Molinaro concedes 19th Congressional District race

By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

COEYMANS HOLLOW—The weather this spring, and now early summer, has been anything but steady, and Saturday’s weather offered a roller coaster ride of sweltering hot temperatures, light cloud cover and off and on torrential rain. In the far western corner of the town of Coeymans, Albany County’s Summer Fest at Lawson Lake took place despite that roller coaster ride of a day.

The day began with a competitive run, put on by the Albany Running Exchange. Teams and individual runners came from all around the Capital District, including one four-person relay team with a member from who traveled from Florida to join in.

As luck would have it, the race concluded before the storms began on the new extended trails that encircle the park. The runners set their paces through winding trails, up and down hills and by babbling brooks. They ran in the spirit of good fun and a little friendly competition.

Coming in first in the men’s division 2.5-mile race was Coeymans Hollow native Elisha Deer, of Stanton Road. Deer was there with friends and family to share the day.

One of the younger competitors was Reka Balazs of Delmar, who crossed the finish line for the 2.5 miler with a bright smile on her face. The experienced runner who has run the Dunkin’ Run multiple times and many other local races with her father Zoltan Balazs, a New York City marathoner, said the race was “fine, but a bit hilly.” Reka is also a member of the group Girls on the Run.

After the race concluded, the runners and other attendees gathered by the lake to hear the winners announced and collect their trophies.  

Also on the lake side of the park, attendees could avail themselves of a taco truck, a pizza stand and a fried dough truck where you could also get blueberry scones.

On the other side of the park, Andy The Music Man set up under the tent and played his infectious blend of kids’ tunes that even had the adults in the crowd singing along.

Set up on the basketball court were informational tables for community groups, including Girl Scouts, Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center and the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Inside the renovated lodge were informational tables from Helderberg Workshop, the RCS Community Library and Bethlehem Historical Society, among others. RCS Community Library Director Lisa Neuman staffed a table informing attendees of the many services and programming available at the library.

“The RCS Community Library attended the Albany County Summer Fest at Lawson Lake to get the word out to everyone about the great job that all of the libraries in Albany County are doing and all of the great programs and summer reading programs and summer reading challenges that they offer for kids, teens and adults,” said Neuman as she manned her brightly colored table of offerings.

“We also want to remind everyone that you can still come to the library for our low-cost print services, our copy and fax services, and to get help with getting started with borrowing your books online.”

Albany County Executive Dan McCoy was on hand for the event and to his surprise was presented with a birthday cake by the new Parks & Recreation director. The crowd cheered and sang along as the cake was presented.

“I just want to say please come down to this hidden gem we have here in Lawson Lake,” McCoy said. “I want to let everyone know it’s not just for Coeymans or New Scotland or Ravena residents. It’s for everybody in Albany County, the whole district.

“Today’s a fun day, our Summer Fest—we brought it back. We have three bands going on today, we have food trucks coming in. We just had a race going on. We’ve got rock climbing. We have basketball, face painting, all sorts of crafts, inside we have fun activities for the whole family,” said McCoy. “Even if you can’t make it this time, pay attention to what we’ve got going on and come down for another event.

McCoy said there are many reasons to come visit the county park.

“We have free kayaking every day down here and we’re going to have swimming,” he said. “We just put new bathrooms down by the beach. We’re building a new building down there, so we have a lot of good things going on. We want people to come out here and enjoy the nature trails; just come take everything that you can take in or just come for the serenity.”