Author Archives: Express Weekly

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Former City of Mechanicville Mayor Thomas J. Higgins

MECHANICVILLE – Former City of Mechanicville Mayor Thomas J. Higgins, died Tuesday, November 19, 2013, in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family after a long illness. Born in Troy, on February 9, 1931, the son of the late Mechanicville Comm. of Accounts William E. Higgins, Sr. and Veronica Purtle Higgins, Tom was a 1948 graduate ofMechanicville High School.  Elected Mayor of Mechanicville in November 1993, Tom served 3 terms, leaving office in 2006. He had also previously served as Comm. of Finance and Chairman of the cities Civil Service Commission. A hard worker who maintained two jobs for most of his working life, Tom was a Postal Carrier for the US Postal Service in Mechanicville for over 30 years during which time he also worked for the B&M Railroad. Tom also worked as a licensed electrician, as a security guard at Saratoga Raceway, and spent the last of his working years at Clifton Park Toyota. A dedicated civic-minded resident, Tom was the longtime treasurer of the Mechanicville Fire Dept., and a life member of E.H. Strang Hose Co. #3. Tom also volunteered his time to Mechanicville Stillwater Little League, St. Paul’s CYO basketball, Meals on Wheels, and with his adopted greyhound visited hospitals and nursing homes through the Therapy Dog Institute. A member of All Saints on the Hudson Parish and a 42 year member of the Mechanicville Elks Lodge, Tom was known for his quick wit and sense of humor that served him well as toastmaster on the banquet circuit. A lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, Tom enjoyed watching the Red Sox recently win their third World Series in the last 10 years. Most of all Tom loved his family, and spending time with his 8 children, 14 grandchildren, and their extended families.

In addition to his parents, Tom was predeceased by his first wife, Annetta Grimes Higgins in 1976, and his brothers Jack and Bill.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Madeline Robens Higgins, who he married in 1979, his children: Michael (Judy) Higgins of Glenville, Meg Overocker (Gary Warren) of Delmar, Peter (Gina) Higgins of Stillwater, Tim (Theresa) and Joe (Karen) Higgins both of Mechanicville, Joe Robens of Weston Hill, Florida, Laurie (Thom) Tyrrell of Waterford, and Shaun (Grace) Robens of Clifton Park. Tom’s grandchildren are: Katie (Chris) Plume, Amity & Adam Higgins, Ryan & Shaina Overocker (Steve Salomon), Reid, Abby, Maggie, Kelsey, Eamonn, Skyler & Ashley Higgins, Salina & Madeline Tyrrell; sisters-in-law Marion Higgins & Rose Miller of Mechanicville and several nieces, nephews and their families. The Higgins family thanks Dr. Louis Ianniello & Dr. S. Patel and their staffs, and Community Hospice of Saratoga for their care, compassion and concern.

 

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at Noon at All Saints on the Hudson South Church, 121 No. Main St., with burial in St. Paul’s Cemetery.

Calling hours at the North Main St. Church on Thursday from 4-7 PM.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Community Hospice of Saratoga in loving memory of Thomas J. Higgins.

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Fundraiser for JP Honsinger – By Sandy McBride

“He’s just a 10 year old kid, running around.”

So says Donna Wojtowicz Honsinger of Clifton Park of her son, JP.  But less than two months ago, Donna and her husband Jay learned that JP’s eye problems, balance issues and occasional seizures put that fun-loving and active boy into a rare group of fighters.  Concerned about his vertical gaze palsy and the balance issues, a neurologist had sent them to Boston Children’s Hospital in June for a skin biopsy.  Further tests were administered in September after he suffered a minor fall at his school, followed by a seizure.

“We were thinking maybe epilepsy,” Donna says.

Full Article in the Nov. 14 issue of the Express

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Kids from 5 Counties Write Anti-Bullying Song – By Sandy McBride

“Bullying is bad, bullying is wrong.  If you don’t like hurting others, then sing our bullying song!”

This is the opening line of a song written by schoolchildren from six schools in a five-county area under the mentorship of Richie Phillips, well-known radio disc jockey with WGNA 107.7, part of the team of “Sean and Richie and Bethany in the Morning”.  The students in Vicki Schuette’s fourth grade class at Stillwater Elementary School were among the young composers.

How the song was composed is a fascinating story.

“These kids never even met each other,” Richie says.

