About Me
I’m a proud lifelong resident of the Village of Menands. I grew up here, went to school here, and chose to buy my home here after graduating from Cornell University. I then earned my master’s degree at The College of Saint Rose and began a fulfilling career in education. Since 2006, I’ve been a social studies teacher at Shaker, focusing on American history and civics to help students become active and informed citizens.
In 2013, inspired by Mayor Meg Grenier, I decided to run for the Village of Menands Board of Trustees on the Menands Citizens Party ticket, putting my passion for public service into practice. For the past 12 years, I’ve had the privilege of working collaboratively with the board on crucial initiatives, including:
- Long-overdue infrastructure improvements
- Investments in our Broadway Business District
- Maintaining the high quality of life and services residents expect
Key Accomplishments
Here are some highlights of what we’ve achieved together:
- “Quiet Zone” on the Railroad: Worked with Mayor Meg Grenier to implement a “quiet zone” for trains within the village, stopping horns from 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM.
- Sage Estate Trails Improvements: Chaired a committee overseeing enhancements to the Sage Estate Trails, adding trail markers, bridges, a pavilion, interpretive signage, and a StoryWalk (a joint effort with Menands School and Menands Public Library).
- Ganser-Smith Park Upgrades: Collaborated with the board on planning and implementing significant improvements to Ganser-Smith Park, including:
- A new gazebo (for use as a bandstand)
- New basketball courts
- New bleachers and baseball fields
- Renovated bathrooms
- A new Pickleball court
- Increased Board Meeting Accessibility: Drafted a local law to use Google Meet for board meetings and post video recordings, allowing residents to participate remotely.
- Economic Development Initiatives: Oversaw interns from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations who focused on economic development, with visible results throughout Menands.
- Weekly Food Truck Corral: Organized our popular weekly food truck corral.
- Fiscal Responsibility & Shared Services: Identified creative ways to keep taxes reasonable while maintaining services, including implementing shared services with the Town of Colonie and Albany County to reduce redundant services.
Goals for the Next Four Years
For the next four years, I’m committed to continuing our progress, with a focus on:
- South End Reconstruction Project: Completing the decade-long South End water, sewer, and road reconstruction project by securing grants and finalizing engineering plans.
- Polk-Switzer Park Improvement Plan: Convening a committee to create a plan for improving Polk-Switzer Park, similar to what we did with Ganser-Smith Park, while preserving its unique character.
- Hutton Street Park Vision & Improvements: Working with South End residents to develop a vision for the future of Hutton Street Park and improving it with a playground.
- High Service Reservoir Replacement: Replacing the high service reservoir (which feeds Sage Hill, Roost Estates, Edgewood Circle, Park Drive, and Van Rensselaer Blvd) as it’s beyond its useful life. I aim to work with our new grant writer to secure maximum funding to ensure the availability of drinking water.
- Maintaining High Service Levels: Collaborating with the mayor and the board to maintain the high level of services residents enjoy, including our clerk, DPW, fire department, police, and youth services.
- Expanding Youth and Adult Programs: Strengthening our summer park program and expanding year-round offerings, including youth and adult programs such as pickleball, yoga, guided meditation, ceramics, and cookie decorating.
By working together, we can continue to improve Menands in many ways, addressing aging infrastructure and keeping up with the times, all while preserving the culture, services, and vibe that we all cherish.