The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Roger F. Cox

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Berlin – Roger F. Cox, 82, of 104 Dutch Church Road, Berlin, NY,  died on Thursday, September 18, 2008, from heart failure. Roger was born in Hartford, CT, and was the son of the late Milton and Marion Fauntleroy Cox. He was a descendant of Louis “Little Lord” Fauntleroy and the Alden, Bradford, Mullins and Rogers Mayflower families.

Roger graduated from East Hartford High School and attended the University of Connecticut where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was employed by the East Hartford Fire Department #5, in the family business (Cox’s Service Station), grew broadleaf tobacco, retired from the Grand Union Company in Waterford, NY, and established a blueberry farm. He was a member of the Orient Masonic Lodge in Connecticut.

Roger is survived and will be missed by his wife, Doris Schulze Cox, his daughters, Cheryl and husband Vincent Perrone of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Karen Cox and John Bergeron of Chittenden, VT, his grandchildren, Andrew and Claire Perrone, his brother, Bradford and his wife Carol Cox of RI, his sisters, Nanette and her husband Cortland Gray of CT and Susan and her husband Walter Swafford of NC, and several nieces and nephews.

Roger’s family wishes to acknowledge the care and kindness of the staff of 4 Gabe at St. Peter’s Hospital, Albany, NY, and many friends for their support.

Roger requested that no formal services be held. An open house to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, October 11, from 1 to 4 pm at the family farm.

The family suggests donations be sent to Cheryl Perrone, 11220 Fieldstone Lane, NE, Bainbridge Island, WA, 98110, to purchase a memorial bench for Roger’s favorite beach on Cape Cod. His ashes will be scattered at his favorite places.

George T. Westley

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Grafton – George T. Westley, 57, formerly of Grafton, NY, died on Sunday morning, September 21, 2008, at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY, with his loving wife at his bedside after a long illness.

Born on July 28, 1951, in Port Huron, MI, he was the loving husband of Margie Lou Boomhower Westley, whom he married on September 30, 1989. He was raised by his late aunt and uncle, Benjamin and Donna Lucas. A 1969 graduate of Port Huron High School, he entered the United States Army after graduation and proudly served his country in Vietnam. He lived in Whitehall, NY, and moved to Grafton in 1993. He worked in the housekeeping department of St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, NY, until his illness in 2003.

Survivors include his wife, Margie, his mother-in-law, Isabelle Boomhower of Grafton, a sister-in-law, Julie Boomhower of Berlin, NY, a brother-in-law, Mark Boomhower of Grafton, nieces Judy and Carolyn Williams, and a nephew, Cody Blain.

Services are Thursday afternoon at 2 pm in the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, with the Rev. Robert Hurd of the Grafton United Methodist Church officiating. There will be no calling hours. Interment will follow in Eagle Mills Cemetery. A gathering celebrating George’s life will follow in the Fellowship Hall of the Grafton United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to the Church in care of the funeral home, PO Box 361, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.

Filming In Stephentown – Locals Enjoy Taking Woodstock

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A traffic jam? Or is it? No, it’s a rehearsal at Stone Bridge Pond in Stephentown of the traffic jam scene during the filming of Taking Woodstock. (David Flint photo)
A traffic jam? Or is it? No, it’s a rehearsal at Stone Bridge Pond in Stephentown of the traffic jam scene during the filming of Taking Woodstock. (David Flint photo)

by David Flint

Hundreds of Taking Woodstock extras were gathered by Stone Bridge Pond in Stephentown Saturday morning waiting for rehearsal of crowd scenes along Route 43 intended to depict the jam up of people and vehicles making their way to the 1969 Woodstock festival. Among them were three young women who had been picked – for whatever reason they did not know – to portray three nuns who were at the festival flashing peace signs. Collette Kulas from Stephentown, Kathleen McCarthy from

The three nuns, without their costumes, at rehearsal Saturday (l-r) Collette Kulas, Kathleen McCarthy and Kelly O’Loughlin. (David Flint photo)
The three nuns, without their costumes, at rehearsal Saturday (l-r) Collette Kulas, Kathleen McCarthy and Kelly O’Loughlin. (David Flint photo)

Glenmont and Kelly O’Loughlin from Cheshire, MA, appeared to be having a great time, not minding the long waits for any action to take place. Though all three happened to be Catholic, none had any experience being nuns, but no matter…  “I’m Catholic, but I’m sure I was picked solely for my acting ability,”quipped O’Loughlin. On Friday they were fitted for their habits at the former Ceramaseal building in New Lebanon. “It was a totally well orchestrated operation,” said Kulas. “They must have raided every Good Will and thrift shop in the area.” She said they had tons of sneakers, moccasins and all sorts of clothing and paraphernalia. For the girls they produced beige religious habits with cream colored tunics, a modern veil and the requisite sensible black shoes. All three said they were thoroughly enjoying the experience of movie making and looked forward to the actual shoot the next day. 

