COVID-19 Closes Town Hall
by Doug La Rocque
Town Supervisor Dennis Smith has decided to close the Town Hall building until January 11, at which time a decision on whether to re-open the offices will be made. All department transactions can be done by mail or email. If necessary, an appointment for an in-person visit can be made. The Supervisor’s order also applies to the Petersburgh Public Library, which is closed until January 11.
Curbside services are still available for library patrons. Please call ahead to let staff know what you would like to have ready for you at 518-658-2927. The library appreciates your understanding at this time.
Court Closed As Well
The Petersburgh Town Court staff will continue to process paperwork (tickets, plea agreements, fines etc), but the office is currently closed to the public. Appointments can be made by emailing the court at Petersburghtowncourt@gmail.com. All in-person court sessions are currently on hold until further direction is received from New York State.
The Village of Hoosick Falls is also by appointment only, but has a drop box out front that is checked daily. The Town of Hoosick offices are open by appointment only. Many others are still open during their regular posted business hours, however it may be a smart thing to call ahead, as the situation can change quickly.
School News
Both the Hoosick Falls and Brunswick School Districts (Tamarac), decided to pivot to all remote learning the week before the Christmas break. All schools in The Eastwick Press coverage area resume classes on January 4. Both Hoosick Falls and Brunswick schools plan to resume their hybrid in school learning programs at that date as well, however, things could change very quickly. As soon as we know of any changes we will post the information on our website and Facebook page.
Post Holiday Spending
For the most part, most area small businesses reported good numbers from the holiday shopping period, in part perhaps, due to the push to “shop small this year.” January is traditionally a very slow month for businesses, and there is concern that increases in COVID-19 cases might decrease the amount of dollars changing hands.
This is a concern for the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, whose goal it is to help area businesses anyway it can. Chamber President Kate Manley tells The Eastwick Press, “While the holidays provided a welcome surge in spending for our locally owned stores and restaurants, we encourage our community to continue their commitment to shop and dine local well into the new year. Helping our valued small businesses weather the storm will take a concerted, community effort, and they still need our help to overcome the challenges this year has provided. And with another round of PPP loans and EIDL funding on the horizon, the Chamber is ready to assist our local business community in connecting with a lender to explore the right opportunity.”