Author: Clean Air Coalition

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Proactive not Reactive!

COMPLIMENTS TO COEYMANS TOWN BOARD

BOND RESOLUTION UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED!

The Clean Air Coalition would like to thank the Coeymans Town Board for passing the bond resolution on the evening of February 26, 2026.

You can listen to the meeting here on YouTube.

  • The sewer project discussion starts at minute 57 on the red dot timeline (not the time at the bottom of the screen). 
  • Henry Travers makes the first brilliant public comment on the project at minute 1hr:11min.  
  • Travers is followed by others who are just as persuasive, reminding the Board to be “Proactive not Reactive” and “Don’t Play Russian Roulette” with the Sewer
  • The final reading and vote on the resolution starts at minute 1hr 34min.  

Our thanks go to all four members of the Board and especially to everyone who spoke up to ensure this project needs to go ahead.

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Let’s not flush away free money!

 

The age-old sewer system in Ravena and the hamlet of Coeymans is on the brink of failing. Increasingly intense rainfall can cause sewage backup and force untreated waste into the Hudson River. Our antiquated system poses problems today that can lead to severe health risks later, including bacterial infections and disease transmission. Repairs are needed now to avoid these serious issues. 

After working on an application for 2 years, the Town has been given $2.5 million to repair the system, but the money will vanish unless ALL four members of the Town Board pass a bond resolution to support the sewer project.  

Tomorrow, Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 6 pm, the Coeymans Town Board will vote on the bond resolution.  Please come to support the resolution.  

The message is simple: 

“I don’t want the sewers to fail.  Pass the bond resolution today.”
No bond = no grant
No grant = no project 
No project = more sewer failures

The CAC has provided you with email links (below) to write to all the town board members today, if you can’t make the meeting tomorrow:

Supervisor, Stephen Donnelly: sdonnelly@coeymans.org;
Deputy Supervisor, Mike Stott: mstott@coeymans.org;
Board member, Steve Schmitt: sschmitt@coeymans.org;
Board member, Patricia Grogan: pgrogan@coeymans.org.

Do you want to wade through sewage after the next heavy rain?   
Let’s fix the system now.  The money is here. 

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Happy New Year 2026!

Happy New Year from Hannacroix Bay Swamp Forest & Garden, a Barbets Duet site on the Hudson River. Enjoy this 2025 summary of progress written by our CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen. Barbara and her friends, Eric Remillard, along with countless neighbors are helping to make a positive difference in the return of a small plot once polluted by industrial debris and invasive growth. Their time, energy and passion have culminated into something special for all to admire and enjoy. If you’d enjoy a tour of the space or would like to volunteer, feel free to email!

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Voters of Coeymans!

TO THE VOTERS OF COEYMANS

October 1, 2025

In 2019, then Town Supervisor, Phil Crandall, and the Town Council passed a strong Clean Air Law to limit the use of waste as fuel and reduce toxic emissions. “Without clean air, clean water, and clean soils, you have nothing,” Crandall said. The Law had broad popular support, especially after stopping a 2017 plan to burn Connecticut’s municipal waste at the Ravena cement plant. When George McHugh became Town Supervisor in 2020, he weakened the Clean Air Law and changed local rules to allow a major transfer station. Stephen Donnelly was elected in 2023 but these rollbacks remain in place today.  Coeymans is clearly at risk of becoming a dumping ground: The Port of Coeymans and Coeymans Recycling already handle various waste streams. The Ravena cement plant is committed to burning waste as fuel. And, without action, Coeymans could be overrun by waste, truck traffic, and pollution.

Voters of Coeymans
Ask all Town Council candidates when they come to your door if they will restore a strong Clean Air Law and limit waste imports into our town. Our health and future depend on it!

For a detailed outline of events and sources of information, download and review this PDF page that documents the saga of industrial over-development in our beautiful river town!

This post entry was paid for by the Clean Air Coalition of Greater Ravena Coeymans. Not authorized by any candidate or campaign.

HISTORY OF CLEAN AIR & SOLID WASTE LAWS IN COEYMANS

SAME AS ABOVE WITHOUT PHOTOS

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Barbara wins “Top 5ive Changemaker” award

Dear Friends Of The Environment,

In March, two local environmental advocates spotted an item in the Ravena News Herald about a CAPITAL REGION INDEPENDENT MEDIA contest looking to crown the top 5 “community change-makers” from Southern Albany & Northern Green County — the areas they serve with their 5 local papers.  

You can read about THE TOP 5IVE award here: https://theupstater.com/top-5-event/

Advocates immediately thought of CAC Chair, Barbara Heinzen and all she does to inform, protect, and enhance the community and its natural surroundings – and got down to submitting!

Drum roll please… 

Barbara won! 

We’re so proud of her!!

The announcement will be published in the Columbia Paper, Greenville Pioneer, the Ravena News Harold, and the Upstater’s newest acquisition, a paper in Cobleskill (not sure of the name), as well as on their social media pages.  

BUT — even better(!!) — there’s going to be a gala dinner at the Wire Event Center, the super snazzy venue next to the Newbury boutique hotel in Coxsackie, where the awards will be presented. 

Let’s rally our environmental advocates, show our support, and celebrate Barbara’s win together! 

DATE:  Friday, May 23, 2025

TIME: 6p-9p 

PLACE:  The Wire Event Center

COST:   $75 / Ticket

Reserve:  https://thetop5ive.ticketmambo.com/index.cfm?e=event&eventId=36402

It ain’t cheap but, I bet we will have a great time!