Susie Cooper of Stephentown was actually at the Woodstock festival 40 years ago with her two sisters. “It wasn’t only hippies,” she said. They camped out in a tent and fortunately had thought to bring a large

supply of food and drink with them. She recalls the monstrous traffic jam and how she burned out the clutch on her ’66 Mustang, but they had “a wonderful time.” This time around, as an extra in the movie, Cooper was told, “You’re on the other side now!” She was cast as one of a group of “unhappy townspersons” dismayed at the invasion of their town by half a million hippies. She had to stand across the road from the recreated El Monaco motel on Route 20 in New Lebanon and stare with arms folded and a grumpy face at the crowds of young people going by. 

 

The props were carefully researched and historically accurate. Here is the set for a food stand selling lemonade, watermelon and corn to the people stuck in the traffic jam on their way to Woodstock. Photo by Brian.L.Houle /I.P.A. 518-858-6966
The props were carefully researched and historically accurate. Here is the set for a food stand selling lemonade, watermelon and corn to the people stuck in the traffic jam on their way to Woodstock. Photo by Brian.L.Houle /I.P.A. 518-858-6966

Cooper says if she doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor, she’ll be easy to spot in her hideous yellow hat. “I looked like a daisy,” she said, with her hair in a bun in the yellow hat and wearing a red shirt, brown shorts and blue sneakers. 

Cooper had nothing but good to say about the experience. It was a lot of fun mixing with people from all over, even if the long waits got a bit boring at times. It took a whole day to do one scene, she says, shooting it about eight times from every possible angle. Ang Lee was directing and only he got to say “Action,” but Cooper said the Assistant Director otherwise did most of the yelling. While they were waiting they got to watch another scene being filmed at the El Monaco in which Liev Schreiber as a drag queen in a pink dress and a blond wig met up with Eliot Tiber played by Demetri Martin. Both appeared to be friendly and relaxed while not on camera and spent time interacting with the hippy extras on the set, with Martin singing and playing guitar. 

Cooper was impressed not only with how many people it takes to make a movie but also with how friendly and attentive and organized they all appeared to be. The wardrobe and makeup operation at the Ceramaseal building was especially impressive with aisles and aisles and racks and racks of clothing all sorted and sized.  

It has been a family affair for the Rogers of Stephentown. Janet and Eddy Rogers have been in about six scenes already with two of their vehicles, a red ’68 Chevy pickup and a ’41 Plymouth sedan. They had their truck in the traffic jam scene on Sunday by Stone Bridge Pond and their daughter Lacey also appeared as an extra in that scene. Though young enough to have been a hippy, Lacey was designated to be a local, and her part was to alert a cop on a motorcycle to a drug deal going down. Part of the scene also involved a young couple supposedly having sex in the back of a truck. Lacey noted with amusement how particular Director Ang Lee was in adjusting the arms and legs and clothing of the actors. It had to be just right. 

Lacey’s 2-year old daughter Zolee also did her part. At a farm scene in Schodack she played the role of a hippy child with a group of young people walking toward a field while a military helicopter evacuated a pregnant woman. Lacey said, “Zolee did very well,” in her first experience as an actress.  

The Rogers had their ’68 truck in the very first shoot that took place down in Hillsdale. They were also in several other scenes filmed on Route 20 in New Lebanon by the El Monaco motel. “It was very professional,” Janet said. “All the movie people were very nice and concerned about the extras. They provided sunscreen and kept us well hydrated and fed.” Rogers said they received $250 a day for vehicles; extras got $100 a day. Most of the time was spent waiting. Then when shooting happened, it was repeated maybe eight times. Janet recalled how in one scene a group of guys were supposed to strip to their underwear, then run and jump in the motel pool. They had to do this at least seven times. 

Janet Rogers was very impressed with the magnificent catered meals served to vehicle drivers who got to eat in big tents with cast and crew. It was definitely first class. Lacey said the box lunches and snacks served to the crowds of extras were certainly adequate but it was definitely second class compared to the feasts her Mom experienced. 

