Everyday on the streets of America, including right here in Columbia County, our police officers are faced with the daunting task of keeping us safe. The tragic event in Minneapolis recently has made the job of all cops exponentially more difficult.

We want our police officers to know that they are appreciated. They are thought of, and they are supported.

To show our support and appreciation, we're giving away five "Back the Blue" t-shirts, absolutely free. The only thing we ask is that the winners of the t-shirts wear them proud and wear them often!

We’re sorry to report that we’re forced to cancel the 2020 Summer Concert Series due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Summer Concert Series has been a staple of the Claverack community for the past nine years, offering free concerts by top local bands Thursday nights in July and August at the Claverack Town Park.

In making the announcement, Club vice-president Charles Schram said the group had been grappling with ways to alter the program to bring it into compliance with CDC guidelines for reducing the transmission of the Covid-19 virus, which has virtually shut down huge segments of the country’s economy, particularly the dining and entertainment segments, since March.

“There was simply no way to make it work,” Schram said, “given the nature of the venue and the close interaction required.”

In mid-March, the Claverack Town Board announced that it was closing the park ‪through July 29‬ and would re-evaluate the closure decision at that time, possibly extending it into August or beyond.

“That effectively eliminated half of our season,” Schram said. “It made the decision for us.”

Schram noted that the bands had already been booked for the season and a number of corporate donations had been received.

“The bands have been great,” he said. “They understand what we’re going through. There really was no other choice. I’m sure this was not the only gig they’ve lost because of Covid-19.”

Schram said the monetary donations have all been returned.

The club will begin planning for the 2021 season at the first of the year.
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“There is no way to plan ahead with this thing,” he said. “This is all new territory. We just have to take it as it comes.”

The Claverack Republican Club will hold its annual free Easter Egg Hunt for all Claverack youths ages 1 to 9 Saturday, April 20 at the Claverack Town Park, 91 Church Street, Mellenville.

The doors open at 10 a.m. with the hunts getting underway at 11 a.m., rain, snow or sun.

Prize baskets are awarded in three age categories: 1-3 years old, 4 to 6 years old, and 7 to 9 years old, along with additional prizes hidden in eggs all around the fields.

The day will also feature a visit from the Easter Bunny and free refreshments for adults and children.

Participating children are reminded to bring their own baskets or bags to collect eggs and candy on the field.

The Claverack Republican Club also sponsors the Summer Concert Series, featuring 9 weeks of free concerts during July and August, also at the Claverack Park. This year’s Summer Concert Series brings back the popular chicken barbecue, the Emergency Services night, and special promotions for local community organizations, including the Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Everlasting Hope Animal Rescue, and the Mellenville-Philmont Food Pantry.

Volunteers from the Claverack Republican Club, including Deputy Town Supervisor Stephen Hook, gathered Saturday morning to perform their annual roadside cleanup on three miles of adopted highway in the Town of Claverack.  Volunteers collected 15 bags of trash and litter from the shoulder of the road. The cleanup is an annual project of the Claverack Republican Club, in conjunction with the New York State Department of Transportation's Adopt-A-Highway program.

The Claverack Republican Club will conduct its annual roadside cleanup Saturday, May 6 in the Claverack Hamlet.

​A number of years ago the group “adopted” three one-mile stretches of road leading to the traffic light in the center of the hamlet and each spring members and volunteers, in conjunction with the NYS Department of Transportation, pick up the trash that has accumulated along the sides of those three stretches.
 
Reflective helmets and vests, along with special tools and bags, are supplied by the NYS DOT, which sponsors the “Adopt A Highway” program throughout the state. DOT trucks pick up the accumulated bags of trash at the conclusion of the clean-up.
 
Anyone wishing to join the group for the cleanup should report to the staging area behind the A.B. Shaw firehouse by 9 a.m. on the day of the event.
 
In the event of rain, the effort will be postponed until the following Saturday.
 
The Claverack Republican Club also sponsors the recent Easter Egg Hunt at the Claverack Park and the free Summer Concert Series Thursday evenings during July and August, also at the Claverack Town Park in Mellenville.
 
The group meets the first Thursday of the month at the Claverack Town Hall. ​

The Claverack Republican Club's annual Easter egg hunt, held April 15, 2017 at the Town Park, was a success! Many thanks to all of the volunteers who make this event happen every year.