​Republicans from Claverack and Philmont gathered Tuesday night to endorse candidates for town offices in the upcoming November election.
 
Picking up unanimous endorsements at the caucus were Claverack Town Supervisor Kippy Weigelt, Town Councilmen Stephen Hook and Brian Keeler, Town Clerk/Tax Collector Mary Jeanne Hoose, and Town Highway Superintendent Lou Lamont.
 
Supervisor Weigelt addressed the crowd following the vote, thanking all for attending and reviewing some of the many successes and accomplishments the team of officials have had over the past term, including investments in infrastructure, improvements to the town park, development of a new town website, and the consolidation of town departments and services to reduce the cost of government.
 
Mary Jeanne Hoose, who has served as Claverack Town Clerk/Tax Collector for more than 20 years, remarked how well town government is operating since Weigelt took the helm back in 2014. “Claverack is working,” said Hoose, noting how “cooperatively and effectively the Supervisor and bipartisan Town Board work.”
 
Also attending the event and speaking with caucus goers were Columbia County Sheriff David Bartlett, who is seeking reelection, and Republican candidate for County Coroner Roy Brown.

The Claverack Republican Club kicks off the 2017 Summer Concert Series season Thursday, July 6 with a free show by the popular country band Thunder Ridge from 7 to 9 p.m. in the pavilion at the Claverack Town Park, Off Church Street, Mellenville.

The series offers free concerts in the park every Thursday evening during July and August, with a wide array of food and snacks available for purchase at the snack bar each evening.

Thunder Ridge, based in the Kingston/West Shokan area, is comprised of Dorraine Scofield on fiddle, mandolin and vocals; Chris Walsh on rhythm guitar and vocals; Larry Federman on lead and slide guitar; J.B. Hunt on bass, and Dave Ryan on percussion.

They were the winners of the 1996 True Value Country Showdown, a major national country music competition, and have shared the stage with such CMA illuminaries as Sawyer Brown, the Charlie Daniels Band, Shenandoah, Ricky Van Shelton, Clay Walker, and Pirates of the Mississippi. They have also appeared on Nancy Fuller’s television show Farmhouse Rules on the Food Network.

Lead vocalist Dorraine Scofield released her first solo CD, entitled I’m Gonna Sing, in 2010 and was the guest opener at the late Levon Helms’ Midnight Rambler sessions. Promoting the disc led to appearances with Diamond Rio, John Sebastian, Bill Staines, Little Texas, John Hall, and Kathy Mattea.

Other concerts in this summer’s series are the Darrick Kenny Band on July 13, Southbound on July 20, Jarrod on July 27, Peaceful Country August 3, King of the Forest on August 10, The 217 Band on August 17, The Oldies Show on August 24, and The Fender Bender Band on August 31.
These family events, which have become a tradition in the Town of Claverack, are supported through contributions from business and corporate sponsors.