The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Eastwick Press

January 2022 Regents Exams Cancelled

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Submitted by NYSEG Communications

The January 2022 administration of the High School Regents Examination Program is canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This cancellation applies to all Regents Examinations that had been scheduled for the January 2022 period. No decisions have been made regarding the June and August 2022 administrations of Regents Examinations or any other State assessment programs.

To ensure students are not adversely impacted by the cancellation of the exams, the Department will ask the Board of Regents to adopt emergency regulations regarding the assessment requirements students must ordinarily meet to earn a diploma. Under the proposed emergency regulations, students who are planning to take one or more Regents Examination during the January 2022 examination period at the conclusion of a course of study or make-up program shall be exempt from the requirements pertaining to passing a corresponding Regents Examination to be issued a diploma. To qualify for the exemption, the student must meet one of these requirements by the end of the first semester of the 2021-22 school year:

  • Be enrolled in a course that would ordinarily culminate with a January 2022 Regents Examination and earn credit for such course of study.
  • Complete a make-up program to earn course credit.
  • Be prepared to take a required Regents Examination to graduate at the end of the first semester.

 NYSED is developing additional guidance in the form of an FAQ and will issue that guidance in early January 2022 to address topics such as safety net options, mastery, honors and technical endorsements, so that schools may determine which diplomas to grant to their graduates. Please visit the Department’s COVID-19 Information site for additional information and guidance as it becomes available.

Hoosick Falls Village Police Chief Ashe Suspended

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Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen has issued a statement announcing the immediate suspension with pay of Village Police Chief Robert (Bob) Ashe. The Mayor’s statement says only that the suspension is due to an on going criminal investigation by the New York State Police. Officer Bernard Davock has been appointed as officer in charge.

The Mayor’s statement further says “the Board of Trustees remains committed to our police department and the necessary and essential work they do, as well as the safety and security of our community.  We will ensure that our police department serves our Village with the highest standards.  Because this is a personnel matter, there is nothing more we can say at this time.”

The Eastwick Press reached out to Chief Ashe to see if he wished to make a comment. So far, he has not, but that is not unusual when a criminal investigation is involved. If there are more developments, we will post them on our website and Facebook page.

An investigation is does not necessarily mean there has been any wrong doing.

Hoosick Falls Woods Brook Buyout Demolition Begins

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by Doug La Rocque

Efforts to prevent another flood like the one on July 1 of 2017 that caused so much damage in the Village have taken another major step forward, with demolition of structures that are part of the Woods Brook Buyout Program beginning earlier this week. In all, seven properties are marked to come down, part of a multi-phase drainage improvement project.

The first building demolished was at 7 Hall Street. Buildings at 3 and 5 Hall Street, 27 Elm Street and [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Woods Brook Buyout Demolition Begins

Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

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Article submitted by HVCC and Wreaths Across America

Known as the longest veterans’ parade in the country, Wreaths Across America made a stop at Hudson Valley Community College on Tuesday, December 14, for a special ceremony honoring veterans and service members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. 

Wreaths Across America is a national organization with a mission to remember our fallen U.S. service members, honor those who serve and teach children [Read more…] about Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

Developer Withdraws Glamping Application from Petersburgh

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by Alex Brooks

At a special meeting of the Petersburgh Planning Board held on Monday, December 13, Chairperson Janet Spitz said the application for approval of a high-end camping resort on East Hollow Road has been withdrawn by the developer. The communication from the developer’s attorney confirming withdrawal of the application did not state the reason for it, but it appears to be about additional permits that may be required and the possibility that it would be be declared a Type 1 action under SEQRA, which would require an extensive (and expensive) environmental review. The Eastwick Press contacted said attorney, John Hartzell, who said [Read more…] about Developer Withdraws Glamping Application from Petersburgh

Stephentown House Heavily Damaged By Fire

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by Doug La Rocque

Stephentown Firefighters were called out in the early morning hours on Tuesday, December 14, to battle a structure fire at 116 Knapps Road, just east of the NYS Routes 43 and 22 intersection. According to Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson, the Knapps awoke to find a fire in the wall near a wood stove. They managed to escape safely, but [Read more…] about Stephentown House Heavily Damaged By Fire

A Glimmer of Hope for Route 7 Traffic

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by Doug La Rocque

If you have ever traveled NYS Route 7 (Hoosick Road) during rush hour or on weekends, you have probably had a few not so pleasant words about the traffic situation. It is often backed up so it takes many turns of a traffic light to proceed, exiting and entering the road can be quite the challenge and is sometimes a nightmare for emergency vehicles. Traffic was a major topic of discussion for the Brunswick Planning Board when they deliberated the new Aldi, Hannaford and [Read more…] about A Glimmer of Hope for Route 7 Traffic

Hoosick Falls Municipal Parking Lot Changes Have Unintended Consequences

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by Doug La Rocque

The Hoosick Falls Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, December 14 opened with a public hearing on Local Law #3, which restricted parking on Elm Street near the Village Pizzeria to 15 minutes. The change involved a 60-foot section of the road. There were no speakers, and the Board later passed the law unanimously. What did spark debate, however, was an October change that limited the number of all night parking spaces in municipal lots, particularly the one off [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Municipal Parking Lot Changes Have Unintended Consequences

SVMC Restricts Visitors

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Submitted by SVMC

In response to a sustained surge in cases of COVID-19 throughout Vermont and to mitigate the spread of the virus, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will suspend in-person visits for hospital patients starting Monday, December 13. Visitor restrictions also include the health system’s practices and off-campus offices. Visitation at SVMC and other hospital systems has been restricted during times of increased transmission throughout the pandemic.

The policy has some exceptions:

[Read more…] about SVMC Restricts Visitors