The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Eastwick Press

DWI Victims Memorialized

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Poestenkill Victim Latest Name on the List

by Doug La Rocque
Families of those killed by a drunk driver, County and local officials gathered at the Rensselaer County DWI  Memorial Tuesday, April 26, to remember those whose names are on the memorial wall and to plead with people not to drive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly conducted the yearly ceremony reminding all it is important to share our concerns about people’s awareness of the dangers of drunk driving and touched on another topic as well: marijuana. She noted the recent legalization of marijuana has opened a new door for law enforcement with the ramifications of smoking and driving still undefined. Unlike alcohol use, which can be measured with a breathalyzer, there is no such yardstick for marijuana use. She again touched on the awareness factor, pointing to the sign in front of the speaker’s podium that said “If you feel different you drive different.”

Ms. Donnelly remarked about the horrific accident in Poestenkill last Thursday night that took the life of a local man and saw the driver of the second vehicle charged with Driving While Intoxicated. Please see the related story on page 4.

County Executive Steve McLaughlin also read a proclamation marking the annual event, held every year since the memorial was dedicated on September 8 of 2000. The Memorial is located on a strip of land on Congress Street in Troy, opposite Prospect Park, the very site where a popular Troy teenage girl was struck and killed by a drunk driver. [Read more…] about DWI Victims Memorialized

Grafton’s Mass Food Distribution

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Volunteers, including Toni Dolan, Pat Poleto, Belinda Goyer, Doug La Rocque and others, placing food into boxes at the mass food distribution event at Grafton Lakes State Park on Friday, April 22. The event was put on by Catholic Charities Mobile Outreach Vehicle Extension Program, the Capital District Area Labor Federation, the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, the Regional Food Bank of Eastern New York, Grafton Lakes State Park and The Eastwick Press.

If one should doubt that need for such events still exists, they need only look at the numbers. Food this day was handed out to 1,797 people representing about 597 households.

[Read more…] about Grafton’s Mass Food Distribution

Aldi Site Change Deemed a Major Revision

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by Doug La Rocque
When the developer of the new Aldi store site currently under construction along Hoosick Road first approached the Brunswick Planning Board at their April 7 meeting, they proposed what they considered to be a minor buildout change. At the Planners’ Thursday, April 21 meeting, they informed David Leon’s representatives that changing the size of the Wendy’s fast food restaurant, modifying the parking, adding for electric vehicle charging stations and sticking an Aroma Joe’s drive thru coffee site between the Aldi and Planet Fitness building was indeed a major site change, and would require reviewing the environmental effects of the proposal, as well as another public hearing. Some of the prosed parking lot changes would also require a new review by the Zoning Board of Appeals, which would also dictate a public hearing. [Read more…] about Aldi Site Change Deemed a Major Revision

Cox Guilty of Second Degree Murder of a Child

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office
Following a nearly two-week long trial, a Rensselaer County Court Jury on Wednesday, April 27, convicted 42-year old Kevin Cox on two counts of Murder in the Second Degree and one count of Assault in the First Degree. The charges stem from the February 11, 2020 death of six-year-old Davonte Paul of Lansingburgh. 

District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly confirmed that according to the evidence, Davonte was found after a 911 call by his mother stating that he had drowned in the bath tub, although no water was found in the child’s lungs. [Read more…] about Cox Guilty of Second Degree Murder of a Child

Hoosick Falls Central School Budget Approved

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the April 21 regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls Central School District Board of Education, the 2022-2023 budget was approved. The new budget will see an overall increase of 5.3%, with a tax levy increase of 1.96%. There will also be a large increase in state aid for special education. Board President Joseph Patire stated how happy he was with the budget, and that the district was able to stay under the 2.65% tax levy increase limit, while still providing a budget that will have the district in good shape moving forward. This sentiment was echoed by fellow Board members, as well as Superintendent Patrick Dailey.  [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Central School Budget Approved

