Sand Lake merchant to run for Legislature
SANDLAKE, N.Y. >> A local businessman who has raised funds for educational, youth and charitable organizations hwill run for a seat representing District 4 in the Rensselaer County Legislature.
Scott Bendett, president of the Averill Park Education Foundation and a supporter of many other community groups, said he wants to
focus on using his business experience to support economic development and job creation. Bendett said he will support fiscally responsible policies, investment in roads and infrastructure and seeking solutions to the opiate epidemic.
“After years of community service and experience growing a successful business, I believe I can provide leadership as [a] legislator to support educational efforts, protect taxpayers and create new jobs and growth in our country,” said Bendett in a news release announcing his candidacy.
Bendett has been a member of the Averill Park community for more than 10 years. He has been a trustee for the Averill Park Education Foundation for the past six years, including the last two as its president. He has also been active in Scouting as a leader and committeeman for the past 10 years and has also coached and volunteered for Averill Park Youth Soccer. As an appointed member of the town of the Sand Lake Zoning Board of Appeals, Bendett has worked on hundreds of variances over the past seven years.
Bendett grew up in the Capital Region, attending Niskayuna High School and the University at Albany. He started the Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe in 1995 in Colonie Center with 15 boxes of cigars. He built the shop and a mail order business into the largest retailer of pipes and tobaccos in the nation before selling the mail order portion five years ago, maintaining physical locations in Albany and North Greenbush.
Through his Habana stores, Bendett helped raise millions of dollars for local organizations, including youth and educational efforts, throughout the Capital Region many in Rensselaer County.
Bendett is married to Claudia, a nurse educator at St Peter’s Hospital, and the couple has two children, Sam and Ally, ages 16 and 11, respectively.
Traffic stop leads to Cohoesman’s arrest
COLONIE, N.Y. >> A Cohoes man was jailed on drug charges after a traffic stop early Saturday on Route 155.
State police said Davon K. Poole, 26, was stopped near Central Avenue about 1:40 a.m. for a traffic infraction and, after troopers noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle, a subsequent search led to the discovery of marijuana, crack cocaine and ecstasy.
Poole was charged with fourth- and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana. He was arraigned in Colonie Town Court and sent to Albany County jail, with bail set at $15,000.