Incumbent Rensselaerville Justice Gregory Bischoff won re-election by only nine votes, trailed by his Republican opponent, Richard Tollner. Although the Albany County Board of Election has released its official general election results, some ballots have been sent back to voters to be cured of any defects, and the final total for the Rensselaerville justice race won’t be known until the end of the month. 

RENSSELAERVILLE — Conkling Hall gets the holiday season going with a full day of festivities on Saturday, Dec. 2.

Berne officials will be meeting with Ardi Cecunjanin, the owner of 1628 Helderberg Trail, to discuss the building’s future after the town board had voted last month to have it demolished. The rear of the building is falling into the Fox Creek. 

The Albany County Legislature’s Finance Committee approved the purchase of the Berne-owned property at its Nov. 16 meeting, and Legislature Mark Grimm says that the full legislature is expected to authorize it at their next meeting on Dec. 4.

Sarah Gordon, Rensselaerville

Debra Barnes Breitenbach, Publicity Chair, Hilltowns Clothing Project Kiwanis Club of the Helderbergs

Donna Gwin, President, Friends of the Berne Library

Mona Monette, Berne

Christopher Gerken had applied for a special-use permit on his home property in Rensselaerville so that he could list the property as commercial and avoid losing his auto-dealer license. Despite the fact that Gerken has no plans to actually operate a dealership there, many residents showed up in opposition at a public hearing in September. 

Supervisor John Dolce told the Rensselaerville Town Board last week that it appears the town never authorized itself to provide medical benefits for its retirees, despite offering those benefits for decades. The town is currently checking for authorization, but will discuss alternative solutions at a later date.