“It’s been good for the community,” Janet said. “It’s meant a lot of money coming in to restaurants and other businesses.” Lacey agreed, “It was fun to mingle with all these people coming from all over. I hope to do it again.”

Audrey Humphrey of Stephentown is 19 and hadn’t known much about the Woodstock festival. But her friends thought she’d be a natural for an extra with her long curly hair. So she went to open casting at the Lebanon Valley Racetrack a couple of weeks ago. She was spotted immediately and was able to bypass a long line of applicants. She filled out an application, had her photo taken and a number assigned. She returned the next day for her wardrobe. Her costume she described as “terrible red suede shorts with button up things on the side, a tube top that kind’a looked like it was made of hemp, a brown leather vest with fringes and beads and all that jazz, and sandals that wrapped around my legs.” Her hair was deemed to be perfect as is. 

 

This Fool Bus in the movie is a comment on education by the rebellious youth of the 60s. Photo by Brian.L.Houle /I.P.A. 518-858-6966
This Fool Bus in the movie is a comment on education by the rebellious youth of the 60s. Photo by Brian.L.Houle /I.P.A. 518-858-6966

Thursday night she was called and told to report the next day at 8 am to the staging area in New Lebanon. From there the extras were bussed to the Ceramaseal building where they changed into costumes, had their hair done and makeup applied. They were then bussed to a huge field in Schodack set up to be the scene of the festival. In her first scene Audrey played the role of a young Buddhist espousing peace and greeting visitors in her hut. In another scene Audrey lay on a cot in an emergency medical tent with a bloody injured foot. Audrey said that makeup had been applied to her foot but Ang Lee was not satisfied with it so he personally stepped in and did the job himself, so that it was just right. Audrey noted that Demetri Martin as Eliot Tiber and Emile Hersch, playing a recently returned Vietnam veteran, both had roles in this scene. Audrey remarked on how realistically the scenes were set up. “It was very, very strange,” she said. “You couldn’t help but feel you were back in 1969. It was kind of hard not to get into the role of your character.” 

It took four hours to do one scene of a minute and a half, Audrey said. It was a very long day, and the weather was cold and nasty so the extras ended up very muddy and bedraggled, much like at the real Woodstock 40 years ago. To top it off, the bus taking them back to New Lebanon went off the road and was at risk of toppling into a ditch. The Schodack FD was called, chained up the bus and evacuated the bus load of scruffy hippies.  Nonetheless, Audrey said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience and hopes to be called back for more scenes in Taking Woodstock.

The money expended locally by the movie people has been a welcome shot in the arm for many area restaurants and businesses. Paul Sykes said Ang Lee stopped in at his store in Stephentown with some of his crew and looked around for anything and everything they might be able to use in setting up scenes. They were all very pleasant and interesting people, Paul said. They were happy to find a lot of things for props and costumes that had been around the store for many years – old hats and scarves, bolts of cloth, orange and melon crates, lamps, quilt pieces, dried flower arrangements, a real hodge podge of stuff that they piled into three vans. There was no quibbling about prices. Some of them have been back repeatedly looking for Rita Sykes’ baked goods. Paul also made an arrangement with them to park their vehicles alongside his store when they film a scene at the Stephentown Hotel on October 6 and 7. 

“It’s been good for the whole valley,” Paul said, “especially in these hard economic times. It’s like found money.” 

Filming is now said to be more than half completed. Still to come in Stephentown, besides the scene at the Stephentown Hotel, is a scene next week at a barn on Neil Gardner’s property and a scene at the Evangelical Community Church on October 2 and 3.

First Hoosick Land Use Workshop Held

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by Bea Peterson

 

Windmills, greenhouses, fences and riding stables were some of the topics reviewed at the first Hoosick Land Use workshop held on Thursday, September 11 at the Armory. Eight interested residents, members of the Land Use Commission, Marianne Zwicklbauer, Rensselaer County representative Linda von der Heide, Gail Delurey, John Smith, Ellen Scott, and Wally Sheffer, Sr., Supervisor Marilyn Douglas and Hoosick Building Inspector Ed King made up the group that gathered around four tables and for an hour discussed various aspects of the draft law. Points brought up by each table were then discussed by everyone present. A concern of all the tables was what defines the hamlet of West Hoosick, an issue they

