of the Nation’s industrial frontier and

harbingers of the era to come.

Part II of this column will appear next week.

Reach columnist David Dorpfeld at gchistorian@gmail.com or visit him on Facebook at “Greene County Historian.”

n

Heat your home safely this winter n

HUDSON - Winter is in full n swing, bringing with it freezing temperatures and snow.

As n New Yorkers turn on their heat this winter and curl up next to their fireplaces, the n Firemen’s Association of the State of New York (FASNY) wants to remind everyone to n some simple tips when follow preparing their homes for winter.

Space heaters and fireplaces can increase the risk of a home firenwhen used improperly.

Homeowners should check that all their heating equipment is functioning properly and double check that all their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors have fresh batteries.

“It is extremely important to heat your home safely this winter,” said FASNY President Steven Klein. “During these cold upcoming months, we respond to an increased number of fires, many caused by carelessly operated heating equipment. There are simple tips to follow that can

prevent a tragedy from occurring. For example, plugging a space heater into an extension cord can easily cause a tragic fire. Everyone should check their carbon monoxide and smoke detectors at least once a month.”

Heating is one of the leading causes of fires in the United States, and half of all home heating fires occur in December, January, and February, according to data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Local fire departments responded to an estimated average of 52,050 fires involving heating equipment each year in 2012-2016.

As of this week, New York State leads the nation in fire deaths for this year with 112 deaths.

Here are some home heating tips from FASNY and the NFPA: Keep anything that can burn at least three-feet away from heating equipment.

Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and

space heaters.

Never use your oven to heat your home.

Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.

Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.

Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.

Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel burning space heaters.

Make sure the fireplace has a sturdy screen to stop sparks from flying into the room.

Ashes should be cool before putting them in a metal container. Keep the container a safe distance away from your home.

Test smoke alarms at least once a month.

Let Us Make Your Life EZ-er...

Ice fishing clinic at Thompson’s Lake KNOX — The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (State Parks), and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) are cosponsoring a free ice fishing clinic 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Jan. 18 on Thompson’s Lake.

The event will be held at Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center in the town of Knox.

The DEC will supply most of the bait and tackle, but experienced anglers are encouraged to bring their own fishing gear.

There will be a short lesson on the basics of ice fishing and filleting your catch, and DEC staff will be on hand throughout the day to assist participants as they try their luck on the ice.

Participants can warm up and find rest rooms and refreshments at the Nature Center throughout the day.

While a DEC fishing license is not required for this event, all other statewide regulations remain in effect.

Normally, anyone age 16 or older is required to obtain a fishing license to fish or assist with fishing in fresh waters of

New York state.

Anglers are reminded that four inches of ice is usually safe for accessing ice on foot, double that thickness for traveling on white ice.

Ice thickness can vary on every body of water or even within the same body of water.

Anglers should be particularly wary of areas of moving water and around boat docks and houses where bubblers may be installed to reduce ice buildup.

The presence of snowmobile tracks or footprints on the ice should not be taken as evidence of safe ice conditions.

Individuals are strongly encouraged to check ice conditions and avoid situations that appear to present even a remote risk.

The thickness if ice can easily be tested with an auger or ice spud at various spots.

For information about this event, contact Emma Treadwell Thacher Nature Center at 518-872-0800.

(518) 828-1616 Ext 2415 For more information about State Parks programs visit www.nysparks.com.

To learn more about New York’s aquatic resources, visit

DEC’s fishing website at www. dec.ny.gov/outdoor/fishing. html.

Catskill Mountain Housing awarded New York Main Street funds CATSKILL — Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corporation has been awarded $250,000 from the New York Main Street Program to continue their program to fund repairs for Catskill Village property owners.

Recently, CMHDC awarded funds to the owners of the HiLo Café on Main Street in Catskill Village. The funds, made available through the New York State Main Street Program, went to improvements to the façade of the popular restaurant and bar.

“Projects like this one help create and enhance community spaces that make Main Streets vibrant,” said Karl Heck, Board President of Catskill Mountain Housing and the Director of Economic Development and Planning for Greene County.

Catskill Mountain Housing has awarded funds to seven Catskill Village properties, including La Conca Doro restaurant and the Bridge Street Theater. The new round of funding should provide resources for up to five additional grants.

Photo courtesy of Juan Madrid

Pictured from left are Larry Krajeski, executive director of Catskill Mountain Housing Development Corporation; Karl Heck, board president of CMHDC; Melissa Weaver and Alon Koppel, owners of 365 Main St., Catskill.

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Wednesday, January 8, 2020 A7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Should I claim Social Security at 63?

By Russell Gloor, Association of Mature American Citizens

SOCIAL SECURITY MATTERS

For Columbia-Greene Media

Dear Rusty: I’m 63 years old. What are the benefits or negatives of retiring now? How do I begin the process?

Signed: Tired of Working Dear Tired: Your first question is quite open-ended, but I can give you the basics.

Your Social Security benefit is based upon something called your “primary insurance amount” (PIA), which is the amount you would get if you claimed at your full retirement age (66 years and 4 months for you). Your PIA is based upon the highest-earning 35 years in your lifetime working career (past earnings

RUSSELL

GLOOR are adjusted for inflation).

If you claim benefits before you reach your full retirement age (FRA) your benefits will be cut by about 6.7% for each full year early, but the reduction is done according to the number of months before your FRA that you claim. If you claim at your current age, your benefit will be cut by about 22%. The

reduction will be slightly less for each month that you continue to wait, up to your FRA when you’ll get 100% of what you’ve earned from a lifetime of working. For reference, if you claim at age 64 the reduction will be about 18% and if you wait until you’re 65 the reduction will be about 9.7%.

Conversely, if you wait beyond your full retirement age your benefit amount will grow by 8% for each full year you continue to delay, up to age 70 when your benefit amount would be 30.7% more than it would be at your FRA. But whenever you claim, that is the amount you’ll get for the rest of your life (except for cost of living adjustments (COLA) which may be applied annually).

Senior Briefs We want to hear from you.

To send information to be included in Senior Briefs, email to editorial@thedailymail.net; mail to The Daily Mail, Atten: Senior Briefs, One Hudson City Centre, Suite 202, Hudson, NY 12534; fax to 518-828-3870.

For information and questions, please call 518-828-1616 ext. 2490. We would like to have information at least two weeks in advance.

ATHENS SENIOR CITIZENS ATHENS — The Athens Senior Citizens meet at 1:15 p.m. the second and fourth Monday of the month at the Rivertown Senior Center, 39 Second St., Athens.

CAIRO GOLDEN AGERS CAIRO — The Cairo Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at the Acra Community Center, Route 23, Acra.

CATSKILL SILVER LININGS SENIORS CATSKILL — The Catskill Silver Linings Seniors meet at 1 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Robert C. Antonelli Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill.

COXSACKIE AREA SENIORS COXSACKIE — The Coxsackie Area Seniors meet at 1:30 p.m. the second and fourth Wednesday of the month in Van Heest Hall, Bethany Village, 800 Bethany Village, West Coxsackie.

SENIOR CITIZENS OF COXSACKIE COXSACKIE — The Senior Citizens of Coxsackie meet at 1:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at the Coxsackie Senior Center, 127 Mansion St., Coxsackie.

GREENVILLE GOLDEN YEARS CLUB GREENVILLE — The Greenville Golden Club meet at 1:30 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at the American Legion Hall, 54 Maple Ave., Greenville.

MOUNTAIN TOP GOLDEN AGERS TANNERSVILLE — The Mountain Top Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the fourth Thursday of the month at Tannersville Village Hall, 1 Park Lane, Tannersville.

WAJPL GOLDEN AGERS HENSONVILLE — The WAJPL Golden Agers meet at 1:30 p.m. the first and third Monday of the month at Hensonville Town Building, 371 Route 296, Hensonville.

SUPPORT GROUPS COXSACKIE — A grief support group meets at 6 p.m. the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the Bethany Village in Coxsackie. While the loss of a loved one is a common source of grief other reasons include the loss of a job, the death of a beloved pet, experiencing a major health challenge such as cancer and the ending of a relationship.

Grief is a very personal and

individual emotion. Support groups provide many benefits to those who are grieving.

Those who are experiencing grief early on can connect with others in the group who have successfully managed their grief and are further along on their road to feeling happy once again. More information can be found at the face book page at Coxsackie Grief Support Group and also by contacting Jeffrey Haas at 518478-5414 or jhaasrph@aol. com.

CATSKILL — The Alzheimer’s Association holds support group meetings at 3 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month at The Pines, Jefferson Heights, Catskill.

COXSACKIE — The Alzheimer’s Association holds support group meetings at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of the month at Heermance Memorial Library, 1 Ely St., Coxsackie.

CATSKILL — The Pines at Catskill and Columbia Memorial Health will host a Stroke Survivor and Caregiver monthly support group at 3 p.m. the second Wednesday of the month at The Pines at Catskill Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation, 154 Jefferson Heights, Catskill. For information, call 518-943-5151.

The benefits or negatives to claiming now? Claiming now gives you money earlier, and if you need the money now, are in poor health and don’t expect at least average longevity, then that may be the right choice for you. But if you’re OK financially, are in good health and expect to live to at least average longevity (about 84 for a man your age), then you’ll get more in monthly and cumulative benefits by waiting until at least your full retirement age to claim benefits. By claiming now, the benefit reduction will be permanent. By waiting, the benefit increase will also be permanent.

Claiming before your full retirement age will also subject you to Social Security’s “earnings test,” which limits

JAN. 8 THROUGH JAN. 15 WEDNESDAY: Chicken piccata, orzo, asparagus, mandarin oranges.

THURSDAY: Oven barbecue pork chop, fresh salad, braised cabbage, sweet potato, apricot cobbler.

FRIDAY: Hungarian goulash, buttered noodles, California mixed vegetables, fresh fruit.

MONDAY: Chicken Dijon, rice pilaf, brussels sprouts, ice cream.

TUESDAY: Broccoli cheddar quiche, green beans, hash brown potatoes, pineapple chunks.

WEDNESDAY: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, spinach puff, birthday cupcake.

JAN. 15 THROUGH JAN. 22 WEDNESDAY: Salisbury steak with gravy, mashed potatoes, spinach puff, birthday cupcake.

THURSDAY: Linguini with white clam sauce, Italian green beans, fresh salad, fresh fruit.

FRIDAY: Roast pork with gravy, applesauce, braised cabbage, winter squash, chocolate mousse.

MONDAY: Closed.

TUESDAY: Baked chicken with gravy, mashed potatoes, carrots, tropical mixed fruit.

WEDNESDAY: Sweet and sour pork, rice, broccoli, blondie.

JAN. 22 THROUGH JAN. 30 WEDNESDAY: Sweet and sour pork, rice, broccoli, blondie.

THURSDAY: Cranberry chicken salad, fresh greens and cucumbers, potato salad, yogurt parfait.

FRIDAY: Salmon with dill sauce, cole slaw, California mixed vegetables, baked potato, lemon mousse.

MONDAY: Chili con carne, brown rice, wax beans, fruit cocktail.

TUESDAY: Cook’s choice, California mixed vegetables, chocolate mousse.

WEDNESDAY: Roast turkey with gravy, brussels sprouts, sweet potato, pears.

JAN. 30 THROUGH FEB. 5 WEDNESDAY: Roast turkey with gravy, brussels sprouts, sweet potato, pears.

THURSDAY: Meatloaf with gravy, green beans, mashed potatoes, oatmeal raisin

Social Security” online account first, but the online process is by far the easiest way to apply, considering that direct contact with SS often subjects you to long wait times (even on the phone).

This article is intended for information purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. It presents the opinions and interpretations of the AMAC Foundation’s staff, trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA). NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (amacfoundation.org/programs/socialsecurity-advisory) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org.

Hudson Valley Memoir Collective offers Come-in-From the Cold workshop series Jan. 22-Feb. 19 RED HOOK — The Hudson Valley Memoir Collective, a writing program that also includes a delicious luncheon, will run its fourth workshop series this winter season at its writing retreat on the Sawkill Creek across from Bard College. Registration is open now.

This new workshop for the first time will be open to writers of all ages and will unfold over the six weeks from Jan. 22 through Feb. 19. This workshop will be anchored around an exemplar memoir text, Tara Westover’s acclaimed “Educated.”

“It has been such joy to see the growth of our returning writers and to welcome new members with each passing month,” said Emily Sachar, Collective founder and prizewinning author. “The combination of a beautiful oasis at which to write, eager writers with fascinating stories to tell, and delicious food to enjoy is an unbeatable combination.”

Unlike many writing courses around the Hudson Valley, Collective courses are designed around a specific memoir-writing protocol designed to motivate every participant to complete an essay of 1,500 words in a six-week span. All classes conclude each week with a buffet meal

Senior Menu CATSKILL — The following is the weekly nutrition menu offered by the Greene County Department of Human Services’ Senior Nutrition Program.

Served daily with each meal are bread or alternative with Promise Spread; low fat milk, coffee or tea.

All persons 60 and older and their spouses are invited. The suggested donation for each meal is $4.

The menu will be the meal that is delivered to all Greene County home bound meal clients. Those wishing to receive lunch at a center are asked to call the respective location at least a day in advance.

Rivertown Senior Center, 39 Second St., Athens; 518-9452700.

Acra Community Center, Old Route 23B, Cairo; 518-6229898.

Jewett Municipal Building, Route 23C, Jewett; 518-2634392.

Washington Irving Senior Center, 15 Academy St., Catskill; 518-943-1343.

Town of Coxsackie Senior Center, Mansion Street, Coxsackie; 518-731-8901.

the amount of money you can earn from working before they take back some of your benefits. The earnings test goes away when you reach your FRA. If you are married, waiting longer to claim will also benefit your surviving spouse should you pass away first.

Your surviving spouse will get 100% of the benefit you were receiving at your death (if they have reached full retirement age) and the longer you wait to claim, the more that survivor benefit will be.