Richie, who began his grown-up life as a social studies teacher before he “turned in his blackboard for a keyboard” and became a radio personality, has long been dedicated to working with children in his “Reading, Writing and Rhyming” program which he presents in area schools.  He has been a disc jockey with WGNA for 23 years, playing the best in country music. In 2000, he was the co-recipient of the Country Music Association’s award for Best Morning Radio Show in a Mid-size Market, an award which he has also received from the New York State Broadcasters Association.  And his “Reading, Writing and Rhyming” program has twice been honored by the NYSBA.

Full article in the Nov. 14th issue of the Express

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City Looking for New Fire Engine – By Harold Wessell

MECHANICVILLE. November 6 ñ The City Council will decide within a couple weeks whether to go in with another fire department to get the best deal on a needed new engine, or incorporate a financed purchase into the 2014 budget.

A resolution before the Council for the November 6 meeting had indicated that "The Mechanicville Fire Department is in desperate need of a new fire truck," and the Village of Hudson Falls is allowing the City of Mechanicville to piggyback with them to get a much better price, the current best deal being offered by Pierce Manufacturing, Inc. for the particular apparatus. The resolution proposed to purchase a fire truck now, using the NYS Revolving Loan at a fixed percent of 2.5% and a bond not to exceed $486,545.00.

Full Story in the Nov. 14th Issue

 

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Mrs. Rose Sabatino Haskell – 90

Mrs. Rose Sabatino Haskell - 90

MECHANICVILLE – Mrs. Rose Sabatino Haskell, 90, of Kennedy Gardens and former longtime resident of Stillwater, died Saturday evening, Nov. 9th, after a brief illness.

A native of Mechanicville, born February 8, 1923, she was daughter of the late Phillip and Frances Zafonta Sabatino and widow of Louis T. Haskell, married for 53 years, who died exactly 14 years earlier to Rose’s date of death.  A homemaker, Rose had been a secretary for the General Electric in Schenectady for some years.  Rose had a soft and pleasant personality, kept a beautiful home, and loved looking after her children, grandchildren and her sibling’s families. She enjoyed card playing, golf and bowling, along with taking walks.  She was a faithful member and former longtime religious education teacher of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church in Stillwater.

Survivors include her two daughters Holly (William) Wray of Niskayuna, Patricia (Jack) Jordan of Clifton Park, son Louis T. Haskell, Jr. of Florida, grandchildren: John (Rachel),  Michael, Thomas, Anne Jordan and Allyson Wray, great grandchildren Dylan Louis and Alexis Rose, along with nieces, nephews and their families.  Rose was also predeceased by sisters Mary Russo, Ann Conley, Elsie Shields and Adeline Gilbert, and brothers Joseph, Charles and Sylva Sabatino.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 AM at All Saints on the Hudson North Church (St. Peter’s) Hudson Ave., Stillwater.  Burial in the Saratoga National Cemetery.  There will be no calling hours.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to All Saints on the Hudson Church Endowment Fund, in memory of Rose S. Haskell  Arrangements by DeVito-Salvadore Funeral Home, Mechanicville.  Visit www.devito-salvadorefh.com to leave condolences and for directions.

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Judith A. “Judy” Forino-Fantauzzi – 56

Judith A. "Judy" Forino-Fantauzzi passed away on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at St. Mary's Hospital, Troy with her loving family at her side. She was 56.

Relatives and friends may call from 3-7pm on Friday, November 15 at the Chase-Smith Family Funeral Homes, 319 Park Avenue, Mechanicville. Funeral Mass will be at 11:00am on Saturday at All Saints on the Hudson, South Church, 121 North Main Street Mechanicville. Burial will follow in the family plot in St. Paul's Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Mechanicville Stillwater Breast Cancer Walk, C/O  Joyce DiVirgilio, 270 South Main Street, Mechanicville, NY 12118 in Judy's honor.  Online remembrances may be made at www.chasesmithfamily.com

Full Obituary will be in the Nov. 21st issue of The Express

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James E. Gannon, Jr. – 71

STILLWATER – James E. Gannon, Jr., 71, of Hudson Ave., died Sunday, Nov 3rd at Van Rensselaer Manor, Troy, after a short illness.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, Nov 13th at 10 AM at All Saints on the Hudson Church, 881 Hudson Ave., Stillwater.  Burial in St. Peter’s Cemetery.  Calling hours at the DeVito-Salvadore Funeral Home, 39 So. Main St., Mechanicville on Tuesday from 5-7 PM.