Principal Planner for Rensselaer County Economic Development Linda von der Heide (glasses) went over portions of the Land Use Law with Everett Quackenbush, Marianne Zwicklbauer and John Smith at last Thursday’s workshop. Behind her Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas discusses the Law with another of the workshop groups. (Bea Peterson photo)
Principal Planner for Rensselaer County Economic Development Linda von der Heide (glasses) went over portions of the Land Use Law with Everett Quackenbush, Marianne Zwicklbauer and John Smith at last Thursday’s workshop. Behind her Town Supervisor Marilyn Douglas discusses the Law with another of the workshop groups. (Bea Peterson photo)

hope to clarify at the West Hoosick meeting in October. Site plans and size restrictions were questioned regarding greenhouses and riding stables. Should windmills require a special permit? Five acre density was discussed. If a farmer sells an acre of land to someone to build a house on, then four acres should be set aside as forever farmland. The desire is that, for example, on a 100 acre plot, 20 houses could be built on one acre lots and 80 acres would remain farmland. Or 20 houses on two acre lots, 160 acres remaining farmland.

The difference between manufactured homes, mobile homes and doublewides was discussed. Should they be required to have foundations or are slabs sufficient. Roof pitch was also discussed. 

Clarification of some sections of the draft were requested. Copies of the 42 page draft law are available for review at the Hoosick Town Hall in the Armory and at the Cheney Library. Meetings by hamlet will be held on September 18 at the Buskirk Fire Hall, October 6 at the North Hoosick Fire Hall, October 15 at the Hoosick Fire Hall and October 22 at the West Hoosick Fire Hall. After these meetings the Commission will review the comments they have gathered, incorporate any changes, make corrections and then, in December or January, they will hold another Public Hearing to further review the law.

Hoosick Rescue Squad Recognizes Honorary Members

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Hoosick Rescue Squad members were on hand as Squad President Bill Gaillard (far right) bestowed Honorary Membership to (l-r) Alan Bornt, Walter Zwinge and Thomas Witkowski Wednesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)
Hoosick Rescue Squad members were on hand as Squad President Bill Gaillard (far right) bestowed Honorary Membership to (l-r) Alan Bornt, Walter Zwinge and Thomas Witkowski Wednesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)

 

 

by Bea Peterson

On Wednesday evening, September 17, members of the Rescue Squad gathered to grant Honorary Membership to Alan Bornt for his contribution of knowledge on the radio system that helps the community. He shared this knowledge during the Squad’s frequency change earlier in the year.

Walter Zwinge is caretaker of the Time-Warner facility which houses the radio transmission equipment as well as the cable translators. Squad members say he is always available when they need access to the facility on Oak Street.

Thomas Witkowski was honored for the work he and his crew do in cleaning the Rescue Squad quarters and ambulances and mowing and trimming of the grounds on a weekly basis.

Hoosick Rescue Squad President Bill Gaillard said, “We thank all of these people who have made our lives easier.”

Break In At Petersburgh Town Garage

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by Alex Brooks

At the Petersburgh Town Board meeting on Monday evening Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison said someone broke into the Town Highway Garage on Tuesday night, September 9, but they didn’t take anything. They took out a screwdriver and crescent wrench and removed a radiator grille from an old car back there, but left the tools and the grille lying around. Harrison also said the County paved over the new culvert on East Hollow Road this week and that project is completed.

PVMCC Sets Goals For 2009

Susan Nelsen gave her monthly report to the Board about the Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center (PVMCC). She said the PVMCC Board set goals for itself for the coming year. Among these were completion of the capital project, development of a program expansion, development of some annual fund-raising events, seeking ways to make PVMCC and its building “greener” and continuing to seek grants and develop volunteer programs. Nelsen also noted that from 2006 to the present, the PVMCC has secured $95,810 in grant funding, $20,810 for program and $75,000 for capital improvements.

Rensselaer Plateau Alliance

Jim Bonesteel of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance gave a presentation about his organization and their efforts to develop a conservation plan for the Plateau. The area he calls the Rensselaer Plateau is more or less the area between Route 22 and the Brunswick Town line on the east-west axis and from Route 7 to Route 43 on the north-south axis.  He said it is one of New York State’s largest intact forest ecosystems, comprising about 105,000 acres. He noted that the Audubon Society has designated it as an important area for bird habitat.

Bonesteel said his group advocates for conservation of the Plateau and seeks to preserve wildlife habitat and the rural character of the area and to promote commercial uses consistent with such preservation. Some that he mentioned were recreation businesses, hospitality and tourism, maple syrup, logging and the like.