Whenever you decide to claim, you can do so either by contacting Social Security directly (preferably by phone) or you can apply online at www. ssa.gov/retire. You will need to create your personal “My

cookies.

FRIDAY: Eggplant Parmesan, spaghetti, fresh salad, broccoli, tiramisu.

MONDAY: Baked chicken with gravy and cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, carrot coins, butterscotch pudding.

TUESDAY: Broccoli/cheddar quiche, hash brown potatoes, tomato juice, pineapple delight.

WEDNESDAY: Pork chop with gravy, red cabbage, applesauce, scalloped potatoes, spice cake.

prepared by Chef and Cowgirl Restaurant founder Joel Gordin.

For each 120-minute class, The Collective’s memoir activities include: Warm-ups — Simple writing exercises designed to loosen the creative muscle.

Instruction — Roughly 30 to 45 minutes devoted to formal instruction and skills practice. The exemplar is used to highlight specific techniques that drive successful writing. Practice tasks focus on: drafting a narrative arc; crafting sensory description; writing dialogue; creating authentic characters; building dramatic tension; using a thesaurus; and writing similes and metaphors.

Activities also focus on developing an author’s voice.

Writing — Students spend at least 60 minutes of each meeting on the task of writing their own memoir. Students may work at a table, one of several; at a kitchen counter; on a couch; or at a desk. If the weather is fair, students may also sit beside the Sawkill Creek in a comfortable Adirondack chair.

Sharing and Feedback — Students share out their writings in a structured and supportive workshop format.

Expert Consultation

— During writing time, instructor Emily Sachar is available to meet with students for coaching and directed feedback. By request, Sachar will also copy-edit each student’s memoir.

The Collective, which held its first workshop series in the summer of 2019, was born out of a course offered at Olana in the spring of 2019.

It draws on the core ideals of the burgeoning “creative aging” movement, the practice of engaging older adults in participatory, professionally run arts programs with a focus on social engagement and skills mastery. With millions of baby boomers entering their third act of life, creative aging has grown into a full-scale movement designed to provide opportunities for meaningful creative expression through visual, literary and performing arts workshops.

The cost of the JanuaryFebruary series is $270 plus a $20 materials fee. Lunch, with wine, is included in this cost.

Registration for Collective courses is open to residents of Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Rensselaer and Ulster counties. Call Emily Sachar, 718644-5789, or visit HudsonValleyMemoir.com.

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FEB. 5 THROUGH FEB. 12 THURSDAY: Crab topped cod, green beans, baked potato with sour cream, fruited gelatin.

FRIDAY: Fettuccine Alfredo with chicken, fresh salad, broccoli, fresh fruit.

MONDAY: Sweet and sour chicken, brown rice, Monaco mixed vegetables, mandarin oranges.

TUESDAY: Meatloaf with gravy, mashed potatoes, California mixed vegetables, pears.

WEDNESDAY: Battered fish, peas, beet salad, au gratin potatoes, chocolate mousse.

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CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA • THE DAILY MAIL

A8 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Resigns From A1

chairman to make the transition into the construction phase of the jail smoother, he said.

With the project being carried out on schedule, Lawrence said he believed the timing was right for someone else to take over.

“I think there is a need for a fresh set of eyes,” he said.

“I’m burned out by the jail situation. It took a large toll on my time and concentration.”

Rights From A1

However, opponents have cited concerns that it would financially cripple farms, particularly those that are smaller

Bail From A1

pockets gets out,” he said. “But changing the system, which we started to do, is complicated and then has a number of ramifications. There’s no doubt this is still a work in progress and there are other changes that have to be made. Again, it’s literally three or four days, the Legislature comes back next year and we’re going to work on it because there are consequences that we have to adjust for.”

In addition to adjusting bail reform, Cuomo is proposing to add a domestic terrorism law, he said.

“I hate when government says, ‘we offer thoughts and prayers,’” Cuomo said.

“Thoughts and prayers. Yeah, it’s not your job. You’re government. You don’t do thoughts and prayers. You go to a priest or rabbi for thoughts and prayers.

You do something. And the state is going to be very aggressive. I want to propose at the State of the State a domestic terrorism law because these people are domestic terrorists and I want them prosecuted that way.”

There will also be an increased police presence in the affected areas, a new tip line and increased educational efforts about diversity at schools, Cuomo said.

Local officials were pleased to hear that amendments to the

Linger agreed that the past few years have been taxing.

“The last several years the jail has been consuming a lot of time,” Linger said.

Linger expects the committee will now spend a fair amount of time on issues related to bail reform, he said.

As a correctional officer, Hobart will be a good fit for the position, Lawrence said.

“He will have good insight [into] what a jail needs,” Lawrence said, describing Hobart as the perfect choice.

Linger agreed.

“He has a lengthy career in corrections,” Linger said,

adding that Hobart is no stranger to public safety.

Hobart was happy to accept, Linger said.

Lawrence, a retired chemistry and physics teacher in the Cairo-Durham Central School District, began serving as a county legislator in 1980. He took a brief hiatus to serve as Cairo town supervisor from 1986-1988, and returned to the Legislature in 1993.

In the middle of his 13th term, Lawrence has served on all of the committees throughout his years as legislator and chaired all of the

committees except for Finance, he said. He also served as legislature chairman.

“I’m a workaholic,” Lawrence said. “I tend to take on too much at times.”

Without the duties of chairman, Lawrence plans to be committed to other issues, he said.

Lawrence plans to retain his post as the Legislature’s majority leader. In this capacity, Lawrence has a vote in each committee.

“I will devote my time to other issues on other committees,” he said.

and family-owned.

The Vegetable Growers and Dairy Producers associations claimed in the lawsuit the law violates the 14th Amendment because farms will not be able to immediately comply with its regulations.

“Plaintiffs have voiced a

series of concerns regarding the Act’s extreme and potentially ruinous economic impact on their businesses (which in turn will leave thousands of agricultural workers out of work),” the lawsuit reads.

However, the main

concerns voiced in the lawsuit are over some wording in the law the plaintiffs interpret as broad. For example, the law’s definition of “farm laborer” could include farm owners, their families, supervisors and administrative employees on the farm.

“The Act’s language in this respect therefore makes compliance impossible because it flouts the reality of family relations on farms,” the complaint reads.

The bill’s Senate sponsor, Jessica Ramos, D-13, did not immediately respond to

requests for comment.

Massarah Mikati covers the New York State Legislature and immigration for Johnson Newspaper Corp. Email her at mmikati@columbiagreenemedia.com, or find her on Twitter @massarahmikati.

law may be coming.

“I’m glad he recognized that changes will be needed,” Greene County District Attorney Joseph Stanzione said.

“This should have been hashed out at hearings before the law was implemented.”

Stanzione is hopeful that changes to the law will factor in input from judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys, he said.

While Stanzione believes some reform was necessary, he described the new law as an overcorrection and “extreme.”

Judges could have received more education on the criteria to set bail, Stanzione suggested.

The new law puts the public at risk, he said.

“When setting bail, you have to take into consideration their background and if they are a threat to the community,” Stanzione said.

Greene County Sheriff Peter Kusminsky was also in favor of changes.

“I would have to agree that changes absolutely need to be made as there is certainly a public safety concern with the way it is now,” he said.

Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett said the reform has put politics ahead of safety.

“It’s sad this law was put out without input from any of the players like the judges, DAs or police,” Bartlett said.

The reform can have serious implications for the opioid crisis, Bartlett said.

Within 15 days of an arrest,

the defendant will be made aware of who notified police, Bartlett said.

“Their names will be up front and center,” he said, adding that this will discourage people from reporting.

Additionally, incarceration provides recovery services to defendants that may not otherwise be available, Bartlett said.

“I have people telling me, if you didn’t have those programs, my kid would be back on the street and they’d probably be dead right now,” he said.

Greene County Legislature Chairman Patrick Linger, RNew Baltimore, hopes amendments to the law extend beyond hate crimes.

The Legislature passed a resolution in November requesting a delay in the rollout of the new law, which included holding off reform on felony cases until 2021, Linger said.

“Victims of crimes were not taken into account at all,” Linger said. “We are seeing all across the state, they are being revictimized by people who were charged and let go.”

The county would also like to see change made to the new discovery law, which requires all evidence to be turned over to the defense within 15 days, Linger said.

“We certainly would like judges to be able to use discretion to impose bail when appropriate,” he said.

Assemblyman Chris Tague, R-102, had strong words about

the new law.

“It is absolutely sick and disturbing that a man responsible for killing a 6-week-old baby was set free from prison today,” Tague said, referring to the Anthony Ojeda case in Albany County. “That poor child had prior skull injuries. He didn’t deserve this. New York state is setting a poor example for our children.

“New York Democrats have made a mockery of our judicial system and criminals are the only people laughing,” Tague said. “The New York Democrats who are responsible for passing this reprehensible law have blood on their hands. They are making our streets less safe, they have put victims of these crimes in more danger and they are putting others at risk to become victims themselves.”

Tague urged his fellow lawmakers to reconsider the bill.

“Instead of watching a twohour Powerpoint presentation tomorrow from the man who signed this bill into law, lawmakers should be spending every minute possible repealing this dangerous bill before more people get hurt.”

In a recent My View, former Greene County public defender Greg Lubow criticized overreaction to the law and said other states have enacted similar bail laws without incident.

“In states that have already eliminated cash bail for many less serious and nonviolent felonies and misdemeanors,

there has not been a rash of new crimes committed by persons released or a significant increase in ‘failure to appear’ for court,” Lubow wrote.

Greene County Public Defender Angelo Scutarro, another supporter of bail reform, was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Assemblyman Jake Ashby, R-107, backs amendments to the law.

“The recent changes to our criminal justice system were done irresponsibly and have put New Yorkers at risk,” Ashby said.

“Providing a healthy and safe environment is one of the most critical functions of our state and as such, I am hopeful that Gov. Cuomo will join me in supporting legislation that will give discretion back to our judges and set realistic expectations for our district attorneys and law enforcement officers.”

Ashby went on to explain that although the governor’s openness to amend the law is encouraging, his action is far too late.

“It is disheartening to know that the countless hours of debate and bipartisan testimony from criminal justice experts across the state that warned of the dangers of these policies fell on deaf ears,” Ashby said. “If the governor and downstate Democrats would have respected our legislative process instead of rushing flawed legislation to the floor at 3 a.m. without the opportunity for public scrutiny,

this law would not be a ‘work in progress’ and we would have common-sense criminal justice reforms that do not risk public safety.”

State Sen. Daphne Jordan, R-43, expressed concern for public safety.

“Bail ‘reform’ isn’t a work in progress – it’s a public-safety disaster,” Jordan said. “I voted against the Democrats’ botched bail reform which didn’t consider public safety, or allow input from law enforcement. We should repeal the Democrats’ reckless bail reform law. Short of an outright repeal, the Legislature must enact commonsense fixes, including allowing judiciary discretion as to flight risk, repeat offenders and prior offenses; make sure the list of crimes are truly nonviolent; and provide real protection for victims and witnesses.”

State Sen. George Amedore Jr., R-43, agreed the law needs to be revisited.

“When the Legislature reconvenes this week, the first order of business needs to be to reexamine the reforms that were rushed through without input and make changes to ensure public safety,” Amedore said.

“Judges need the discretion to set bail for individuals who have committed dangerous crimes, and we need to ensure there are measures in place so that individuals who break the law are held accountable.”

Florida is top U-Haul destination in sign of surging migration Jonathan Levin Bloomberg

Florida topped the nation in net arrivals of U-Haul trucks in 2019, providing more evidence of the rapid migration that’s fueling economic gains there.

The Sunshine State, previously No. 2 in the ranking, overtook Texas, the leader from 2016 through 2018, according to the Phoenixbased moving-equipment company. Florida’s arrivals

rose 1% from a year earlier, while departures fell 1%.

U-Haul said its data — compiled from more than 2 million truck transactions — gauges a region’s ability to lure residents, but isn’t directly correlated with population or economic growth.

Florida, like Texas, has been booming thanks to its combination of warm weather, developing cities and lack of state income tax.

The Women’s March will hold a week of events Allegations at Catskill in D.C. ahead of its fourth annual protest barracks unfounded

By Marissa J. Lang (c) 2020,The Washington Post ·

WASHINGTON — The Women’s March is doing things differently this year.

Known for its namesake event - a march on the nation’s capital - the Women’s March in its fourth year will replace the sleekly produced demonstration with a week of smaller and more targeted events in what organizers describe as an effort to re-energize a base of activists who have in recent years grown weary of the national organization.

Beginning on Monday, the week of activities will include a story slam, brunch with drag queens, and organizing sessions focused on three of the organization’s cornerstone issues: reproductive rights, immigration and climate change.

The week-long series is the latest in a cascade of changes the national group has undergone since September, when the organization’s three inaugural - and controversial - board members were replaced by a diverse cast of 16 women amid allegations of anti-Semitism, infighting and ineffective leadership.

The shake-up comes at a critical time for the organization. With the 2020 presidential election approaching, experts have said the organization can no longer afford the distractions and controversies that have muddled its message and loomed over its every move.

Photo for The Washington Post by Evelyn Hockstein

The Women’s March on Washington on Jan. 19, 2019.

By refocusing on grass-roots activism and supporting local leaders, the new board is responding to long-standing criticism that the organization had become too self-involved, while ignoring the national network of activists it has inspired.

“We can’t just be in crisis response mode,” said Isa Noyola, co-president of the Women’s March. “Yes, the world is on fire.

Yes, we have an administration that is constantly attacking us . . . and that’s all scary. But we also have to kind of ground ourselves in this moment and figure out how to make connections and grow in a way that is sustainable for the bigger fight.”

There will still be a march, however.

On Jan. 18, protesters will gather at Freedom Plaza in downtown Washington to walk a well-worn path to the White

House.

Unlike previous Women’s March events, this year’s protest will not feature the pomp of boldfaced names addressing the crowd and musical guests performing on a stage.

