Child Victims Act left behind in state’s budget, kept alive by survivors

The state budget left out the Child Victims Act — a bill supported by the governor and the State Assembly — that would have extended the statute of limitations for child victims of sexual assault, but adult survivors are not giving up.

Meanwhile, a group called Lawyers Helping Survivors of Child Sex Abuse released a document entitled “Hidden Disgrace III” on March 29, listing all of the priests who have worked for the Albany Diocese and have been accused of sexual abuse, what they are alleged to have done, and all the places they have worked. Included among the names are two connections with St. Madeleine Sophie of Guilderland.

The story and a recent podcast recount the personal story of abuse by a priest told by Rensselaerville resident Richard Tollner, who pursued a canonical penal trial in 2006. 

Cancer soldier, 13, is welcomed to the Union Army’s 125th Regiment

Signing on: Liam Flaherty, 13, signs conscription papers to join the Union Army as Richard Talay, playing the part of corporal, at right, steadies the papers and Michael Decker, center, stands watch.

This past Saturday, in an event organized by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, men dressed as Union soldiers visited Flaherty, who has been through aggressive treatments for lymphoma. The Farnsworth Middle School student has a particular interest in American military history.

Sisson-Chrysler and Bashwinger vie for BKW Board seat

School and library district votes are coming up on May 15.

The Guilderland School Board is proposing a $100.9 million budget, with several items added Tuesday.

Berne-Knox-Westerlo is seeing a race between Incumbent Lillian Sisson-Chrysler and Berne highway Superintendent Randy Bashwinger, above.

Bashwinger ran unsuccessfully for BKW school board last year in a five-way race for three seats, saying that the district needed upgrades and to eliminate its high staff turnover rate. He also defended his town position last year, saying that it would not be a conflict of interest because he does not control a budget. The district and the town have shared transportation services before, and there had been talks last year of sharing a garage.

In Voorheesville, Alan Kowlowitz will be the one candidate on the ballot for the library trustee election.

Guilderland has new judge and new highway super

 Guilderland has a new justice in trial attorney Christine Napierski, pictured above, and a new highway superintendent in the current director of parks and recreation, Gregory Wier.

Napierski replaces Richard Sherwood who resigned on March 5, a week-and-a-half after he was charged with grand larceny and scheme to defraud, both felonies.

Knox creates new ZBA-alternate post and fills it

A newly appointed alternate to the Knox Zoning Board signals a third change to the town’s planning and zoning boards, following several new appointments and the enactment of an attendance law.

Other voices
Podcast: Ava DeSantis, 16, and trying to change the world

Ava DeSantis, 16, discusses raising funds and awareness for the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy

Westerlo applies for grant to repair highway garage

Frasher hopes to bring compassion to her new role as Rensselaerville judge

Hunters killed 5 percent fewer deer last season

Couillard stars in Delmar concert

Learn about invasive species while taking a walk in the woods

Voorheesville Public Library proposes flat $1.18 million budget

Editorial

From the editor: The Enterprise 3rd in stateamong single-flag newspapers

Be proud if you carry the badge of age well

By John R. Williams