Bonesteel said his group has applied for a grant to write a Conservation Plan for the Plateau, and if they get it, they will be holding a series of workshops aimed at soliciting input from residents and town officials to be included in the plan. He was seeking the cooperation and participation of the Town of Petersburgh in this process.

After he finished his presentation, Ray Broadwell asked him how he expects the plan to be enforced.  Bonesteel said his group’s project is more about creating a plan than creating regulations. He spoke of “raising consciousness” and “energizing non-profits to protect important areas” and said his group is not looking to raise the regulatory burden.

Broadwell remained skeptical and said he thinks there is too much regulation in America and he thinks the conservation plan is likely at some point to lead to restrictions which are going to cost somebody some money.

Bonesteel said the Conservation Plan is an $80,000 project and the grant request is for $60,000. He said it would be used to hire a facilitator to run the public meetings, a GIS mapper and an ecologist. He asked the Town Board to pass a resolution supporting the project. Broadwell said, “I don’t think this is anything we need to get into.”

No one else on the Board seemed much interested in getting involved with the project either, so Supervisor Mason Hubbard suggested to Bonesteel that if his group gets the grant, he should come back and they could talk further about the project.

Clearing Brush In Cemeteries

Ed Jones, who mows the cemeteries for the Town, asked the Town Board if they would like him to clear brush in some of the cemeteries that are not mowed. He estimated it would be about a week’s work and said it would cost $400-$500. After checking to make sure there was still enough money left in the cemetery mowing account to cover it, the Board authorized the work cleaning up the cemeteries. Some Board members also remarked that they were very pleased with Mr. Jones’ work mowing the cemeteries and the grass around the Town buildings.

Bill’s List

Bill Seel had a few things to inquire about. He asked if the Building Inspector’s phone answering message had been changed to announce the hours when he is available at the Town Hall (Saturday mornings 9-12). No one was sure. He asked why there were solar panels on the Memorial Hall – he didn’t recall anything about solar panels in the work authorized there. Sue Nelsen said he should talk to Dave Sadowsky about it. He asked if an inventory of the Town Highway Garage had been done. Everyone, including Highway Superintendent Ray Harrison, looked puzzled. Seel said an inventory is supposed to be done every year, although no one present had ever seen one. Seel said he thought it should be done.

Seel also said it was his understanding that the Board had reached a consensus at the June meeting that they would not commit to a particular sum in the matter of assisting with the purchase of a new ambulance until they were putting together next year’s budget. He felt that the Board’s resolution committing to $20,000 per year at the special meeting last week, which Seel did not attend, took away their opportunity to look at that sum in the context of the overall budget picture. Supervisor Mason Hubbard said that resolution was contingent on approval of the terms of the service agreement by the Town Attorney, so the town is not fully committed until it signs a service agreement.

HFCS Board Almost Puts Kibosh On Athletic Fields

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by Alex Brooks

 

 The Hoosick Falls School Board had a scary moment at its meeting this week when a vote to approve a contract with the Hoosick Falls Soccer Club for use of its fields failed to pass.

The contract is for this season, from August 18 through November 13, 2008

After the vote Superintendent Facin told the Board that failure to approve this contract means that the teams using those fields would have to stop using them immediately.

Hoosick Falls senior Carly Pine controls the ball while Tamarac senior Nicole Conrad bears down on her in Monday’s game. Tamarac was victorious 2-1. (Bea Peterson photo)
Hoosick Falls senior Carly Pine controls the ball while Tamarac senior Nicole Conrad bears down on her in Monday’s game. Tamarac was victorious 2-1. (Bea Peterson photo)

There are currently five teams using the soccer club fields for both practices and games, and Facin said he had no backup plan – tomorrow morning he would be scrambling to find fields for these teams to play on, re-arranging the bus schedules, re-scheduling games with other schools and so on.

 

The discussion of the matter began with Don Skott asking why the fee to use those fields had gone up so much since last year.  Superintendent Facin replied that last year when the fee was $3,200, only two teams from HFCS were using that field. This year since there are five teams using the soccer club fields, the District agreed to pay $5,200.

John Helft, who is on the Board of the Soccer Club, showed Board members a chart of man-hours expended by the soccer club lining and maintaining the fields. He said last year they spent 70 man-hours more than usual because of the District’s use of the fields, and he expects it will be 110 hours this year. 