In fact, there won’t be a stage at all.

Instead, the group’s 16 board members will march alongside protesters carrying signs and banners. Once at the White House, a group of Chilean activists will lead participants in a song - “Un violador en tu camino” (“A Rapist in Your Path”) - popularized by feminist protest movements worldwide and meant to denounce genderbased violence.

The anthem, typically sung by a group of women wearing blindfolds and dancing to an electric beat, has been performed by groups of

female protesters in countries including France, India, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and Venezuela.

“Women’s March began as a single day mobilization and a collective demand for a better future for women,” Rachel O’Leary Carmona, the chief operating officer of the Women’s March, said in a statement.

“Collective liberation cannot be won by individual tactics; we can only win together.”

Board members, many of whom have led nonprofit and activist organizations before joining the Women’s March board last year, said the group has for months been brainstorming ways to refocus the organization - and its signature annual event - on participants and the issues they care about.

Last year, the organization conducted a poll asking longtime Women’s March participants what their main concerns were going into 2020. Reproductive rights, immigration and climate change rose to the top.

Organizers expect about 10,000 people to attend the Jan. 18 march, according to a permit application filed with the National Park Service.

Last year, the third annual Women’s March drew far fewer participants than in previous years - a fact that observers attributed to a number of controversies that consumed the organization for months leading up to the event.

By Sarah Trafton Columbia-Greene Media

CATSKILL — An investigation into charges of misconduct at the state police barracks in Catskill that became a flashpoint in the election campaign for Greene County sheriff revealed that the allegations are unfounded, state police officials said Tuesday.

State Police Director of Public Information Beau Duffy said in a statement that the Internal Affairs Division investigated an anonymous complaint in 2018 regarding an alleged theft of evidence that occurred in 2010.

In early 2019, additional information about the allegation was referred to state police by the state Attorney General’s Office and was investigated.

“The investigation has closed and the allegations were not substantiated,” Duffy said Tuesday.

No disciplinary action is being taken against the informant, Duffy said.

The investigation was a point of contention between sheriff candidates Peter Kusminsky and Diana Benoit, although Kusminsky did not start at the Catskill barracks

until 2013.

“Someone on the opposition has made false allegations and I do have faith in the system,” Kusminsky said in October. “I know this has been investigated. I believe that those who made false allegations will be held accountable for their actions.”

In her letter to Republican voters in June, Benoit referenced the investigation at the barracks.

The information regarding the theft of evidence from the barracks came from a Bureau of Criminal Investigations investigator who worked with Kusminsky, Benoit wrote.

“The person being investigated for the thefts is someone who Kusminsky supervised,” she wrote. “I know you are being told that this all occurred 10 years ago — way before Kusminsky was in charge of the Catskill BCI. That is false. The most recent allegation of theft happened as late as 2018. The allegation is that he knew that it was happening and condoned it and did not report it.”

Check back for more information on this developing story.

CMYK

Sports

Giants hire Judge

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Giants name Joe Judge as head coach. Sports, B6

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IN A CLASS BY HERSELF

Hudson, Maple Hill girls earn Patroon victories MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

A strong defensive effort by Hudson limited Greenville to 27 points in Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game.

Columbia-Greene Media

HUDSON —The Lady Bluehawks hosted the Lady Spartans on Monday night, and came away with a 69-27 Patroon Conference girls basketball victory.

Hudson (5-0 Patroon) had three players in double figures. Deja Beauford led the way with 16 points and Katie Jepsen and Danielle McDonald each scored 11. Greenville’s top scorer, Natalie Krasney, had 15 points.

It was a rough night for the Lady Spartans, as Hudson jumped out to a 10-0 lead, forcing a timeout by Greenville not two minutes in.

After adjusting, Greenville managed to score a few buckets, slow down the Lady Bluehawks for the time being, and were only down 14-6 when the first period ended.

Hudson slowed down their attack and tightened up their handling in the second quarter. The Bluehawks knocked down an open threepointer as the buzzer sounded for halfMATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA time, and were now comfortHudson’s Deja Beauford (23) had a game-high 16 points in ably ahead, 35-14.

Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against At the start of each period, Greenville.

Hudson seemed to have a burst of energy and scored the Bluehawks came out of the and scored a fast seven points. quickly and easily. The third quarter was no different when locker room after the break As the game wore on,

Greenville became more and more susceptible to giving up open shots on defense, and Hudson’s defense kept the pressure on by causing turnovers that led to easy baskets.

At the start of the fourth period the Lady Bluehawks were up by 40, thanks to Greenville scoring only two points in the third quarter.

Hudson pulled back on their intensity as the game neared it’s end, but would not pass up the open shots Greenville was still giving them consistently.

When the clock reached zero, the final tally gave Hudson the victory.

Coming up on Wednesday, both teams will be heading north, with Hudson playing at Rensselaer and Greenville playing at Albany-Leadership.

GREENVILLE (27): Duncan 3-0-6, Krasney 4-7-15, Naze 0-0-0, Rauf 1-2-4, Silk 1-0-2.

Totals 9-9-27.

HUDSON (69): Alert 1-14, Beauford 8-0-16, Coppersmith 3-0-6, K. Jepsen 3-5-11, A. Jepsen 2-0-6, Johnson 3-06, Jones 2-0-5, Krager 1-0-2, McDonald 4-1-11, Oliver-Ragland 1-0-2. Totals 28-7-69.

3-pointers: McDonald 2, A. See HUDSON B3

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Coxsackie-Athens’ Schyler Caringi (middle) posted a 5-0 record at the first NYSPHSAA Sanctioned All Girls Tournament in Section V, winning the 132-pound championship. The tournament was held at Newark High School, located between Syracuse and Rochester. She competed against a fellow Fargo NYS Team member, securing a 2-1 victory.

ADAM GLANZMAN/GETTY IMAGES

Tom Brady talks to head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots before a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 24 in Foxborough, Mass.

Has the era of Brady & Belichick ended?

Mark Bradley The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

We forget this now, but the Patriots of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady went a decade between Super Bowl wins. They lost twice to the

Giants in excruciating fashion, though the agony was limited to New England. Everybody else was delighted.

On the way to becoming the See BRADY B3

Marcus Morris decision will be a defining moment for this Knicks season Stefan Bondy New York Daily News

LOS ANGELES — The decision to trade by the Feb. 6 deadline — or not to trade — Marcus Morris will be a defining moment of this Knicks season.

That sounds extreme but this is lining up on opposite ends of the spectrum. On one side, dealing Morris provides the front office an asset (or two) for the future. Logically, it makes tremendous sense. The Knicks aren’t going anywhere this season and Morris, 30, will be a free agent in the summer. League executives and scouts believe Morris can retrieve either a first-round pick, two second rounders or a young prospect. Maybe a combination of two of those.

Again, it makes a lot of sense.

However ...

This front office has spent the last two-plus years preaching the importance of being competitive. They gave up very quickly on last season and tanked, becoming the worst team in the NBA and creating an aura of ick. Superstar free agents took notice and avoided the Knicks.

It led to the inevitable conclusion: winning matters.

Dealing Morris, who has been the Knicks’ best player this season and leading scorer at 19.1 points per game, risks pushing the bottom to fall out. The Knicks (10-26) most definitely stink, but they’re trending in the right direction and shedding Morris could mean the difference between being the NBA’s worst again or showing progress with 25-to-30 wins.

Morris has already pledged himself to the

JAYNE KAMIN-ONCEA/USA TODAY

Los Angeles Clippers forward Paul George (13) defends a shot by New York Knicks forward Marcus Morris Sr. (13) in their recent game at Staples Center.

Knicks — a move that shouldn’t be taken for granted these days — and reiterated that again publicly after scoring a career-high 38 points

Sunday against the Clippers. Trading him will cast the Knicks as disloyal to their best and most dedicated players. Perception matters.

The Knicks would much rather deal forward Bobby Portis, but Morris is, by far, the team’s most valuable expiring contract.

“I love our team. I love our future. I just want to be a part of helping these young guys grow into the great players they’re going to be,” Morris said. “That was the reason why I made the decision to come here, going back on the decisions I made, along with a lot of other things.

I’m here and I enjoy this organization, I enjoy the players they got here and I want to be here longterm.”

The Knicks essentially stumbled on the Morris signing, and it turned into their best move of the summer. Originally, team president Steve Mills had used up all his cap space and Morris agreed to sign with the Spurs. But then Reggie Bullock’s physical uncovered a neck/back ailment, and his contract was restructured to give the Knicks an opportunity to sign Morris for one year, $15 million.

The Knicks provided Morris a chance to be a No. 1 option, a role he never enjoyed in his eight previous NBA seasons. His 3-point shooting (47%) has been elite. When Morris hasn’t played due to injury, the Knicks are 0-3 with a 44-point loss to the Bucks and an embarrassing home defeat to the depleted Wizards.

“The NBA is about opportunities. Being able to go out there and show what I can do,” Morris said. “It took me a longer time to get on a team where this was needed. I feel like every team I’ve been on I’ve always played my role to the best of my ability.”

Of course, there are offers the Knicks simply See KNICKS B3

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B2 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Pro hockey

NBA roundup: Fultz hits career-high as Magic top Nets

NHL Eastern Conference Atlantic Division GP W L OT SO Pts Boston 43 24 8 5 6 59 Toronto 44 24 15 3 2 53 Tampa Bay 41 24 13 4 0 52 Florida 42 22 15 2 3 49 Buffalo 43 19 17 6 1 45 Montreal 43 18 18 6 1 43 Ottawa 42 16 21 3 2 37 Detroit 43 10 30 2 1 23 Metropolitan Division GP W L OT SO Pts Washington 43 29 9 3 2 63 NY Islanders 41 26 12 2 1 55 Pittsburgh 42 25 12 5 0 55 Carolina 42 24 16 2 0 50 Philadelphia 42 22 15 0 5 49 Columbus 42 19 15 6 2 46 NY Rangers 41 19 18 2 2 42 New Jersey 41 15 20 2 4 36 Western Conference Central Division GP W L OT SO Pts St. Louis 43 26 10 4 3 59 Colorado 43 25 14 3 1 54 Dallas 42 24 14 2 2 52 Winnipeg 43 23 16 3 1 50 Minnesota 43 20 17 4 2 46 Nashville 41 19 15 4 3 45 Chicago 43 19 18 2 4 44 Pacific Division GP W L OT SO Pts Vegas 45 24 15 6 0 54 Arizona 44 24 16 2 2 52 Edmonton 45 23 17 4 1 51 Vancouver 42 23 15 3 1 50 Calgary 44 22 17 5 0 49 San Jose 44 19 21 3 1 42 Anaheim 42 17 20 4 1 39 Los Angeles 43 17 22 3 1 38 Saturday’s games Edmonton 4, Boston 1 San Jose 3, Columbus 2 Buffalo 3, Florida 2 Minnesota 3, Winnipeg 2, OT Vegas 5, St. Louis 4, OT Toronto 3, NY Islanders 0 Pittsburgh 3, Montreal 2, OT Tampa Bay 5, Ottawa 3 Colorado 5, New Jersey 2 Arizona 6, Philadelphia 2 Vancouver 2, NY Rangers 1 Nashville 4, Los Angeles 1 Sunday’s games Washington 5, San Jose 4, OT Florida 4, Pittsburgh 1 Tampa Bay 3, Carolina 1 Calgary 5, Minnesota 4, SO Chicago 4, Detroit 2 Anaheim 5, Nashville 4, SO Monday’s games Edmonton 6, Toronto 4 Winnipeg 3, Montreal 2 NY Islanders 1, Colorado 0 Columbus at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Tuesday’s games Vancouver at Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

Arizona at Florida, 7 p.m.

NY Islanders at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Washington, 7 p.m.

Philadelphia at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Colorado at NY Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Montreal at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at St. Louis, 8 p.m.

Boston at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Calgary at Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Vegas, 10 p.m.

GF GA 140 111 159 141 147 125 151 141 127 135 136 139 117 143 92 165 GF GA 155 129 116 105 142 113 140 119 133 129 109 116 133 138 106 144 GF GA 135 119 156 125 115 104 133 131 133 144 142 137 127 141 GF GA 144 133 128 112 137 142 141 125 123 134 119 148 110 132 110 136

Columbus at Anaheim, 10 p.m.

Transactions BASEBALL American League Los Angeles Angels - Acquired RHP Kyle Keller from the Miami Marlins for C Jose Estrada. Designated RHP Jake Jewell for assignment.

National League Philadelphia Phillies - Named Bobby Meacham coaching assistant. Named Greg Brodzinski catching coach and bullpen catcher.

FOOTBALL National Football League Buffalo Bills - Signed TE Nate Becker, LB Tyrel Dodson, WR Nick Easley, DB Cam Lewis, WR RayRay McCloud III, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, T Victor Salako, RB Christian Wade, QB Davis Webb, and DE Jonathan Woodard to a Reserve/Future contract.

Carolina Panthers - Signed DE Efe Obada to a one-year contract extension.

Chicago Bears - Signed TE Darion Clark to a Reserve/Future contract.

Cincinnati Bengals - Signed LS Dan Godsil to a Reserve/Future contract.

Green Bay Packers - Signed WR Reggie Begelton and RB Elijah Wellman to a Reserve/Future contract.

Houston Texans - Added LB Davin Bellamy to the practice squad.

Kansas City Chiefs - Announced DB Ron Parker has retired.

Los Angeles Rams - Announced the organization has parted ways with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. Announced the organization has parted ways with running backs coach Skip Peete.

Miami Dolphins - Signed QB Jake Rudock to a Reserve/Future contract.

Minnesota Vikings - Signed DB Marcus Sayles to a Reserve/Future contract.

New England Patriots - Signed WR Quincy Adeboyejo, LB Terez Hall, DB Obi Melifonwu, DB Adarius Pickett, WR Devin Ross, DE Nick Thurman, and G Najee Toran to a Reserve/Future contract.