In lieu of flowers, Jim’s wish would be for remembrances are made to either the Stillwater Rescue Squad of Arvin Hart FD in memory of James E. Gannon, Jr.  Visit www.devito-salvadorefh.com to leave condolences and for directions.

Full obituary in the Nov. 14th Issue of the Express.

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Awards and Achievements – November 2013

Local Students Earn Scholarships at Hudson Valley Community College

TROY, NY (11/08/2013)(readMedia)-- Local students were among those honored Nov. 1 at the National Philanthropy Day® Celebration and Scholarship Reception at Hudson Valley Community College. The event honors and recognizes all HVCC Foundation scholarship recipients for the current academic year.

Amanda Done of Clifton Park, who is studying in the Construction Technology program, was the recipient of the John R. Fletcher Memorial Scholarship.

Kathryn Carola of Mechanicville, who is studying in the Individual Studies program, was the recipient of the Women in Enterprise (WE) @ HVCC Scholarship.

Chelsea Smith of Melrose, who is studying in the Construction Technology program, was the recipient of the Abbott L. Wiley Scholarship.

Chelsea Smith of Melrose, who is studying in the Construction Technology program, was the recipient of the Rensselaer County Association of Town Superintendents of Highways Scholarship.

Natalia Wolosen of Schaghticoke, who is studying in the Human Services program, was the recipient of the Patty Walsh '92 Memorial Scholarship.

Richard Osborne of Mechanicville, who is studying in the Civil Engineering Technology program, was the recipient of the John & Marguerite LaPan Memorial Scholarship.

Kristopher Briggs of Johnsonville, who is studying in the Physical Education Studies program, was the recipient of the Otto V. Guenther Scholarship.

Leah Remington of Melrose, who is studying in the Early Childhood program, was the recipient of the NYS Federation of Home Bureaus, Inc. Scholarship-Saratoga.

Leah Remington of Melrose, who is studying in the Early Childhood program, was the recipient of the Women in Enterprise (WE) @ HVCC Scholarship.

Stephanie Gagnon of Melrose, who is studying in the Humanities and Social Science: Liberal Arts and Science program, was the recipient of the Presidential Honors Scholarship.

Micaela Inama of Mechanicville, who is studying in the Humanities and Social Science: Liberal Arts and Science program, was the recipient of the Presidential Honors Scholarship.

Sydney Ritchie-Liddle of Valley Falls, who is studying in the Humanities and Social Science: Liberal Arts and Science program, was the recipient of the Presidential Honors Scholarship.

Victoria Savallo of Clifton Park, who is studying in the Humanities and Social Science: Liberal Arts and Science program, was the recipient of the Presidential Honors Scholarship.

Kathryn Stead of Clifton Park inducted into college's Athletic Hall of Fame

OSWEGO -- Kathryn "Kat" Stead of Clifton Park, a 2004 alumna of SUNY Oswego, joined the ranks of 78 other accomplished individuals who have been voted into the SUNY Oswego Athletic Hall of Fame, forever solidifying themselves in the college's athletic history. Stead and three fellow Oswego alumni were officially inducted into the Hall of Fame during a ceremony Nov.  2 in Sheldon Hall ballroom on campus. Others inducted were baseball player Bob Brutsch '71 of Crested Butte, Colo., wrestler Brian V. McGann '70 of Cutler Bay, Fla., and swimmer Anne Sarkissian DeRue '04 of Oswego.  "This year's honorees represent some of the best athletes in Oswego State's long athletic history," said event organizer Laura Pavlus '09, interim director of alumni and parent relations. "We are honored to recognize them today." Stead graduated as the school's premier scorer in women's lacrosse and among the top five scorers in women's soccer. She holds every career offensive record in women's lacrosse, having scored 304 points on 221 goals and 83 assists.

Abigail Lee member of SUNY Adirondack NJCAA Women's Volleyball 2013 Region III Championship Team

QUEENSBURY, NY (11/05/2013)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Adirondack women's volleyball team captured the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) 2013 Region III championship Sunday, Nov. 3 with a 3-2 win over defending champion Jamestown Community College at the regional tournament in Buffalo.  Abigail Lee, of Clifton Park, NY, is a member of the championship team. The win marks the first regional volleyball title in the history of the college. Karly Daly was named tournament MVP, and Kara Tecl and Madison Paquin were named to the All-Tournament Team.The Timberwolves will travel to Rochester, MN, to compete in the national tournament Nov. 15 and 16, 2013.