Dave Sutton said he felt that the Soccer Club is generously offering at an affordable price something for which they could easily charge more.

Dwain Wilwol said he thought the price was high, and he had consulted a soccer coach who  doesn’t coach here, who had assured him that this price was not really out of line. It sounded like Wilwol was defending the price, but when it came to a vote, both Wilwol and Skott voted against it, and John Helft had to abstain because he’s on the Soccer Club Board. The three yes votes, from Dave Sutton, Laurie Gormley and Bridget Foster, were not enough to pass the resolution. HFCS Board member Greg Laurin did not attend this meeting.

HF#8 Will Luke sends the ball toward the Tamarac goal late in Tuesday’s game.Tamarac beat HF 4-0. (Bea Peterson photo)
HF#8 Will Luke sends the ball toward the Tamarac goal late in Tuesday’s game.Tamarac beat HF 4-0. (Bea Peterson photo)

Dave Sutton said he had not heard from any Board member or taxpayer that there was a problem with this contract, and he felt if Board members were planning to oppose it, they should let him know in advance, so as not to leave five of the school’s teams suddenly without a field to play on.

Don Skott says he has questioned these figures before and he feels that no one listened to him. He said the most recent figure he had heard concerning this year’s contract was $4,600 and he had said at the time that he felt it was too much and he couldn’t vote for it.

John Helft said it had cost $400,000 to develop the soccer club facility and this contract is well below the rate they usually charge to rent it.

Appeals to reconsider were taken to heart, and both Don Skott and Dwain Wilwol said although they continue to think $5,200 is too high a price, they did not want to leave the kids without fields in the middle of their season, so they agreed to approve the contract.  The vote was rescinded, and a new resolution approving the contract was passed unanimously 5-0, with John Helft abstaining.

At Public Comment time, Karen Tommasino, speaking as a parent of a soccer player, said she was glad the kids could continue on the Soccer Club fields, because they are good quality fields. she said her son had turned his ankle playing on a bumpy field somewhere else and two weeks later it still isn’t right. But when he is playing on the Soccer Club fields, she has no worries.

Jim Martinez said he is glad the Soccer Club contract was approved because, whether the price is a little high or a little low, the important thing is that the money is going back into this community, supporting soccer programs for the kids.

Local Police Coverage

Superintendent Ken Facin said he has been discussing with officials from the Village of Hoosick Falls having the Village Police extend their coverage area to include the school so that there is a police agency that can respond quickly if need be. It takes quite a while for County Sheriffs or State Police to come out to the Hoosick Falls school property because they have so far to travel to get out here. He cited two examples of recent incidents that illustrate his point. One was an incident about a month ago in which a sexual predator in the Village tried to get two young girls into his car. They ran and called for help, and the police arrived quickly and arrested the guy. If such an incident happened at the school and the County Sheriff or State Police were called, the offender would have plenty of time to get away. Another incident involved a man standing across the road from the school looking through binoculars in the general direction of the school. The Village Police asked him what he was doing, and it turned out he was looking at deer on the hillside above the school. Facin said if a State Trooper drove out here to respond to such a call, it would be a waste of Police resources.

Facin said he is not looking for police patrols or greater police presence on campus. The agreement would only be for responding to calls from the school.

Smooth Start

Many school officials told stories about the first week of school and how it went, and all seemed to agree that it went very well. The new bus schedule and staggered start went very smoothly; a new orientation program for kindergarteners called “Kindergarten Camp” was a fun introduction to the school for the youngsters; the new early morning day care program has gone very well.  Elementary Principal Patrick Dailey said there are 20 to 25 kids participating in the morning day care program. Parents who need to get to work early drop them off starting at 7:15 am, and, with the activities provided, the program has had a calm and productive atmosphere. There are four teachers running it, which exceeds State requirements for staff to student ratios. Dailey said they are staffing on the basis of two teachers for every 15 kids and they are currently set up for up to 30 kids. The State required minimum for school age children is one teacher for every ten kids.

In Other Business:

• The Board tabled a motion to appoint nine sports volunteers because three of the applications were incomplete. Many of these volunteers have been volunteering for these particular duties for many years. Having volunteers complete applications is a new policy, and there were apparently a few glitches in the process.

• The Board changed the date of the November meeting from November 18 to Thursday, November 13, at 7 pm.

• After the meeting, the Board went into executive session to discuss negotiations with the Managerial/Confidential staff.