New Orleans Saints - Signed WR Emmanuel Butler, DT Jalen Dalton, LB Andrew Dowell, DB Chris Johnson, T Derrick Kelly, DE Mitchell Loewen, RB Taquan Mizzell, WR Tim White, and TE Cole Wick to a Reserve/Future contract.

Oakland Raiders - Signed DB Dylan Mabin to a Reserve/Future contract.

Philadelphia Eagles - Signed WR River Cracraft, TE Alex Ellis, WR Marcus Green, DT Albert Huggins, QB Kyle Lauletta, WR Marken Michel, C Keegan Render, and DB Tremon Smith to a Reserve/Future contract.

Washington Redskins - Named Ryan Vermillion athletic trainer.

NCAA Football Alabama - Announced QB Tua Tagovailoa and WR Henry Ruggs III will enter the NFL draft.

Arizona - Named Stan Eggen defensive line coach.

Arkansas - Named Derrick LeBlanc defensive line coach.

Arkansas - Named Jimmy Smith running backs coach.

Arkansas - Named Jon Cooper tight ends coach.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association Atlanta Hawks - Signed SG Paul Watson to a 10day contract.

Brooklyn Nets - Signed SG Justin Anderson to a 10-day contract.

Charlotte Hornets - Recalled SF Caleb Martin and PF Jalen McDaniels from Greensboro (NBAGL).

Cleveland Cavaliers - Signed SG Levi Randolph to a two-way contract. Waived SF Tyler Cook and SF Alfonzo McKinnie.

Denver Nuggets - Recalled SG PJ Dozier from Windy City (NBAGL).

Houston Rockets - Recalled PG Chris Clemons from Rio Grande Valley (NBAGL).

Indiana Pacers - Assigned SG Victor Oladipo to Fort Wayne (NBAGL), recalled him from Fort Wayne (NBAGL).

Phoenix Suns - Recalled PG Jalen Lecque from Northern Arizona (NBAGL).

Washington Wizards - Assigned C Thomas Bryant to Capital City (NBAGL), recalled him from Capital City (NBAGL). Assigned PF Davis Bertans to Capital City (NBAGL), recalled him from Capital City (NBAGL). Assigned to Capital City (NBAGL). Recalled SG Admiral Schofield from Capital City (NBAGL). Waived PF Johnathan Williams.

College basketball MEN’S AP TOP 25 POLL 1. Gonzaga (16-1) 2. Duke (13-1) 3. Kansas (11-2) 4. Baylor (11-1) 5. Auburn (13-0) 6. Butler (14-1) 7. San Diego State (15-0) 8. Michigan State (12-3) 9. Oregon (12-3) 10. Florida State (13-2) 11. Ohio State (11-3) 12. Maryland (12-2) 13. Louisville (11-3) 14. Kentucky (10-3) 15. Dayton (13-2) 16. Villanova (10-3) 17. West Virginia (11-2) 18. Virginia (11-2) 19. Michigan (10-4) 20. Penn State (12-2) 21. Memphis (12-2) 22. Texas Tech (10-3) 23. Wichita State (13-1) 24. Arizona (11-3) 25. Colorado (12-3)

Field Level Media

Markelle Fultz scored 12 of his career-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, and Orlando made all the plays down the stretch to beat visiting Brooklyn, 101, 89, on Monday night..

Reserve D.J. Augustin added 16 points for the Magic, who outscored the Nets by a 26-18 margin in the fourth quarter. Wes Iwundu contributed 12, while Nikola Vucevic went scoreless until midway through the third quarter but finished with 11 points and 24 rebounds.

Spencer Dinwiddie and Joe Harris scored 16 points apiece to lead the Nets, who continued to struggle in fourth quarters. After getting outscored 38-22 in the final 12 minutes of Saturday’s loss to Toronto, the Nets shot 7 of 23 in the fourth.

Spurs 126, Bucks 104 DeMar DeRozan scored 25 KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY points, and Patty Mills had 21 Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz (20) shoots around Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Harris (12) during off the bench as the San Anto- Monday’s game at Amway Center. nio Spurs routed the visiting Milwaukee Bucks to snap a points, 11 rebounds and 10 as- against Memphis on Dec. 28. Paul and Danilo Gallinari had two-game losing streak. sists to boost Dallas to a victory Jokic also had eight rebounds 18 points each for the Thunder, The Spurs led by 10 points against visiting Chicago. and five assists. who had their five-game winafter three quarters and ran Doncic scored a career-high Barton went 12-for-20 ning streak broken. their advantage to 16 points 21 points in the third quarter, from the field, including three Jazz 128, Pelicans 126 early in the final period. Mil- capping the flurry with a deep 3-pointers, to eclipse his seaBojan Bogdanovic scored waukee closed to within 100- 3-pointer. Dwight Powell (16 son-best 26 against Philadel- 35 points, and visiting Utah 89 with 8:12 to play but never points), Tim Hardaway Jr. (15) phia on Dec. 10. He also added knocked off New Orleans to made a serious run down the and Dorian Finney-Smith (11) nine rebounds and five assists. win its sixth straight game. stretch. also finished in double figures Jokic and Barton combined to The Jazz held the Pelicans LaMarcus Aldridge and Ru- for the Mavericks. scoreless for the final 1:27. Rugo 7 of 14 from 3-point range. dy Gay scored 17 points each Lauri Markkanen scored 26 Philadelphia 76ers 120 - dy Gobert, who finished with for the Spurs, with Dejounte points to lead six Bulls in dou- Oklahoma City Thunder 113 19 rebounds, disrupted BranMurray scoring 13 points and ble figures. Tomas Satoransky Josh Richardson scored 23 don Ingram’s attempted tying Trey Lyles pulling down 12 (11 points, 14 assists) notched points, and Ben Simmons add- layup with one second left. Joe rebounds. San Antonio set its a double-double for Chicago, ed 17 points, 15 rebounds and Ingles finished with 22 points, season high with 19 3-pointers which has lost four straight and eight assists as host Philadel- and Donovan Mitchell scored (on 35 attempts) in the win. five of six to fall a season-worst phia held off Oklahoma City.

19 for the Jazz, including the The loss snapped a five- 11 games below .500.

Tobias Harris scored 18 winning bucket with 1:12 to game winning streak for MilNuggets 123, Hawks 115 points, and Joel Embiid had play. waukee, which had not lost by Nikola Jokic scored a career- 18 points, nine rebounds and Ingram had 35 to lead the more than 12 points all season. high 47 points, and Will Barton a season-high eight assists for Pelicans, who played without Giannis Antetokounmpo led added a season-high 28 to help the Sixers, who improved to second-leading scorer Jrue the Bucks with 24 points, 12 visiting Denver outlast Atlanta. 17-2 at home and also snapped Holiday, who has a left elbow rebounds and eight assists but Jokic was 16-for-25 from the a four-game losing streak. Al contusion. JJ Redick added 23, missed all five of his 3-point at- field, with four of the made bas- Horford scored 13 points.

Lonzo Ball had 21 and E’Twaun Steven Adams led the Moore came off the bench to kets 3-pointers, and surpassed tempts. his career previous high of 41 Thunder with a season-best score 13.

Mavericks 118, Bulls 110 Pacers 115, Hornets 104 Luka Doncic registered a set against the Brooklyn Nets 24 points to go along with 15 T.J. Warren helped ignite a triple-double for the second in 2017. His best previous out- rebounds, while Dennis Schstraight game, contributing 38 put this season was 31 points roder added 21 points. Chris big third quarter and finished

with 36 points as Indiana won at Charlotte for only its second victory in the last six games.

Warren, a forward playing in his home state, posted 13 points in Indiana’s 37-point third quarter, the most points in a quarter this season for the Pacers. Warren finished 15for-24 from the field and 6-for6 on free throws.

Domantas Sabonis racked up 18 points and 12 rebounds, Myles Turner had 15 points and Jeremy Lamb added 11 points for the Pacers.

Wizards 99, Celtics 94 Ish Smith scored 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter, and Washington beat visiting Boston.

Jordan McRae added 19 points for the Wizards, and Isaiah Thomas scored 17 against his former team. The undermanned Wizards won their second straight game and have posted home wins against the Miami Heat, Denver Nuggets and Celtics in an eight-day span.

Jaylen Brown had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Celtics, who never led. Jayson Tatum had 17 points, and Gordon Hayward finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Kings 111, Warriors 98 Trevor Ariza contributed 3-pointers to second- and third-quarter runs that allowed host Sacramento to pull away from Golden State for a blowout, in a game that saw the ejection of Warriors coach Steve Kerr.

Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox led five players, including two reserves, in double figures with 21 points apiece as the Kings made quick work of their opponent on the opening night of a back-to-back. Sacramento visits Phoenix on Tuesday.

The Warriors, who rested Draymond Green and had D’Angelo Russell out for the fourth straight game, trailed by as many as 31 before dropping their fifth straight.

No. 6 Butler achieves its highest ranking in AP poll Field Level Media

JOHN E. SOKOLOWSKI/USA TODAY

Edmonton Oilers forward Connor McDavid (97) controls the puck against the Toronto Maple Leafs during Monday’s game at Scotiabank Arena.

NHL roundup: McDavid nets 4 points, Oilers snap Leafs’ streak Field Level Media

Connor McDavid had a dazzling goal and three assists, and the visiting Edmonton Oilers snapped the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 10-game point streak with a 6-4 win on Monday night.

McDavid’s goal put the game away at 11:26 of the third. He entered the zone one-on-one with defenseman Morgan Rielly looking as if he intended to pass, then sharply juked left, scooted

by Rielly and finished in the top left corner.

Alex Chiasson and Leon Draisaitl each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, who have won consecutive games. Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse and Kailer Yamamoto also scored. Mike Smith made 32 saves in the Edmonton goal.

Pierre Engvall had a goal and an assist for the Maple Leafs. Jason Spezza, Frederik Gauthier and Auston Matthews also had goals. Kasperi Kapanen added two assists. Toronto had been riding a 9-0-1 stretch.

Islanders 1, Avalanche 0 Semyon Varlamov stopped all 32 shots he faced in his first career appearance against the team with whom he spent the previous eight seasons, as New York beat visiting Colorado in Uniondale, N.Y. Anders Lee scored the game’s only goal 6:54 into the third period, as the Islanders ended a two-game losing streak. The Avalanche had their two-game winning streak snapped.

The shutout was the second of the season and the 27th of his career for Varlamov. The Avalanche were the only team Varlamov had never opposed prior to Monday night.

Jets 3, Canadiens 2 Nikolaj Ehlers notched a goal and an assist to lead visiting Winnipeg past Montreal in Ilya Kovulchuk’s debut for the Habs.

Josh Morrissey and Andrew Copp also scored, and Blake Wheeler assisted twice for the Jets, who broke a two-game losing streak and won for only the

third time in 10 games (3-5-2).

Ben Chiarot tallied two goals to reach a career-high seven in his first multi-goal game, and Tomas Tatar contributed two assists for Montreal, which lost its sixth straight (0-5-1). Kovalchuk, signed by the Canadiens last week, had an assist and four shots on goal in 19:25 of ice time.

Blue Jackets 4, Kings 2 Nathan Gerbe and Scott Harrington scored goals less than three minutes apart in the second period as Columbus rallied for a victory at Los Angeles.

Kevin Stenlund and Gustav Nyquist added third-period goals, while goalie Elvis Merzlikins had 35 saves as the Blue Jackets earned the victory one game after their 12-game points streak came to an end.

Alex Iafallo and Trevor Lewis scored goals, while Sean Walker added a pair of assists for the Kings, who have lost consecutive games and fell for the sixth time in their last eight contests (2-51).

The top three teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll remained unchanged Monday, while Butler moved up to its highest ranking ever at No. 6.

Gonzaga (16-1) is No. 1 for the third consecutive week, receiving 54 of 65 first-place votes from a media panel after earning 63 first-place nods last week. Duke (13-1) is No. 2 with nine firstplace votes, and thirdranked Kansas (11-2) was at the top spot on two ballots.

No. 4 Baylor (11-1) climbed two spots, while 13-0 Auburn – one of two unbeaten teams – is fifth.

Butler (14-1) moved up five spots from last week after winning at St. John’s and beating Creighton. The Bulldogs’ only loss was a one-point defeat at Baylor. Their other victories include Minnesota, Florida,

Purdue, Missouri and Stanford.

Butler’s highest ranking had been No. 8 back in February of 2008.

The nation’s other unbeaten team, San Diego State (15-0), jumped six places and sits seventh.

Michigan State (12-3) is eighth, with Oregon (123) and Florida State (132) rounding out the top 10.

Memphis took the biggest tumble within the poll, falling from ninth to 21st after a 65-62 home loss to Georgia on Saturday.

Only one team dropped out of the Top 25, that being Iowa, which was No. 23 when it lost 89-86 on Saturday to Penn State in Philadelphia. The Hawkeyes are first among “others receiving votes,” while Colorado – which upset visiting Oregon but lost Sunday night at home to Oregon State, rejoined the poll at No. 25.

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Hudson’s Katie Jepsen brings the ball up the floor during Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against Greenville.

MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Hudson’s Katie Jepsen shoots a free throw during Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against Greenville.

MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Greenville’s Emily Duncan brings the ball up the floor during Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against Hudson.

Ichabod Crane 3, Greenville 0 VALATIE — New year, same results. The Ichabod Crane

boys volleyball team remained unbeaten with a 3-0 victory over Greenville in Monday’s Patroon Conference action.

The Riders (6-0) won by scores of 25-8, 25-10 and 2522.

For Ichabod Crane, Harrison Puckett had 5 assists and 3 kills; Trevor Wolfe 14 assists and 4 kills; Dean Warner 6 kills and 1 block; Jim Konderwich 5 kills; Jake Siter 5 kills and 1 ace; Jared Cook 5 aces; Paul Zietsman 3 aces; Logan Groat 1 kill; Ryan Tricozzi 1 kill.

The Riders host Catskill on Wednesday.

