The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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BCSD Contemplates Cuts To Eliminate Tax Levy Increase

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by Thaddeus Flint
The runaway train that is the Berlin Central School District budget continued its journey this Tuesday towards its unknown fate. Last week we saw its passengers, the School Board and the Interim Superintendent Dr. Brian Howard, agreeing that the way things were now they were heading towards disaster – disaster being an 8.3 percent increase in the tax levy with a contingency budget of an 8.3 percent increase in the tax levy. A rare consensus was formed; something had to be done! But what?
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HFCS Terminates Teacher

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by Alex Brooks
At its meeting on Thursday, March 17, the Hoosick Falls School Board passed a motion terminating the employment of Lawrence M. Haskell, Jr. effective March 18, 2011. The District brought charges against him alleging “misconduct, insubordination, incompetence and conduct unbecoming a teacher,” and three hearings were held before Hearing Officer John Trela in November and December of 2010. Trela rendered his decision March 7, and the Board is now acting based on his report.
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St. Mary’s Academy Needs New Roof

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by Bea Peterson
More than 70 inches of snow has fallen in the area this winter. Seventy inches of snow that was routinely cleared off the flat roofs  of St. Mary’s Academy. “Maintenance Supervisor Jerry McAuliffe organized groups of volunteers to shovel the roof,” said Principal Maureen Daurio, “sometimes Jerry was up there day and night.” The volunteers who spent hours lightening the roof load week after cold winter week included Immaculate Conception Church Pastor Tom Zelker. The roof over the gym was replaced seven years ago and is holding up well.
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Maple Sugaring Weekend In Berlin

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by Thaddeus Flint
Scattered among the purple mountains of Berlin, Kent Goodermote and Todd Hewitt of Kent’s Sugar House have some 900 maple syrup taps dripping sap drop by drop by drop into long plastic tubes spider-webbing down the hillsides toward collectors sitting at the bottom. This is the first part of the journey maple syrup must make from the sugar maple tree to your breakfast table.
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Stephentown Board Discusses Land Use Regs

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by David Flint
Two things the Stephentown Town Board is focusing on lately are reviewing and updating the land use regulations and getting started on doing something to encourage business development in the town.
Upgrading The Land Use Regulations
At the Board meeting Monday evening, Councilman Bill Jennings reported that plans for establishing the Land Use Upgrade Committee are moving forward. It is expected that the Committee will be formed and start working next month. [Read more…] about Stephentown Board Discusses Land Use Regs

Petersburgh Town Board Action – Planning Board Front And Center

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by Alex Brooks
At its March meeting, the Petersburgh Town Board agreed to a request from Planning Board Chairman Dave Miller to add a Planning Board page on to the Town web site. Miller said Planning Board Member Frank Sheldon had sent some material to Town Clerk Callie Crisp to be used to start the Planning Board page.
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Hoosick Planning Board Action – March 2011

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by Bea Peterson
There was a full complement of members at the Monday, March 21, meeting of the Hoosick Planning Board. At the February meeting there had been a quorum of four members, but the December minutes could not be approved because new Board Member Kevin Allard abstained from the vote since he had not attended that meeting. The March meeting started with a discussion between Planning Board Attorney Stanton King and Allard about quorums, the recording of votes and general Planning Board procedures. [Read more…] about Hoosick Planning Board Action – March 2011