The next regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls School Board will be Tuesday, October 21 at 7 pm.

Hinsdale Shines At Stephentown Muster Event

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The water polo contest is hotly contested at the Stephentown Muster. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.
The water polo contest is hotly contested at the Stephentown Muster. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.

 

 

by David Flint

The Hinsdale Fire Department was the shining star at the annual Stephentown Fireman’s Muster & Community Day on Sunday, grabbing first place in three of the events. Hinsdale won the Dry Hose, the Midnight Alarm and the Rotary Pump competitions and took third place in the Moving Motor Hose event. 

In the Dry Hose event, Hinsdale with a time of 14.03 seconds was followed by Lee with 14.5 seconds and Whately with a time of 14.9. Hinsdale did the Midnight Alarm in 30.4 seconds, followed again by Lee with 36.8 seconds and Lenoxdale with 38.5. Following on Hinsdale’s leading time of 29.31 seconds in the Rotary Pump competition was Whately with 32.9 seconds. The only other team in that event was Bisselville which did not succeed in getting a recorded time. 

Lee took first place in the Centrifugal Pump competition with a time of 31.7 seconds,

Doug Rontey (Yellow Helmet) and Mark Mazzeo (Black Helmet) of the Stephentown Fire Dept. competing in the Oil Fire Competition. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.
Doug Rontey (Yellow Helmet) and Mark Mazzeo (Black Helmet) of the Stephentown Fire Dept. competing in the Oil Fire Competition. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.

followed by Lebanon Valley with 40.5 and Lenoxdale with 44.7. Lee was also first in the Oil Fire event, dousing the flames in 19.6 seconds. Stephentown took second place in that event with a time of 22.6 seconds. Whately was third with 23.6 seconds. 

 

Whately won the Moving Motor Hose event with a time of 26.6 seconds. Lenoxdale came in second with 28.3 seconds followed by Hinsdale with 29.1 seconds. 

Though they didn’t lead in the Muster events, Stephentown was not to be trifled with in Friday night’s Water Polo contest. Their #2  team in men’s competition came out on top in that event. Stephentown has swept the Water Polo contest in at least two of the past three years. Second place this year was taken by Hancock. In the Women’s competition, Bisselville placed first and Stephentown was second.

 

On The Nozzle. Renee Baker and John Zwack, both of the Stephentown Fire Dept.) on the nozzle during the Moving Motor Hose” event at the Stephentown Fire Department Muster last Saturday. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.
On The Nozzle: Renee Baker and John Zwack, both of the Stephentown Fire Dept., on the nozzle during the Moving Motor Hose event at the Stephentown Fire Department Muster last Saturday. Photo by Chuck Riccardi.

Grafton Historical Society Learns Cemetery Preservation

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Joe Ferrannini demonstrates gravestone restoration procedures to Grafton Historical Society members last Saturday at the Grafton Cemetery. (Judith Radford photo)
Joe Ferrannini demonstrates gravestone restoration procedures to Grafton Historical Society members last Saturday at the Grafton Cemetery. (Judith Radford photo)

 

 

 by Judith Radford

On Saturday, September 13, at 9 am members of the Grafton Historical Society Cemetery Committee met at the Grafton Cemetery and welcomed Joseph A. Ferrannini of Grave Stone Matters out of Hoosick Falls.  Ferrannini, an expert on preserving old cemeteries and headstones, presented a hands-on seminar to demonstrate the correct way to clean, repair and reset grave markers according to long established restoration procedures.  

Members of the Historical Society have long been interested and involved in preserving local cemeteries and did quite a bit of research to find the right person to help them how to do it properly.  Members attending were Dorothy Surprise, Joe Ferrannini, Dick Wagar, Gordon Gundrum and Bob Goyer.  Also in attendance was Les Radford who has spearheaded an effort on Lake Elizabeth in Grafton to clean up their very old and covered over cemetery.  

The seminar went on all day with Ferranninni outlining the tools and materials needed for gravestone cleaning projects.  He described the different types of stones and actually demonstrated the procedure on some old stones.  Anyone interested in more information on this topic may contact Dorothy Surprise at 279-3298, email dsurprise@aol.com, or Joe Ferrannini at 424-9562, email jaferrannini@aol.com. 