Coxsackie-Athens 3, Taconic Hills 2 COXSACKIE — CoxsackieAthens edged Taconic Hills, 3-2, in Monday’s Patroon Conference volleyball match.

For the Titans, Adonias Mercado had 12 digs, 4 kills and 3 aces; Kris Gardella 10 digs, 4 assists and 4 aces; Ryan Wilson 3 kills, 2 digs and 2 aces and Isaac Langer 6 digs and 2 aces.

Hudson From B1

Jepsen 2, Jones, Alert.

Maple Hill 55, Chatham 37 CASTLETON — Natasha Strock scored 16 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead Maple Hill to a 55-37 victory over Chatham in Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game.

Sophia Chevrier had 10 points and five rebounds for the Wildcats (5-0 Patroon).

Hannah Brewer contributed four rebounds.

Maple Hill hosts Cairo-Durham and Chatham entertains Taconic Hills on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Hudson’s Aaliyah Jones looks over at the bench as she walks the ball up the floor during Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against Greenville.

VOLLEYBALL PATROON MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

MATT FORTUNATO/COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Greenville coach Steve Gipprich talks with his team during a timeout in Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game against Hudson.

Knicks From B1

can’t — and shouldn’t – refuse. Any team willing to shell out assets has to view Morris as a means toward title contention, and he’s already being linked to both L.A. teams (Clippers and Lakers). The Clippers, who tried to sign Morris in the summer, could offer their 2020 first-round pick. It should fall in the 20s of the draft. The Lakers don’t have anymore first-round picks to offer but have reportedly placed intriguing guard

Brady From B1

greatest NFL team ever, the Patriots became the most despised NFL team ever.

Belichick was too smug, Brady too pretty. Plus, there was the widespread belief — buttressed by NFL fines/ suspensions — that they were cheaters. (Heck, they’re facing another league sanction for improper taping as we speak.)

They were the guys we loved to hate, and in the immediate wake of Deflate Gate it seemed the Pats, to our glee, were about to lose another Super Bowl and recede into the mire of mediocrity.

They trailed Seattle 24-10 after three quarters on Feb. 1, 2015. At that moment, no team had overridden a double-digit second-half deficit in a Super Bowl. The Seahawks entered as defending champ. For the first time since Belichick and Brady sprang their upset of the Rams in February 2002 to get this dynastic thing started, the Patriots were Super underdogs. They were outplayed for three quarters. Then, with a giddy nation basking in schadenfreude, those rascals

Hudson’s Deja Beauford (23) blocks the shot of a Greenville player during Monday’s Patroon Conference girls basketball game.

prospect Kyle Kuzma on the block.

The Heat, under Pat Riley, are always in a win-now state of mind but are assetstrapped. It can offer a distant first-round pick and/or Justise Winslow. Other teams that could sell themselves on dealing for Morris: the Nuggets (who have a lot of assets), Bucks, Rockets and Sixers.

Still, the Knicks also have to consider that Morris is valuable to them.

“Each game he provides so many things. And I’m not even talking about what you see in the box score,” interim coach Mike Miller said. “He’s had an astounding year. Every day

we come out and keep talking about all the great things he’s doing, he just keeps doing better. He just keeps raising it to another level.”

Regarding the reference to Steve Mills in his book, Derrick Rose would’ve preferred it hadn’t come off as so insulting.

“I haven’t talked to him since then,” Rose said Sunday. “But I didn’t mean for it to come out that way. It’s just that whatever I said, (autobiographer) Sam Smith, I gave him an opportunity to pull whatever he wanted out of our conversation and put it in the book. So we both had that dialogue about how I gave him

the freedom to do that. If it was up to me, it was water under the bridge.”

In that autobiography released in June, “I’ll Show You,” Rose painted Mills as disingenuous about himself and their relationship during his season with the Knicks. Mills took over for Phil Jackson just before Rose hit free agency and decided against re-signing the point guard.

Rose wanted to return but never heard from Mills.

“No communication,” Rose said in the book. “I thought, ‘I just gave y’all 18 a game. At the point guard position. And you go draft a point guard (Frank Ntilikina)? Steve Mills is

talking all this black stuff with me, like we’re brothers and all this. He’s saying that s — -, making me think it’s going to make us closer. Come on, be yourself.”

Rose didn’t quite backtrack Sunday but also didn’t want to blame Mills.

“If anything, I’m going to man up to everything. I left. So whatever decision he made, I had to live with it. That’s how I feel,” the former MVP said. “So I’m a man about it. I’m never going to run or use anybody for an excuse. I left and they decided to go in another direction.”

LeBron James has been a big proponent of David Fizdale,

with a relationship forged in Miami between superstar and assistant coach.

On Sunday, James commented for the first time on the Knicks’ decision to fire his friend last month.

“I didn’t really have too much of a reaction,” James said. “I think the conversation was talked about for quite a while. But I know Coach Fiz is a great coach, great communicator, he tries to motivate his players. But I haven’t had an opportunity to talk to him since it happened but I wish him the best and that’s all that matters.”

up and won.

If Seattle — in its final game with Dan Quinn as defensive coordinator — holds that lead, would the Patriots, who would then have gone 10 years without winning it all, have done something different? Might they have begun the phasingout of Brady, who’d turn 38 before the next season commenced, with an eye toward promoting then-heir apparent Jimmy Garoppolo?

We’ll never know. Brady drove the Pats to two touchdowns against DQ’s defense, studded with future Hall of Famers. The go-ahead score was caught by Julian Edelman, who might well have been playing with a concussion, with 2:02 remaining.

Russell Wilson threw long for Jermaine Kearse. The ball was deflected by cornerback Malcolm Butler. Kearse tipped the ball to himself. That improbable grab recalled David Tyree’s helmet catch and Mario Manningham’s sideline snag, jaw-dropping receptions that undid the Patriots twice against the Giants on this stage. Soon the Seahawks faced second-and-goal at the 1 to win the Super Bowl. They might have handed the ball the irresistible Marshawn Lynch. Instead Wilson threw

over the middle for Ricardo Lockette. Butler jumped the route and intercepted.

Had the Seahawks scored and won, they’d surely have been the NFL’s team of the decade. As it was, the Patriots were handed a second wind. They would win three Super Bowls in five years. If not for the comeback from 10 down, would the even-moreepic fightback from 28-3, also involving Quinn, have happened two years later?

The Patriots won again last February, beating the Rams 13-3 in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The score alone should have told us something. These were no longer Peak Pats, and soon Rob Gronkowski, their second-best player, would retire at 29. They began this season 8-0 with their defense being hailed as one of history’s best, but those eight victories were fool’s gold. Only one was achieved against an opponent that finished above .500.

The schedule toughened in the second half. They lost to Baltimore 37-22. (So much for that mighty defense, huh?)

They lost consecutive games to Kansas City and Houston.

Even when they won, the offense was doing little. They beat Philadelphia 17-10, Dallas 13-9. The Antonio Brown

experiment had long since fizzled. Adding Mohamed Sanu availed them little. The greatest quarterback ever finished 19th in passer rating, 27th in yards per pass.

A stupefying home loss to the 4-11 Dolphins on the season’s final Sunday thrust the Patriots into the wild card round for the first time since 2010. That was a huge deal: The Patriots of B&B had never reached a Super Bowl without getting a bye and then starting at home. (The first postseason victory of B&B came on a snowy Saturday night in Foxborough against Oakland. You know, the Tuck Rule Game.)

They were drawn against a not-bad Tennessee team, albeit one with the Miami castoff Ryan Tannehill as its quarterback, and they started OK. They led 10-7 and faced firstand-goal. Sony Michel was stopped on third down. The field goal made it 13-7, a lead quickly overridden. Those would be these Patriots’ final points.

Brady’s team took the ball five times in the second half.

It made four first downs. It ran one play beyond midfield, that from the Tennessee 47. They punted four times. Brady’s last pass glanced off Sanu and was gathered in by the Titans’

Logan Ryan, who returned it for a touchdown.

The Patriots lost 20-13, undone by a team coached by Mike Vrabel, the linebacker who’d caught touchdown passes from Brady in the second and third Super victories of the B&B era. And wasn’t it hilarious to watch Vrabel burn off 1:46 of fourth-quarter time by using intentional penalties, as Belichick had done earlier this season?

We’ve proclaimed the dynasty at its end wrongly enough to know that B&B can never be fully discounted.

That said, Brady has never been 42. All you need do to chart his decline is rewatch the fourth quarter and overtime against the Falcons. His throws aren’t as precise. He’s shakier in the pocket. (It happens to all quarterbacks, even the bravest of the breed. You can only absorb so many hits before the body begins to flinch.)

He has said he wants to play until he’s 45, which seems unlikely. Also unlikely, according to Brady after the Tennessee loss, is him retiring just yet. He’s a free agent for the first time, but there’s next to no chance he’ll wind up elsewhere. Even if the Patriots suspect — and how could

they not? — that they won’t win another Super Bowl with this Brady, they can’t let him leave. Some things just aren’t done. (Besides, that erstwhile heir apparent now works for San Francisco, the NFC’s No. 1 seed.)

Belichick will turn 68 in May. Don Shula coached his last NFL game at 66, Tom Landry at 64, Chuck Noll at 59, Bill Walsh at 57. Will Belichick want to start again postBrady? Knowing him, maybe.

But maybe not. He’s an entity unto himself. The Patriots never even announce how many years his contract covers.

This seems certain, though: It’s unthinkable that the world’s grumpiest man would sit still for a farewell tour. He’ll just show up one day with a piece of paper saying, a la his legendary Jets exit, that says: “I resign as HC of the NEP.” And that, someday soon, will be that. The NFL’s greatest team will be without the NFL’s greatest coach and greatest quarterback, and we’ll have to find somebody else to despise.

We can never say an era is over until, duh, it is, but darned if that loss to Tennessee on a foggy Saturday night didn’t seem the end of something.

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B4 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Brian T. Johnson, Builder, LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 12/31/2019. Cty: Columbia. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to P.O. Box 671, Philmont, NY 12565. General Purpose.

CITY OF HUDSON, NEW YORK PLANNING BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning Board of the City of Hudson, New York will continue public hearings on January 14, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. at Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, New York, on a conditional use permit application with a site plan component for a replacement bulkhead at 175 South Front Street, Tax ID #109.15-1-1, and a conditional use permit application with a site plan component for haul road improvements at 175 South Front Street, Tax ID #109.15-1-1, both from A. Colarusso and Son Inc. All those interested parties will have an opportunity at this time to be heard in connection with said applications.

CITY OF HUDSON, NEW YORK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Zoning Board of Appeals of the City of Hudson, New York will hold Public Hearing on January 15, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the Common Council Chambers, City Hall, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, New York on an area variance application from David Rossman for west and east side variances and a lot coverage variance at 418 State Street, Tax ID #110.45.2.83.

All interested parties will have an opportunity at this time to be heard in connection with said application.

COLUMBIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NOTICE OF MEETING Please take notice that there will be a meeting of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation Workforce and Education Committee held on January 16, 2020 at 8:30am, at One Hudson City Centre, Suite 301, Hudson, NY 12534 for the purpose of discussing any matters that may be presented to the Committee for consideration.

Dated: January 9, 2019 Sarah Sterling Secretary Columbia Economic Development Corporation COLUMBIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION NOTICE OF MEETING Please take notice that there will be a meeting of the Columbia Economic Development Corporation Audit and Finance Committee held on January 15, 2020 at 8:30am, at their offices located at One Hudson City Centre, Suite 301, Hudson, NY 12534 for the purpose of discussing any matters that may be presented to the Committee for consideration.

Dated: January 8, 2020 Sarah Sterling Secretary Columbia Economic Development Corporation Notice of formation of Whisper Creek Hospitality, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the Sect'y of State of NY (SSNY) on 12/23/2019. Office location, County of Greene. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served.

SSNY shall mail process to: Condon & Forsyth LLP, Attn: Stuart E. Berelson, Esq., 7 Times Square, NY, NY 10036. Purpose: any lawful act.

LEGAL NOTICE CITY OF HUDSON NOTICE TO BIDDER PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that sealed bids will be received for the following: Dunn Warehouse Emergency Roof Repair

At the office of the City of Hudson, Department of Public Works, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, New York 12534 until 10:00 A.M. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020. Bids shall be contained in sealed envelopes, clearly marked: Dunn Warehouse Emergency Roof Repair The bids will be publicly read at the office of the Superintendent of Works, 520 Public Warren Street, Hudson, New York at 10:00 A.M. MONDAY, JANUARY 27, 2020.

Proposals can be obtained by any bidder at the Department of Public Works, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, NY, and shall be made in accordance with the forms which contain the Instructions to Bidders and the Specifications.

Where two or more responsible bidders submit identical bids as to price, the City of Hudson may award the Contract to either bidder. The City of Hudson may waive any formalities or reject any and all bids and re-advertise for new bids at its discretion.

No bid may be withdrawn by any bidder for a period of 45 days from the date of bid opening. BID PRICE SHALL REMAIN UNCHANGED FOR 45 DAYS FROM DATE OF BID OPENING. Robert W. Perry, Jr. Superintendent of Public Works City Hall 520 Warren Street Hudson, New York 12534 (518) 828-9458 Dated: 01/06/2020 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Planning Board Town of Chatham Columbia County New York PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Planning Board of the Town of Chatham has scheduled a public hearing on January 14, 2020 at 7:00 PM at the Chatham Town Hall located at 488 Rt. 295, Chatham, NY. The following matters will be discussed at the meeting: 1. An Application for a Minor Subdivision from James Mackerer/Jeanne Bowerman located 167 New Concord Rd., East Chatham, NY, Tax ID#47.-1-20.11 & 47.-1-29.

