The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Eastwick Press

Honoring Niel Stowell

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By Doug La Rocque

Niel Stowell has served the Village for 35 years, the last 23 as Superintendent of the Department of Public Works (DPW). Thursday, January 26 was Niel’s last day on the job as he heads into retirement. A special luncheon was held that afternoon with family, friends, and area dignitaries to celebrate Niel’s long career in the Village.

At a special meeting of the Village Board on Tuesday, January 24, the Trustees approved a resolution honoring Niel for his service and presented him with a proclamation from the Village and the New York State Conference of Mayors. Mayor Rob Allen spoke briefly about all the sacrifices Niel has made, be it with water main or sewer breaks, floods, and snowstorms, the countless nights, weekends, and holidays spent on the job and away from his family, all without complaint. Niel’s DPW crews were also responsible for the annual outstanding Christmas decorations erected each year throughout the Village. [Read more…] about Honoring Niel Stowell

Raising Funds for the LVPA

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On Thursday, February 9, at 6 pm, at M & M’s Tap & Tavern, there will be a Barn Raising for the 21st Century and silent auction to benefit the Lebanon Valley Protective Association (LVPA). The LVPA has been trying to build a new centrally located firehouse to improve response times from one end of Town to the other. They have received a $250,000 donation from an anonymous donor from New Lebanon, but the community has to come up with $250,000 in matching donations to receive it.

So far for the silent auction local businesses have donated self storage units, commercial fleet power washing services, a 20 yard dumpster, massages, custom made jewelry, dinners at local restaurants, and much more. The Brown and McArdle Real Estate Team from Berkshire Hathaway Blake are sponsoring the event, as well as giving out a door prize and pizza the night of the event.

Personal monetary donations are greatly appreciated and can be made payable to LVPA.

Steve McLaughlin Found Not Guilty

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With jury selection taking place Monday, January 23, the criminal trial of Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin began on Tuesday, January 24. McLaughlin was indicted in December 2021 on charges of third degree grand larceny and first degree offering a false instrument for filing, relating to a $5,000 withdrawal from his campaign funds in 2017 that he allegedly used to pay an aide. The defense stated the funds in question were used legitimately to pay a consulting firm.

On Wednesday, January 25, after deliberating for about an hour, the jury found McLaughlin not guilty on all charges.  [Read more…] about Steve McLaughlin Found Not Guilty

Emergency Services Training Complex Officially Opens

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Submitted by Rensselaer County
The new Rensselaer County Emergency Services Training Complex on Macha Lane in North Greenbush is open and ready for use as of Thursday, January 19. 

Construction of a new training complex has been a priority for County Executive Steve McLaughlin and members of the County Legislature, and has received strong support from members of the emergency services community. The new complex replaces the former training center, at the same location, that was closed several years ago due to use and age.

The new complex features responsive training devices and systems, live fire displays, digital fire displays, various combustible displays and exercises, a state of the art control system, and a smoke maze to ensure emergency responders have the training and skills they need to protect and serve the residents of Rensselaer County. [Read more…] about Emergency Services Training Complex Officially Opens

Culvert Collapses on Rt. 7 in Hoosick Falls

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Road Remains Closed for Repairs

Courtesy of Rensselaer County
A section of State Route 7 in Hoosick Falls between State Route 22 and County Route 95 remains closed after the collapse of a culvert on Friday, January 13. Department of Transportation (DOT) and contractor forces are currently working around the clock to replace the culvert, which carries overflow water from the Hoosic River, with pre-cast concrete sections. Currently there is no timetable for completion. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the collapse has yet to be determined. Residents and motorists are asked to be patient during the closure. For updates, please visit dot.ny.gov. [Read more…] about Culvert Collapses on Rt. 7 in Hoosick Falls

Petersburgh Town Board Busy in January 

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By Denise Wright
The Petersburgh Town Board was busy during January with their Organizational meeting, public hearings, and regular meeting. 

During the January Organizational meeting, the Board approved agreements for the Highway Superintendent and the use of the Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center (PVMCC) for 2023. Board members approved the 2023 contract for snow removal with Alex Burdick, along with library voucher #1 for $21,671.25. Appointments for 2023 included Victoria Abbondola replacing Janet Spitz as a Planning Board member and Vanessa Fiorita replacing Deidra Michaels as the Planning Board Secretary.  [Read more…] about Petersburgh Town Board Busy in January 

Brunswick’s Multi-Family Housing Moratorium Repealed

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By Doug La Rocque
With several two-family and multi-family housing applications before the Brunswick Planning Board in 2021, residents and some Planners started expressing concerns about density, especially with some of these proposed housing units in areas they felt were not a good fit. The concern reached the Town Board, who decided they should review their zoning as to where and where not these projects might be allowed. Thus, the moratorium came into being while that zoning study took place.

One plan that was proposed resulted in a full zoning law change, but met with some push back at a public hearing, and Board members decided to [Read more…] about Brunswick’s Multi-Family Housing Moratorium Repealed

Hoosick Still Waiting and Waiting

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By Doug La Rocque
The Town of Hoosick has applications in to New York State for two major grants. The one that has been in a holding pattern the longest is the $925,000 Recreational State and Municipal Facilities (SAM) grant. It has been in the hands of the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) for many months, with absolutely no word on its fate. DASNY is the state agency that oversees such grants and is notorious for taking a year or more to come to a conclusion. At the Monday, January 9 meeting of the Hoosick Town Board, Supervisor Mark Surdam said once again, despite repeated inquiries, they have heard nothing.

The other grant is newer—it’s only been a few months since the application was filed. That is for the replacement of the Cottrel Road Bridge, estimated to cost $1.98 million. The Town would have to bear 20 percent of that cost, about $99,000 [Read more…] about Hoosick Still Waiting and Waiting

State of the County Address

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Submitted by the Office of County Executive Steve McLaughlin
On Thursday, January 14, Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin gave an energetic and optimistic State of the County address to the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, noting the County’s success in reducing taxes, supporting job creation and investment, modernization of County facilities and services, and protection of quality of life.

McLaughlin said Rensselaer County is being recognized across the State for effective fiscal policies that have lowered County property taxes by over 25 percent in the past five years, along with improving the scope of County facilities through the Reimagine Rensselaer plan. [Read more…] about State of the County Address