PFOA Settlement Payments Delayed

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by Doug La Rocque
More than 2,500 claims have been filed for one or more of the classes in the Hoosick Falls PFOA settlement. All Claim Forms filed are being processed and verified. This process is expected to take 60-90 days. If there are deficiencies found in any of the Claim Forms that can be corrected with additional information, claimants will be contacted by email or mail. Claimants will not be contacted unless there is a deficiency in their claim. If the claim was filed electronically through the website, an email confirmation with a number assigned beginning with the letters SIK should have been received within minutes thereafter. If someone filed electronically but did not receive such a confirmation email, they should immediately contact Emma Duggan (212- 558-5677; eduggan@weitzlux.com) or Steve Schwarz (585-399-6035; sschwarz@faraci.com) as soon as possible. If the claim was filed by regular mail, no automatic confirmation was sent out. If a claimant that filed by mail wishes to verify that the claim was received and is being processed, they can also contact Emma or Steve for verification. A full, detailed version of the announcement can be found on our website, eastwickpress.com.

Health Study Open House
Running concurrently but totally separate from the lawsuit is a Multi-site PFAS Health Study, being conducted in part by the State University at Albany. This study, as has been previously reported on by The Eastwick Press, involves both residents of Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh. The clinic set up to gather information from participants is located 140 Main Street in Hoosick Falls and will conduct an Open House on Sunday, May 7 from 1 to 4 pm, rain or shine. Those wishing to be part of the study may sign up at that time.

The clinic is part of the first ever national study of the relationship between PFAS (including PFOA) exposures in drinking water and health. More information on the study can be obtained by calling 833-732-7697 or visiting www.albany.edu/sph/pfas.

Sue E. Beaudoin – Obituary

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Brunswick – Sue E. Beaudoin, 71, a lifelong resident of Brunswick, died peacefully Monday, April 18, 2022, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany following a short illness.

Born in Troy and raised in Brunswick, Sue was the daughter of the late Floyd and Dorothy (Hall) Rifenburg and the wife for over 28 years of Joseph C. Beaudoin Jr. of Brunswick, who survives. Sue and Joe were married on July 30, 1994.

Sue attended Tamarac District School and was a graduate of Tamarac High School, class of 1969.

She had an engaging smile and fun personality. For many years she was employed as an assistant manager by Stewart’s Shops and worked in several area stores. She then worked for several years as a receptionist at the Brunswick Family Practice office in Cropseyville. Most recently, she returned for five additional years to her assistant manager position at Stewart’s Shops, working at the Pawling Avenue Store. After more than 11 years of service, she retired in 2012. [Read more…] about Sue E. Beaudoin – Obituary

Elaine M. Jones

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Petersburgh – Elaine Marie Jones left this world behind on January 2, 2022. Elaine was born March 3, 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland from two of the most wonderful people ever, Mary and Owen Ringwald. She grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, where she brought her tireless spunk and energy to the home she shared with her three surviving brothers, John, Art and Alan. She is also survived by Woody Gillies and their three children, Bonnie, Ian and Daniel; her children’s spouses/partners John, Christine and Julie; eight grandchildren, David, Michael, Allison, Stephen, Amy, Abigail, Nate and Jace; three great-grandchildren, Madeline, Theodore and Rosie; and her husband Don. [Read more…] about Elaine M. Jones

Helen J. Betner – Obituary

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Hoosick Falls – Helen J. Betner, 85, passed away on Wednesday April 20, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born on March 28, 1937 in Hoosick Falls, NY, daughter of the late Michael Betner and Frances Krakowska. She graduated from Hoosick Falls H.S. in 1954 and was a graduate of SUNY Albany in 1958. She completed graduate work at the University of Colorado and Syracuse. She became a high school business teacher and taught at multiple schools, the last being Shenendehowa where she retired in 1984 due to being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Helen was very fond of traveling and made many trips with her friends that she made while teaching. They traveled to Greece, Mexico, Poland and many other beautiful places. Helen was a loving daughter, sister, aunt and friend. She was known for her positive attitude, sense of humor, always smiling face and most of all her infectious laugh. [Read more…] about Helen J. Betner – Obituary