Copies of the application materials are available for public review at the Town Hall located at the address specified above during normal business hours - Monday 9 AM to 4PM and Thursday 9 AM to 4 PM. Dated January 6, 2020 Erin Reis, Secretary Planning Board

in the City of Hudson, County of Columbia, and State of New York, Section: 110.9 Block: 1 Lot: 17. Approximate amount of judgment $134,093.48 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #13411/18. Jon Kosich Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP Attorneys for Plaintiff 1400 Old Country Road, Suite C103 Westbury, NY 11590 XCHNY236 66844 TOWN OF CLAVERACK ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS NOTICE OF MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING A Public Hearing before the Zoning Board of Appeals for the Town of Claverack will be held on Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 7:30 PM at the Claverack Town Hall, Rte. 217, Mellenville, New York on the following application(s): Droga, Marisa & David Area Variance: Tax Map #(SBL) 122 . – 1 – 40 . 120 Located at 62 Thielman Rd. Area Variance for the construction of a 900 square foot accessory pool house exceeding the allowed maximum of 2,500 square feet for an accessory building.

Persons wishing to comment at such hearing may do so in person, by attorney or by other such authorized representative.

Communications in writing may be filed with the Zoning Board of Appeals, Attention Secretary Jodi Keyser, PO Box V Mellenville, NY 12544 or by email at keyserkrew@yahoo.com in advance of the meeting.

Please note that inclusion of the application upon the agenda does not guarantee that the applicant will be present at the meeting.

TOWN OF CATSKILL PLANNING BOARD Town of Catskill Town Hall 439 Main Street Catskill, New York 12414 (518) 943-2141 PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, the Town of Catskill Planning Board will hold a public hearing in accordance with Town Law § 276 and the Town of Catskill Subdivision Regulations on January 14, 2020 at 7:00 PM at Town Hall, 439441 Main Street in the Town of Catskill, to consider a waiver requests in regards to a proposed two lot minor subdivision of land located on 350 Cairo Junction Rd, Catskill, proposed by William Monteverde . Written and oral comments will NOTICE OF PUBLIC be accepted until the HEARING close of the public The Town of Catskill hearing.

Planning Board will hold a Public Hearing Sealed bids will be reon application Special ceived as set forth in Use Permit Instructions to Bidders (https://www.dot.ny.go SUP-6-2019 pursuant to Section v / b i d s - a n d - l e t 160-13 of the Town of t i n g s / c o n s t r u c t i o n Catskill Zoning Code contractors/importantto allow Conversion of info) until 10:30 A.M. a single family dwelling on Thursday, February to a multiple family 06, 2020 at the NYSdwelling on lands DOT, Contract Manowned by Gina agement Bureau, 50 Guarino located at 527 Wolf Rd, 1st Floor, Rt 32A Tax Map # Suite 1CM, Albany, NY 12232 and will be pub199.12-2-2.2 The Public Hearing will licly opened and read.

Plans and be held on the 14th Maps, day of January 2020 at Specifications may be 7:15 PM, at the Town seen at Electronic docHall located at 439- uments and Amend441 Main Street, Catskill, NY. to allow public comment on the application.

The above application is open for inspection at the Planning Board Office located at 439 Main Street, Catskill, New York between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

By order of Joseph Izzo Chairman, Planning Board, Town of Catskill

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF COLUMBIA JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff AGAINST JAMES E. TYNAN A/K/A JAMES TYNAN, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered 10-28-2019 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Columbia County Courthouse, 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY on February 5, 2020 at 12:30PM, premises known as 68 HARRY HOWARD AVENUE, HUDSON, NY 12534.

All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being

ments which are posted to w w w. d o t . n y. g o v / d o ing-business/opportunities/const-notices.

The New York State Department of Transportation, in accordance with the Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 78 Stat. 252, 42 U.S.C. 2000d to 2000d-4 and Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Department of Transportation, Subtitle A, Office the Secretary, Part 21, Nondiscrimination in Federally-assisted programs of the Department of Transportation and Title 23 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Title IV Program and Related Statutes, as amended, issued pursuant to such Act, hereby notifies all who respond to a written Department solicitation, request for proposal or invitation for bid that it will affirmatively insure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this advertisement, disadvantaged business enterprises will be afforded full opportunity to submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability/handicap and income status in consideration for an award.

BIDDERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT AWARD OF THESE CONTRACTS MAY BE CONTINGENT UPON THE PASSAGE OF A BUDGET APPROPRIATION BILL BY THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. Please call (518)457-2124 if a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the letting.

Region 01: New York State Department of Transportation 50 Wolf Rd, Albany, NY, 12232 D264159, PIN 181067, FA Proj Z240-1810-673, Albany, Greene, Schenectady Cos., 27.1 Miles of Asphalt Concrete Rehabilitation on Routes 2, 9W, 397, 910B, 296, 20, 32, & 406 at Various Locations, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $750,000.00), Goals: DBE: 10.00% Region 08: New York State Department of Transportation 4 Burnett Blvd., Poughkeepsie, NY, 12603 D264126, PIN 813128, FA Proj Z001-8131-283, Columbia Co., Route 22 Pavement Restoration Project: Town of Canaan, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $200,000.00), Goals: DBE: 3.00% D264178, PIN 881361, FA Proj , Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ul-

ster, Westchester Cos., Cleaning, Washing and Sealing Bridges at Various Locations, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $75,000.00), Goals: DBE: 3.00% D264192, PIN 881429, Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, Westchester Cos., Biennial Roadside Vegetation Management for Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester Counties, Bid Deposit: 5% of Bid (~ $20,000.00), Goals: MBE: 0.00%, WBE: 0.00%

Real Estate 209

Houses for Sale Columbia Co.

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The Town of Greenport wishes to hire a Building Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer to fill a vacancy in that office.

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CMYK

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 B5

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Five things that must happen for the 49ers to reach (and win) Super Bowl LIV Chris Biderman The Sacramento Bee

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The opponent in the NFL Playoffs’ Divisional Round is set and the 49ers’ path to a sixth championship is mapped out.

Win two home games — first against the Minnesota Vikings, then either the Green Bay Packers or Seattle Seahawks — and advance to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

The 49ers would likely be favored in their next two games as the No. 1 seed in the NFC, which means getting to play at Levi’s Stadium. But as the New Orleans Saints learned Sunday, beating the Vikings won’t be easy — and the following game will likely be even more difficult for coach Kyle Shanahan’s team that’s making its first postseason journey together.

Let’s look at five things San Francisco must do to eventually hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

1. AVOID A DROP OFF AT CENTER The 49ers are getting healthier as they enter January. However, they will be without one of their most important offensive lineman, center Weston Richburg, who was named a Pro Bowl alternate for his bounce-back campaign after playing hurt throughout 2018. Richburg was signed to one of the most lucrative deals in the NFL for the position and was earning it this season for his work in the team’s complicated outsize zone running scheme and in pass protection.

But he was lost to injured reserve when he tore the patellar tendon in his knee last month, thrusting Ben Garland into a much larger role.

Garland, 31, has 10 career starts, mostly coming at guard before this season. He joined the 49ers in the spring after playing as a reserve for Shanahan during his final season as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator in 2016.

Garland has allowed three pressures and no sacks since replacing Richburg, according to Pro Football Focus, and he’s thrown a number of key blocks downfield on long running plays to showcase his athleticism. But Garland will likely be the target of opposing defenses, starting Saturday against Vikings mastermind Mike Zimmer, who put his talented defensive ends Danielle Hunter and Everson Griffin inside for spells Sunday in New Orleans.

Yes, the 49ers have the NFL’s second-ranked rushing offense. But the team’s running backs are averaging just 1.7 yards after contact, the seventhlowest number in the league (their yards before contact, 2.9, ranks fourth). That means Garland’s play will be key for San Francisco’s rushing attack to remain effective. Being good on the ground opens things up for the rest of the offense. The 49ers’ 1,473 yards on play-action passes ranks third in the NFL. 2. PLAY WITH ‘LEGENDARY’ ENERGY Linebacker Kwon Alexander never had more than seven combined tackles in a game this season. But his impact on the 49ers’ defense couldn’t

NICK WOSIKA/ICON SMI/ZUMA PRESS

Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (93) trips up San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) on Sept. 9, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn.

be measured by the stat sheet before going on injured reserve after tearing his pectoral on Halloween.

“He’s probably the MVP of our team. He’s the energy, all the time,” defensive lineman Nick Bosa said of Alexander last week.

Alexander returned to practice last week and there’s a good chance he’s back in the lineup Saturday after Shanahan said he initially didn’t expect Alexander back until the NFC championship. The emotional void left by Alexander and his “legendary” mindset could be filled at just the right time.

“Him really being in the game and being able to go hit somebody and get everybody going, it’s super important,” Bosa said.

The 49ers defense had a statistical downturn in the later half of the season. The competition improved; injuries along the defensive line, including to Dee Ford, zapped the team’s depth; strong safety Jaquiski Tartt went down and Alexander got hurt.

San Francisco during the first seven games allowed 224.4 yards to opponents. The following nine, after Alexander got hurt, that number jumped to 326.

The team is optimistic Ford (hamstring), Tartt (rib) and Alexander will play Saturday.

3. JIMMY GAROPPOLO MUST JOIN THE CLUB The biggest knock against Jimmy Garoppolo entering the playoffs is his inexperience. He doesn’t have the same resume as other playoff quarterbacks, which leads to questions about

The Cowboys’ hiring of Mike McCarthy is logical, but it also brings plenty of questions Tim Cowlishaw The Dallas Morning News

On paper, the Cowboys made the most logical decision in the history of Jerry Jones coaching hires Monday. But remove the paper and turn on the microscope and question marks hover just beyond one’s focus.

I will give the club credit for hiring Mike McCarthy as the franchise’s ninth head football coach.

He’s a man who became accustomed to taking teams to the playoffs (eight straight seasons, nine out of 13), while in Green Bay and he already knows what it’s like to not only hoist a Lombardi Trophy but to do it in AT&T Stadium.

The two big college names that have been kicked around here as potential replacements for Jason Garrett — Urban Meyer and Lincoln Riley — were complete unknowns in the NFL world. That might be a lot less of a factor today than it was 20 years ago as the two games have grown in similarity, but the Cowboys chose not to go that route or perhaps were informed once again that Riley is doing just fine living in Norman, Okla.

If you were going to seek someone with actual NFL experience, the available coach who has most recently won a Super Bowl was McCarthy. That’s assuming you don’t consider 73-year-old Tom Coughlin as available. McCarthy is 56, won the Super Bowl right here against Pittsburgh nine

seasons ago, and that’s where we see both the reason for hiring him and the beginning of so many questions about him.

That Packers team was hailed for being the most injured team ever to win a Super Bowl. They had 16 players on injured reserve at season’s end. Mostly they had a rifle-armed 27-year-old quarterback named Aaron Rodgers, and so it seemed a healthier future would be full of cheeseheads at Super Bowls.

It hasn’t happened since. Yes, the club made the playoffs on a regular basis but reached the NFC Championship Game just twice in McCarthy’s last eight years.

They got blown out by Atlanta in the 2016 season and lost in overtime in Seattle in 2014, the week after the “Dez Catch” play eliminated the Cowboys in Green Bay. That particular championship game is not viewed as one of McCarthy’s great days, kicking field goals twice from the 1-yard line, letting his team give up the ball to give Seattle a final chance to push the game into overtime.

It could have been the beginning of the fractured relationship between Rodgers and McCarthy although some believe that it went back much further. Without a doubt, McCarthy was viewed as a successful coach, but not one to push the envelope or to bring imagination to his game plans.

whether he can do it on the game’s biggest stage.

That’s not unique. Steve Young faced the same questions before he finally won a Super Bowl as the full-time starter in the 1994-95 season. Garoppolo’s brand equity would take a massive jump if he were to carry the 49ers deep into the playoffs during his first run.

Consider, Garoppolo’s passing numbers this season were strong. He was fourth in the league in completion rate (69.1 percent), third in yards per attempt (8.4), tied for fifth in touchdown passes (27), tied for the lead with four fourth-quarter comeback drives and finished eighth in passer rating (102.0).

His rating was higher than Deshaun Watson (98.0), Aaron Rodgers (95.4), Matt Ryan (92.1), Philip Rivers (88.5) and his former mentor, Tom Brady (88.0). But those quarterbacks don’t face the same questions as Garoppolo because their resumes are more expansive.

Garoppolo’s Achilles’ heel is interceptions. His 13 picks were tied for the sixth-most in the league.

And he lost five fumbles of his 10 fumbles, two of which were crucial during the November loss to the Seahawks. But Garoppolo has cleaned up that area of his game as the season wore on. He had 10 interceptions during his first 10 games and just three over the final six.

If he continues to play like he did over the final nine games, when he had a 107.6 rating with a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, he might find his name on the list of elite quarterbacks heading into next season.

4. MAKE RED ZONE TRIPS COUNT

The 49ers finished the regular season scoring touchdowns on just over 53% (33 of 62) of their trips, ranking near the bottom third of the league.

The games at Tampa Bay during Week 1 and rain-soaked Washington in Week 7 saw the 49ers go 0 for 7 combined. In other games, they converted 60% of their red-zone trips, which ranks among the top 11.

Over the final four games, San Francisco went 11 of 17 (65 percent), which is near the top. It was a clear area of improvement late in the season.

Numbers aside, scoring touchdowns in the red zone will go a long way toward determining how far the 49ers go in the playoffs. Settling for Robbie Gould field goals, after he missed a career-high eight in 2019, could be the reason the team ends up falling short of expectations. Fans don’t need to be reminded about failed red-zone trips in big games.

5. ADJUST WHEN GEORGE KITTLE IS TAKEN AWAY Tight end George Kittle averaged 7.6 targets per game as San Francisco’s clear No. 1 option in the passing game. Rookie receiver Deebo Samuel had 5.4 and Emmanuel Sanders 5.3.

Opponents, starting with Minnesota, are going to do all they can to limit Kittle and force Garoppolo to look to his receivers, neither of whom have been with the club for more than a full season.

