News from the Past in Memory of Harry A. Sturges

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

COEYMANS — The town is considering purchasing the former Community Care building on Route 9W for conversion into a new town hall.

The board held an informal public hearing Thursday to discuss the property and gather feedback from the community. A handful of residents turned out for the meeting.

For several years the town has been seeking an affordable option to replace the current town hall on Russell Avenue, which is outdated and has mold issues in the basement. Officials late last year signed a contract to purchase Grace United Methodist Church, but in March reconsidered the costs to renovate the building — estimated at $5 million — and backed out of the deal.

Now, with the closure of the Community Care medical office in May, the Route 9W building came onto their radar.

Town Supervisor Stephen Donnelly said there were numerous benefits to purchasing the property.

“First and foremost, location,” he said. “It’s right on the main artery of our town. There’s safety — police and courts will be together and they’ll meet the New York state standards. There would be a bit more rapid completion time there.”

The building was built in 1996 and is in good condition, including a new roof that was installed last year, Donnelly said. “It’s about as turnkey as we are going to get.”

The purchase price is roughly $994,000 for the property, and an addition would be constructed under the plan at an additional cost of $1.4 million, for a total price of about $2,458,500, Donnelly said.

The property would include all town offices, the courtroom and police station.

Among the construction that would be needed is the installation of three bulletproof transaction windows and two interior walls to retrofit the building for the police department. There is also a garage on site, which would be used as space for storing town records.

“The total space right now, including the building and the garage, is 12,000 square feet of storage and office space,” Donnelly said.

The addition, which would house the court and would have to comply with regulations from the state’s Office of Court Administration, would add another 4,200 square feet.

Resident Barbara Tanner asked if the size of the small rooms in the former medical office is adequate for the town’s needs.

“All the department heads went there and they were completely satisfied,” Donnelly responded. “They said their office space was more than adequate. The assessor said the same thing about her office space.”

Schmitt said that once the addition was constructed, the space would be similar to the current town hall.

“The building that’s over there currently is about 4,200 or 4,300 square feet, and this would be a 2,100 square foot addition,” Schmitt said. “So once the addition is on, that building would be comparable to this.”

Tanner also asked about plans for the future of the current town hall on Russell Avenue. Donnelly said the building could be sold if a buyer can be found and there are multiple potential uses for the space, such as for a teen center, mental health facility, daycare, and so on.

Another resident asked about the additional office space the town is currently renting on Mountain Road Extension from business owner Robert Nolan for $2,000 a month. That lease is up in December 2025 and when the lease expires, the town would vacate that space, Town Councilman Michael Stott said.

Town Clerk Candace McHugh, speaking as a resident, questioned the projected construction costs for the addition of a court space. The cost to build the public bathroom at Joralemon Park for a seasonal building was $1,080 per square foot but the projected cost for the court is $650 per square foot.

“I’m a little concerned about the cost of that,” she said.

McHugh suggested keeping the current building and housing the court and police station there instead of moving them to the Route 9W site.

“Leave them here and retrofit this for them,” she suggested.

“I would think if you have all of your safety facilities in one place, it would be easier for the building and then in that building there would be less to do to get everyone else in a safe space,” she said.

Donnelly said that after speaking with the town’s engineering firm, MJ Engineering, repairing the Russell Avenue building and making it compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act would be too costly at $2.5 million.

“This building is decrepit and not worth repairing to the point of millions of dollars.”

Town Councilman Ronald Hotaling said the town is looking to provide a new town hall at a reasonable price and the property on Route 9W would meet the town’s needs.

“I would love to build something huge, but my belief is this — we’re trying to be prudent with taxpayers’ dollars,” Hotaling said. “We are the town of Coeymans, we are not the town of Clifton Park,” Hotaling said. “We don’t need a huge, huge facility — we need to get a building that takes care of the health and safety of the people that work for our town. We need a building that accomplishes the tasks and the goals of the employees that work here to do the town’s business in a safe and proper way, and to be able to maintain those records and the safety of all the employees that work here. That’s what we need — we don’t need all the bells and whistles.”

Town Councilman Stephen Schmitt said getting input from the community was important to the board.

“We didn’t want to just make this purchase without having public input,” Schmitt said. “We appreciate you coming and speaking your mind and being honest with us.”

The town board is still accepting public input on the proposal and residents can call or email the town with questions or comments. A rough draft of the project’s details is expected to be presented at the next town board meeting on Thursday, June 25, at 6 p.m.

By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family program, initiated by Capital Region Independent Media (CRIM), is once again bringing comfort and community to the Capital District.

Led by CRIM’s Vice President and Publisher Warren Dews Jr., this initiative has become a local tradition, providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need through partnerships with local businesses, schools and organizations. This year marks the fourth year the program has been running in Ravena and Greenville, with the event continuing to deepen its impact on the community.

What began as a simple idea years ago has grown into a powerful community initiative with an army of volunteers activated to fulfill the mission.

“Our role as a media company is not only to inform but to touch and support the community,” said Dews. “By uniting our advertisers, subscribers and volunteers, we’re able to provide meaningful support where it’s needed most.”

With support from new subscriptions and sponsorships, this year’s program is ensuring that families across the Capital Region will gather for a Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing, and all the traditional trimmings.

This year, Capital Region Independent Media is inviting readers to participate through a unique opportunity that will extend this impact into December. From now until Dec. 26, the newspaper will donate one meal to a family in need for every new subscription purchased. Two-year subscriptions, for instance, will directly provide two meals to local families.

Each meal includes a 12-pound turkey, two cans of corn, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, a dozen rolls and a liter of soda, ensuring that families have a hearty, traditional Thanksgiving experience.

The need is immense. In New York, 1 in 9 people face hunger daily, and 1 in 6 are children. Nearly a third of households receiving SNAP benefits include children, underscoring the importance of programs like Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family, which help bridge gaps left by existing charity and government support.

The program’s success relies heavily on partnerships with local sponsors, including Shop ‘n’ Save, Holcim, Nolan Energy, Carver Companies, TCI and Crossroads Ford. Organizations such as Helping Harvest, St. Catherine’s Center for Children, Church of St. Patrick, and Trinity United Methodist Church play a vital role, helping identify those in need and distributing meals to families and individuals.

Some recipients will receive meals directly, while others will find support through their local food pantries and schools. TCI, a local sponsor, will distribute meals to families identified through their Backpack Program at RCS High School, which provides food for students who might otherwise go without over weekends.

“This is more than just providing a meal,” said John Barr of TCI. “It’s about strengthening our community connections and making sure everyone has a place at the table.”

The impact of the program is deeply felt among families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity, especially during the holiday season.

Thanks to the continued support of local sponsors who understand the need in the community, Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family has grown into a deeply cherished local tradition, making sure the season of giving is a time of warmth and inclusion. Through community efforts and each new subscription, the program offers an opportunity for everyone to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their neighbors this holiday season.