The newest big event in Schaghticoke Event hold by the Hells Angels Camping for a weekend at the Green Island Rod and Gun Club such as music, food, fun and games. A group that was eager to counter the reputation even into the rural area.
The Nomads put on the event. Troy’s chapter of the long running motorcycle club which drew their compatriots from as far as the Carolinas. The smell of barbeque and the sound of live music filled the air.
Bert Kittel with the Troy Chapter said “It’s about a certain lifestyle of people coming together to have fun. We do what we want as our free expression, and we get penalized for it.”
Local authorities had said they planned to keep an eye on the event weeks ago, and a number of police cars were visible along the rural roads leading to the location, the way to which was marked with the signage “81” — “H” being the eighth letter of the alphabet, “A” being the first. Several bikers said a State Police helicopter also flew low over the event Saturday.
“How much did that cost in our stimulus money?” member Doug Boyd asked of the chopper. “We’re just trying to have a good time our way, without infringing on anyone else’s rights.”
Several members stressed that the crew was not one that started fights in bars or assaulted citizens. In fact, the Angels have done some good locally —late last year, not for the first time, members of the Nomads brought a trailer of toys to the children at St. Colman’s in Watervliet. Many of the children are emotionally troubled, autistic or orphaned.
“We do things for people we feel really need it,” Kittel said, noting that the economy has many people struggling. “The kids have it even worse than that.”
For those who want to criticize the group, they should “do better than we did” charitably, Kittel said.
And the hundreds of attendees the weekend drew would pump money into the local economy, especially those who didn’t camp on-site but stayed in hotels in the area, Boyd noted.
Scott Clark said It was the first event this year but likely not the last.