The Vikings allowed just one touchdown catch to a tight end all season despite 128 targets. Receivers, meanwhile, scored 18 touchdowns against Minnesota.

Kittle on Saturday will square off against talented players looking to slow him down, including safeties Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris, and All-Pro linebacker Eric Kendricks.

Shanahan being able to adjust on the fly, and figure out ways to get his receivers open while defenses key on Kittle, could go a long way toward defining postseason success. It underscores the value of Sanders since he arrived via trade in late October.

Since then, Garoppolo averaged a robust 8.62 yards per attempt, up from 7.87.

HONORABLE MENTIONS — Get strong play at cornerback opposite Richard Sherman. The 49ers benched Ahkello Witherspoon on the final drive in the regular-season finale and it remains to be seen whether the club will stick with Emmanuel Moseley or go back to starting Witherspoon.

— Continue the hot streak from running back Raheem Mostert, who has eight touchdowns over his last eight games.

— Win the turnover battle. The 49ers were 4-1 when they had more takeaways than their opponents. Their only loss was the overtime game against Seattle at Levi’s Stadium.

— Convert third downs. San Francisco went 4-12, 4-12 and 6-15 on third down (35 percent) in their three losses. In other games, they converted 76 of 161 (47 percent).

Can the Seahawks keep winning ugly? Can they beat the Packers?

Larry Stone The Seattle Times

PHILADELPHIA — Maybe the Seahawks can really pull this off.

Maybe they can keep churning out these “bumpy” victories, to use coach Pete Carroll’s term, where you wait in vain for them to forge a comfortable lead, instead of the rope-a-dope, winugly, skin-of-their-teeth affairs that are now customary.

Sunday’s 17-9 playoff victory over the Eagles gave them 11 of their 12 wins this season by one score, with a scoring margin of a razor-thin plus-15. They won Sunday by more points (eight) than their cumulative scoring margin for the regular season (plus-seven).

Maybe they can keep winning on the road in hostile venues, defying all the conventional wisdom about what is the optimal road to the Super Bowl.

They are 8-1 away from home, including a 6-0 mark in the Eastern time zone, with Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, up next.

Maybe they’ll keep facing teams depleted by injuries, as the Eagles were Sunday even before they lost their quarterback, Carson Wentz, after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Jadeveon Clowney on Philadelphia’s second possession. That’s a trend that started with Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger going down in the road opener.

Or, far more likely, the Seahawks are facing a moment of truth Sunday when they meet the Packers on the infamous frozen tundra.

During a season in which they’ve defied odds, trends, stats and logic to win close game after close game, this is the reality: The Seahawks need to play much better to keep their dreams alive.

The Seahawks did much that was admirable – and familiar – Sunday.

Foremost, they kept Philadelphia out of the end zone, the first time they’ve done that to an opponent all season.

And with the Eagles selling out to stop the run, quarterback Russell Wilson conjured up his customary magic, with help from a dazzling performance by rookie receiver DK Metcalf.

But facing the oldest quarterback to make his playoff debut, 40-yearold Josh McCown, for the bulk of the game, they really should have put away the Eagles more easily. At least, they should have done so a lot sooner than when Wilson’s long pass to Metcalf with under two minutes to play allowed them to finally go into victory formation.

Yes, the Seahawks are facing their own major injury issues that were surely a factor in the rhythm of this game, as well as the recent stretch of three losses in four games entering the postseason.

Seattle is missing its top three running backs, the left side of its offensive line, its center, its tight end and one of its starting linebackers – among others.

But as receiver Tyler Lockett pointed out, teams can’t allow that to be relevant at this stage. McCown turned in a valiant effort, completing 18 of 24 passes for 174 yards and a 94.8 passer rating. Who knows what would have happened if the Seahawks had to punt the ball back one more time?

“I mean, it’s the playoffs, man,” Lockett said in response to a query about their edge with Wentz out.

“They’ve been successful when he (Wentz) was hurt before. You can’t look at it like that. There’s times people go down and that doesn’t give the other team an advantage. Their quarterback did a great job when he was

out there. He almost got them in position to win the game.

“So you can’t really look at it like that. Injuries are 100% a part of the game. Your question could make us say, ‘What if we had Duane (Brown), what if we had (Justin) Britt, what if we had Chris (Carson). ... You can’t look at it like that. You’ve just got to play with what you got.

“I think they did an amazing job playing with what they had. They had injuries just like us and, like you were able to see, both teams kept pressing, both teams kept fighting, and both teams wanted it. That’s what football is all about.”

Of immediate concern for Seattle is the 19 yards on 17 carries by the running-back tandem of Travis Homer and Marshawn Lynch. Obviously, that’s an unacceptable output that will have get better. On the positive side, Lynch made his impact felt with a bruising 5-yard touchdown run (“He just wasn’t going to let them stop him,” Carroll said) and a key 20-yard reception on third down.

The defense had a season-high seven sacks, and a revitalized Clowney coupled with the return of safety Quandre Diggs bodes well. But slowing Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be a big step up from McCown.

Rodgers and Wilson are the only quarterbacks left in the playoffs with a Super Bowl victory. And as long as the Seahawks have Wilson in charge, they have hope of winning ugly, pretty or somewhere in between.

Offensive lineman D.J. Fluker summed it up well after the game, in which Wilson was sacked just once despite a revamped line.

“The thing is, you keep 3 safe, he can do some magical things out there,” he said.

CMYK

B6 Wednesday, January 8, 2020

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

The sport, not Clowney, is what got the Eagles’ Wentz Bob Ford The Philadelphia Inquirer

Jadeveon Clowney’s hit on Carson Wentz in the first quarter Sunday drove the quarterback’s head into the ground, and Wentz suffered a concussion that soon after removed him from the game.

Those are the only facts that aren’t disputed about the play. Everything else surrounding it is affected by one’s rooting interest. The same Eagles fans who are furious that Seattle wasn’t penalized on the play, or that Clowney wasn’t tossed or deported or something awful, would have been high-fiving in the stands if Derek Barnett had knocked Russell Wilson from the game in the same manner.

There’s nothing wrong with that, either.

Fans aren’t expected to be impartial or to see the world objectively. It is all about what color laundry the players happen to be wearing, and the reaction of the Philadelphia fan base is no different from what it would be anywhere else.

“It sucks,” said Brandon Graham, who also plays defensive end, “but at the end of the day, I think it’s just part of the game.”

At the end of the day Sunday, the Eagles had lost, and maybe the Wentz concussion was the deciding factor. Putting that together is like doing a jigsaw puzzle with all the pieces upside down.

Backup Josh McCown took the strippeddown offense into the red zone three times — and to Seattle’s 26- and 24-yard line on two other drives — and got only three field goals from those five opportunities. Wentz might have closed more of those deals — the Eagles were third in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage this season — but running a riskier offense might have led to turnovers before they reached the red zone, too.

Additionally, if pressed, the Seahawks would have opened up their own offense. By the fourth quarter, they were content to avoid big mistakes and let the game play out as it was.

YONG KIM/THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER

Seattle Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney lands on Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz during the first quarter on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa.

That turned out to be the right strategy.

Knowing what would have actually happened without the Wentz concussion is impossible, and only the irrational can be 100% sure the outcome would have been different. What we know, however, is that Carson Wentz was knocked from the game and the Eagles lost.

Looking at the replay, there probably should have been a penalty on Clowney. Impartial observers have seen it differently. As Wentz tried to turn the corner and make something out of a botched screen play, he was no longer a quarterback. He was a running back and, absent a slide, was no more protected by the rules than any other runner.

Clowney was the second man in on the

tackle, and he clearly led with his shoulder into Wentz’s back. His momentum carried him forward and there was contact between their helmets and, ultimately, Wentz got the worst of it.

“He was a runner, and he did not give himself up,” referee Shawn Smith told a pool reporter after the game. “We saw incidental helmet contact, and in our judgment, we didn’t rule that to be a foul.”

Things happen quickly out there and the officials did their best, but no one would have complained if there had been a penalty. That decision — flag or no flag — had no bearing on the outcome, though. Fifteen yards wouldn’t have changed anything, especially considering the concussed quarterback remained in the

game for the rest of that drive.

In a season replete with bad injury luck, it was just the capper.

“I don’t think he’s a dirty player, but I didn’t see the hit,” defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said.

“It happens.”

As much as the league would like to keep the violence but remove the risk, that’s not really possible. We see more of it because of highdefinition replays, but nothing much has really changed in 80 years.

“You’re supposed to lead with your hands, not your shoulder or your head,” linebacker Nigel Bradham said. “I ain’t saying I’ve never done it, but we’ve all been in that situation and the game is designed to protect us, too, in the head and neck area. I don’t think (the hit) was really necessary, but that’s just my opinion. I believe it was iffy.”

Clowney’s reputation precedes him, of course. He has a peccable history when it comes to the treatment of quarterbacks, even if that didn’t influence Sunday’s officiating staff. The other players recognize that not everyone plays the same way. And if the table had been turned on Wilson and the Seahawks, they would have accepted that good fortune as readily as they understood the bad.

“That’s how Clowney plays,” Graham said.

“He’s aggressive. It might have been one of those things that just happened the wrong way.

It’s touchy because we lost our quarterback, but ... I play hard, too. It happens.”

It happens. That’s the alpha and omega of what took place between Wentz and Clowney in Lincoln Financial Field. It happens, and it happened right there, in an NFL game in which they were playing for money, and one of 100 violent instances during the game led to an unfortunate injury.

More is being made of it than that, but there really isn’t any more. There is only the game and how it is played and the things that happen.

Titans’ Henry shows ground game matters most in NFL playoffs Gene Frenette The Florida Times-Union

One common criticism Jaguars’ fans had about departed front-office czar Tom Coughlin, besides his micromanaging ways, is that his old-school philosophy of running the ball and playing good defense was too antiquated. Many skeptics claim it won’t work in today’s pass-happy NFL. Oh, really. Did you watch the Tennessee Titans and their bulldozer running back, Yulee High product Derrick Henry, apply a likely knockout punch to the New England Patriots’ dynasty in a 20-13 AFC wild-card victory on Saturday?

How about another NFC road team, the Minnesota Vikings, running franchise back Dalvin Cook 28 times? That gave quarterback Kirk Cousins the offensive balance his team needed to dethrone the New Orleans Saints 26-20 in overtime?

In both instances, two future Hall of Fame quarterbacks in Tom Brady and Drew Brees — who have thrown more touchdown passes than anybody in NFL history — were immediately eliminated from the playoffs because they didn’t have a complementary running game to ease their burden.

One of the biggest reasons New England might see the Brady era coming to an end is it couldn’t get one lousy yard running the ball when it mattered. It lost to the Titans in large part because, leading 10-7, the Patriots couldn’t punch it into the end zone on three consecutive runs to the left side after having a first-and-goal at the 1.

New England’s offensive line did such a poor job trying to block the Titans’ front, especially linebacker Rashaan Evans, that Sony Michel (twice) and Rex Burkhead either lost yardage or barely made forward progress.

As for Henry, he looked like the same guy who trucked the Jaguars for 159 yards on 19 attempts in a 43-20 romp six weeks ago. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill only needed to throw the ball 15 times because Henry, who accounted for 75% of Tennessee’s yardage, did all the heavy lifting.

DAVID BUTLER II/USA TODAY

New England Patriots outside linebacker Dont’a Hightower (54) tackles Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry (22) during Saturday’s game at Gillette Stadium.

Granted, the Titans’ run-pass ratio of 2.5-1 against New England is rather uncommon, but it does illustrate how a proven running game and solid defense are paramount come playoff time.

(Just an aside, the Jaguars could have drafted the Heisman Trophy-winning Henry in the second round of the 2016 draft, instead of linebacker Myles Jack. That would have negated the need in 2017 to take Leonard Fournette with the No. 4 pick and the Jaguars could have selected Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson. OK, enough hindsight.)

The larger point is while quarterbacks who can win shootout-type games are great entertainment, it doesn’t guarantee success. For every

Panthers break bank for Baylor’s Rhule Field Level Media

Matt Rhule is expected to be named head coach of the Carolina Panthers and sign a seven-year contract worth up to $70 million.

According to multiple reports Tuesday, Rhule agreed to take the job and will be introduced this week.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Rhule’s seven-year deal – four- or occasionally five-year contracts are the NFL standard – is worth $60 million with built-in incentives that could push the contract to a total value of $70 million, easily a new NFL benchmark.

The Panthers went 5-11 and fired head coach Ron Rivera before the 2019 season ended. Rivera landed on his feet as head coach of the Washington Redskins.

Rhule, the Baylor head coach, was a top candidate in the latest NFL coaching cycle after surfacing as a popular name in January 2018. He interviewed with the Indianapolis

Colts before pulling his name from consideration then.

In Rhule’s third season at Baylor, the Bears went 11-3 in 2019. They were 1-11 his first year in Waco.

There are big questions ahead in Carolina, the most prominent of which is the future of quarterback Cam Newton. Newton was hurt in the third game of the preseason against the New England Patriots and attempted to play through a foot injury before being shut down and having surgery. Newton is 68-551 as a starting quarterback but the former No. 1 pick reportedly is open to a trade after Kyle Allen played well in Newton’s absence.

Rhule, 44, declined to interview this month for the vacancy with the Cleveland Browns.

Rhule was an assistant offensive line coach for the Giants in 2012, but otherwise has no NFL coaching experience.

Patrick Mahomes, you can counter with a Jameis Winston.

While Jaguars’ fans may blame Coughlin more than anyone for the team’s demise the past two seasons, his formula of running the ball and playing great defense is a proven commodity if you have the players to execute it.

In 2017, when the Jaguars came within an eyelash of reaching the Super Bowl, they had the best rushing attack in the league and the second-best defense, which scored seven touchdowns and another in a playoff win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Over the last five NFL postseasons, including this past weekend, teams who rush for the most

yards have a record of 35-12-1. The only time in those 48 playoff games that the losing team ran for at least 140 yards and lost was Saturday when the Buffalo Bills had 172 rushing against the Houston Texans, only to blow a 16-0 second-half lead.

It’s probably no coincidence the league’s two best rushing teams, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, are the top seeds in the AFC and NFC, respectively. In fact, this Ravens’ offense might be the biggest NFL outlier of the 21st century.

Thanks to dynamic quarterback and MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, who rushed for an astounding 1,206 yards, the Ravens have done the unthinkable this season by averaging more rushing yards per game (206.0) than passing (201.6).

Per Elias Sports Bureau, the last team to do that was the 2011 Denver Broncos, which went 8-8 and won a playoff game with Tim Tebow at quarterback. They finished as the league’s top rushing team, but only 31st in passing.

The Ravens are a far different animal with Jackson. In addition to his incredible rushing numbers, he’s the most improved QB in the league with a TD-interception ratio of 36-6 and efficiency rating of 113.3. His team is easily the NFL’s most potent (33.2 points per game) because of the Ravens’ multi-dimensional offense.

It’ll be fascinating Saturday to watch whether the league’s most run-heavy offense, Baltimore, or the NFL’s leading rusher, Henry, gets the better of the opposing defense when the Ravens and Titans go head-to-head.

While the Ravens are a prohibitive 10-point favorite, the Henry factor can’t be dismissed. Few thought New England could be so thoroughly dominated at home by a running game, yet Henry knifed and barreled over the league’s top defense for 182 yards on 34 carries..

Reports: Giants name Judge as head coach Field Level Media

After missing out on Matt Rhule as their new head coach, the New York Giants acted quickly Tuesday, naming New England Patriots special teams coordinator and wide receivers coach Joe Judge to the position, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

Judge interviewed for the job on Monday. He will replace Pat Shurmur, who was fired by the Giants on Dec. 30 after two seasons and a 9-23 record.

The Giants reportedly had a meeting scheduled with Rhule on Tuesday, but the Baylor head man instead accepted the Carolina Panthers’ head coaching position, according to reports.

NFL Network reported that Rhule gave the Giants an opportunity to match the

Panthers’ six-year deal, but the team declined.

Judge, 38, began his coaching career as a Mississippi State graduate assistant from 2005-07. He then served three years as an analyst for head coach Nick Saban at Alabama from 2009-11, joining the Patriots in 2012 as an assistant special teams coach.

In 2015, he was promoted by the Patriots to special teams coach and received his most recent title in 2019. The Patriots’ season ended Saturday in a home loss to the Tennessee Titans in an AFC wild-card playoff game.

One reason the Giants moved so quickly on Judge after Rhule went to the Panthers, according to a Sports Illustrated report Tuesday, was that Judge had emerged as the top

candidate to become the head coach at Mississippi State.

The Giants already had interviewed a number of candidates, including Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, Dallas Cowboys defensive passing game coordinator Kris Richard and Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

ESPN’s Ed Werder reported that the Giants requested permission from the Dallas Cowboys to interview for the offensive coordinator position.

Garrett, dismissed Sunday as the Cowboys’ coach, could provide an experienced ear for a rookie head coach.

The Giants need permission to talk to Garrett because he remains under contract in Dallas for another week.

CMYK

Wednesday, January 8, 2020 B7

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

Sister gets more of man’s time than his own family Dear Abby, I don’t know how to handle this. My husband of 29 years spends more time with his sister and her family than he does with me and our children. If I say anything about it, he jumps all over me, defending her. He says she DEAR ABBY doesn’t have anyone to help her. But Abby, she has two grown sons and a husband she recently decided to divorce.

I think his relationship with his sister is weird, and other people have said they think so, too. One person even called it creepy. When I told my husband I thought it was a weird relationship, he yelled at me. I can no longer talk about his sister with him; it’s off limits. Please help.

Only The Wife

JEANNE PHILLIPS

Has your husband always been close to this sister? It may be the reason he is spending time with her. I’m sure she wouldn’t be divorcing her husband if the marriage had been a bed of roses, and she may need private time with her brother to help her detoxify.

That said, that he spends more time with his sister than with you and the children is unusual.

It makes me wonder about the state of your own marriage. If there is stress and tension the two of you can’t resolve together, you may need to consult a licensed marriage and family therapist.

Dear Abby, Our 47-year-old son remarried two years ago. We have a 15-year-old grandson from his previous marriage who lives with his mom and who visits his dad every other weekend. We are not close with our new inlaws, who live out of state.

We recently found out that they have purchased a second home very close to our son.

The problem is, the home is located within a nudist colony and, therefore, we assume they are in fact nudists. Should this be a problem for us (we are both 70), or should we not be concerned?

Wondering In The South I don’t think there is anything to be worried about. If you are concerned that your grandson will “see” something shocking, please know that he can find whatever he is curious about on his computer or cellphone. However, if you are worried that either of you will be forced to view or participate in nude activities when you visit your son, all you have to say is, “I think we’ll stay at a nearby hotel, thank you.”

Family Circus

Classic Peanuts

Garfield

Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

What’s the best time to fix a Dupuytren’s contracture?

I am a 73-year-old active lady. I recently noticed a wrinkle in my palm near my ring finger.

I had a consultation with a nearby doctor, and he diagnosed Dupuytren’s contracture. He said I should come back when the finger is curved down. I was surprised! Wouldn’t it be better to have it taken care of before it gets to be a serious TO YOUR problem? I don’t understand GOOD HEALTH why I should put this off. Would surgery done promptly have a shorter recovery time?

DR. KEITH ROACH

Dupuytren’s contracture is a condition of unknown cause characterized by progressive fibrosis of the deep connective tissue of the hand, called the palmar fascia. It often starts with a nodule in the hand, and progresses over years or decades to flexion of the finger joints — a permanent curve toward the palm. It most commonly affects the fourth finger, and the joints on either side of that ring finger become difficult to straighten, then finally impossible to straighten completely. It is usually painless. The condition is most common in people of Northern European ancestry.

Because progression is variable in timing, and because people can have no bothersome symptoms for years (and the condition goes away in about 10%), there is no consensus on when the optimal time for intervention. Most experts recommend treatment when the degree of flexion is at least 20 degrees. A fixed bend of more than 60 degrees is less likely to respond to treatment.

Open surgery has long been the standard treatment, but there are options, including needle surgery, injection of an enzyme that dissolves the connective tissue (collagenase, brand name Xiaflex), and radiation. Injection of collagenase is typically done at an earlier stage than surgery.

Following surgery, most people need to wear

a splint and do hand physical/occupational therapy for months. The condition recurs after treatment in about half of patients. It’s not clear that early surgery has a faster recovery time, even though it seems to make sense.

Given the multiple treatment options, the variable nature of disease progression, possibility of recurrence and significant recovery time, the decision of how and when to treat absolutely requires an expert to go over the different options and timing.

I recently had to give a urine sample for microalbumin. Does it matter if I use the first part of the void or midstream?

Hagar the Horrible

Urine microalbumin is a test for small amounts of protein in the urine. It is most commonly used as a screening test for kidney damage due to diabetes. Very small amounts of the protein albumin — far less than what shows up on a typical urine dipstick — predict the onset of the kidney disease that can ultimately lead to dialysis. Positive microalbumin means that the diabetes may not have been under optimal control, and this is often treated with medications like ACE inhibitors, which greatly slow kidney damage due to diabetes.

The very first few drops of urine often contain some cells of the lining of the urethra, and in the case of women, of the vulva around the urethra.

Allowing that urine to void uncollected reduces contamination of those cells. This is particularly important when looking for infection, but is usually recommended for microalbumin as well.

Hence, midstream is preferred.

One study showed that the very first urine made in the morning is the most accurate way of looking for urine microalbumin.

Zits

Horoscope

By Stella Wilder Born today, you are likely to have a very important decision to make at some point in your life regarding your own notoriety. Will you welcome the attention of others as you make your way in the world, or will you choose to turn your back on potential audiences and live a life of quiet solitude? The choice is yours, and you must make it, for if you allow circumstances alone to make it for you, you will almost certainly regret it.

You are unusually sensitive, and you are not equipped with the ability to keep feelings at bay. You feel things deeply, and there may be times in which you feel you are being pushed this way and that by emotional currents that you cannot fully control. This can be dangerous, for at such times your essential self-determination may be seriously threatened.

Also born on this date are: Elvis Presley, singer and actor; Stephen Hawking, physicist; David Bowie, singer and actor; Bob Eubanks, game-show host; Yvette Mimieux, actress; Larry Storch, actor; Ron Moody, actor; Jose Ferrer, actor.

To see what is in store for you tomorrow, find your birthday and read the corresponding paragraph. Let your birthday star be your daily guide.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — You can make things better or worse today, just by doing what comes easily. The real difference will be in doing what is hard.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — You can make a deal with one who is usually immune to your offers and suggestions. What is it this time that makes things work in your favor?

Blondie

Baby Blues PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) — Your journey today will take you down one or two familiar roads — and one, at least, that is entirely new to you. Keep your eyes open!

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Your assessment of certain developments today will make all the difference to those who don’t know what to make of them. Tell the truth!

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — It’s time for you to do the very thing you have resisted for so long.

In letting go of your fears and hesitation, you will make a breakthrough.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — You are not yet near your destination, but you may not be able to continue the journey today as planned, as other business calls to you.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You may be called home by someone who needs something that only you can provide. This is not a summons you want to ignore, by any means.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — You’ll want to review the numbers carefully today before submitting your proposal to the person whom you hope will give his or her approval.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — You may have to think carefully about the rules today and how they apply to you directly and indirectly. Can you follow them faithfully?

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — You are eager to move mountains today, but you may only be able to do what anyone alone can do. The impossible may be done tomorrow perhaps!

SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) — You may feel as though others are watching you closely, waiting for you to make a mistake, but you aren’t about to satisfy their hopes!

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — You’ll fit the final pieces of a puzzle into place today — just in time to turn your attention to another that is far more complex.

COPYRIGHT 2020 UNITED FEATURE SYNDICATE, INC.

Beetle Bailey

Pearls Before Swine

Dennis the Menace

CMYK

COLUMBIA-GREENE MEDIA

B8 Wednesday, January 8, 2020 Close to Home

SUPER QUIZ

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

By David L. Hoyt and Jeff Knurek

Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.

Get the free JUST JUMBLE app • Follow us on Twitter @PlayJumble

Unscramble these Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

NUYRN GEHED TIDYDO PESEYL ©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

Groups of three Level 1

2

3

Complete the threesome. (e.g., Tom, Dick and ____. Answer: Harry.)

Freshman level 1. The good, the bad and the _____.

2. On your mark, get set, ____!

3. Faith, hope and ____.

Graduate level 4. Hook, line and ____.

5. Peter, Paul and _____.

6. Bacon, lettuce and _____.

PH.D. level 7. Stop, drop and ____.

8. Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and _____.

9. The Nina, the Pinta and the _____.

4

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

THE Yesterday’s

(Answers tomorrow) Jumbles: BURLY EXACT WOODEN CACKLE Answer: If you thought Earth’s center could reach 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit, you’d — BE “CORE-ECT”

1/8/20

Solution to Tuesday’s puzzle

Complete the grid so each row, column and 3-by-3 box (in bold borders) contains every digit, 1 to 9.

For strategies on how to solve Sudoku, visit

Heart of the City

sudoku.org.uk © 2020 The Mepham Group. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency. All rights reserved.

SUPER QUIZ ANSWERS 1. Ugly. 2. Go. 3. Charity (love). 4. Sinker. 5. Mary. 6. Tomato. 7. Roll. 8. Luciano Pavarotti. 9. Santa Maria.

18 points — congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points — honors graduate; 10 to 14 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 4 to 9 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 3 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

Mutts

Dilbert

Pickles For Better or For Worse

Get Fuzzy

Hi & Lois

Crossword Puzzle Mother Goose & Grimm ACROSS 1 “Be quiet!”

4 Small cutting, as of holly 9 “__ well that ends well” 13 Command to a steed 14 Faye or Cooper 15 Chilly 16 “Little Red Riding __” 17 Nervous wreck 19 However 20 Cash 21 Rejuvenate 22 Thrill 24 Atlas page 25 Children & teens 27 Sweet juice 30 Old saying 31 Fine-tune 33 Butterfly catcher’s need 35 Hook, __ and sinker 36 Lose one’s life at sea 37 “The __-Spangled Banner” 38 Truck scale division 39 __ runner; current leader 40 Shoot from hiding 41 Innumerable 43 Cool creamy dessert 44 Phone inventor’s initials 45 State of uncertainty 46 Laziness 49 Backbone 51 TV series for George Eads 54 Cease resisting 56 Street uprising 57 Kiln 58 Word attached to wall or news 59 Linden & Holbrook 60 Orangey drink 61 Ship poles 62 Past one’s prime DOWN 1 Loafer or moccasin 2 Folk singers’ gathering

Bound & Gagged

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

3 “I’ve __ it!”; cry of frustration 4 Wooden shoes 5 Sky sight 6 Stand up 7 Unpleasant 8 Word of mild surprise 9 Agree to take 10 Money lent 11 Misplace 12 Massacred 13 “__ Do Fools Fall in Love?”

18 Racecourse 20 Barn mama 23 Theater box 24 Unkind 25 Sweet creamy drink 26 Verbal expression 27 Mr. Gingrich 28 Very aloof 29 Gathers crops 31 Trampled 32 Took first prize 34 Sequoia or sycamore 36 Dull in color 37 Ignore with contempt 39 Battle

1/8/20

Tuesday’s Puzzle Solved

Non Sequitur

©2020 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

40 Partial amount 42 PG or PG-13, e.g.

43 The Seven Dwarfs, by trade 45 Slightly more than a quart 46 Highlander 47 Mauna Loa’s output 48 Daytime shop sign

1/8/20

49 __ in the face; insult 50 June honoree 52 Auctioneer’s cry 53 “Baby __ You”; Beatles song 55 Pkg. delivery service 56 Letter from Greece

Rubes