 

 

  

Berlin Town Board Action – Private Property Versus Public Good

By

by Kieron Kramer

Generally, municipalities in eastern Rensselaer County take a good, long time before forcing a private property owner to demolish an unsafe building or to remedy an eyesore. It is not just the number of procedures required by State Municipal Law and the time required between the various steps that makes the process so lengthy and so rare, but there is a respect for private property that is ingrained in the American psyche and which is stronger, particularly in small rural towns, than the motive to act for the common good. However, the Town of Berlin has moved with all deliberate speed to force Ronald Snow, an East Arlington, VT, resident, to either repair or raze his garage on North Main Street which has been deemed a dangerous building by Berlin Code Enforcement Officer Allen Yerton.

Two months ago the Town Board voted to serve notice on Snow informing him that he had  to repair or demolish the garage. Last month, at a public hearing before the regular meeting, Snow asked for an indefinite amount of time to repair the building, but he did say he would board it up within 25 days to keep people out of the structure that Yerton maintained could collapse at any moment. According to Board Member Jim Saunders, Snow has boarded up the building.

At this month’s regular meeting on Thursday, September 11, the Board voted 3-0 to publish a request for bids to demolish the garage, with Board Member Carl Greene and  Jim Saunders abstaining. Town Supervisor Robert Jaeger had made the motion to publish; Board Member George Shuhart seconded. When Jaeger asked Greene and Saunders for their votes, a silence followed that was almost as long as the full minute of silence observed for the anniversary of 9/11 at the beginning of the meeting. Finally, at Town Attorney Don Tate’s suggestion, Greene and Saunders agreed to abstain. The resolution passed when Board Member Sheila Hewitt joined  with a yes vote at the end of the deliberations.

Greene had requested that the letter to Snow informing him of the publishing of the bid request  should make it clear that if he filed a building permit and began repairing the building the Town would halt the process. The Board agreed to include this, and Tate said that if Snow could satisfy the Board it would be the best case scenario. “It would be foolish to demolish the building then, and we could reject the bids,” he said. 

Billy Hammersmith pointed out that the demolition of the building might be complicated and expensive. The structure abuts the road, which is a County road, and part of the building is on the County right of way. The County might have requirements for the work and the fill. Tate suggested that the Board resolve now to publish the bid request but delay the actual publication and the due date so that the specifications can be developed after talking to the County Engineer. Yerton added that this extra time would give Snow the opportunity to file a building permit and begin work if he was inclined to do so. 

Hammersmith said that not only will you have to demolish the building and remove the debris but that the fill would have to be trucked in and covered with topsoil. Contractors would not leave their equipment there overnight so they will be trucking machinery back and forth. Jaeger said that he thought the project would cost between $3,000 and $5,000. Hammersmith said it “would be more than that,” but he wouldn’t say how much because he expects to bid on the project. Saunders said, “If it comes out to $50,000, we haven’t got the money to do it.” 

The expense for this kind of Town-ordered work is usually charged back to the property owner on his property tax bill. However, Jaeger said that the cost of demolishing and removing the debris from the old gas station on Main Street a couple of years ago was never recouped because the demolition charges were not filed with the County to be included on the tax bill. Town Clerk Anne Maxon concurred that the $16,000 spent to demolish the old gas station was never recouped.

Code Enforcement Officer Yerton asked if there was a Town resolution setting the policy regarding the length of a demolition permit. “I understand that a 3-year demo permit was issued before I took office,” he said. He has learned from his training classes that the term of a demolition permit is usually 60 days, often 30 days.

Energy Conservation

One concern on everybody’s mind is how to stay warm over the winter. Even though the price of oil has just fallen below $100 per barrel, there is no guarantee that it won’t go up, and many, because of soaring prices this summer, have already entered into contracts with local fuel oil suppliers that set the price for the home heating oil they will buy this winter at well above $4 per gallon. Lots of people in the northeast will be paying twice as much to heat their homes this winter as they did last winter. For people on fixed incomes this is a devastating blow. 

Frank Mace, who lives on Main Street in Berlin and who works in the Residential Efficiency and Affordability Program at NYSERDA, spoke at the beginning of this meeting to inform Berliners that there are a number of State programs in place to help New Yorkers reduce their energy consumption, pay for energy conservation renovations and fund renewable energy projects. He left a number of pamphlets and information sheets in the Town Hall for the public to take. Most of the programs have to do with insulation and electricity conservation. Some give information on how to reduce energy use through the Energy Star program; others give contact numbers for grants and low interest loans to finance the installation of insulation and energy efficient windows and appliances. Presumably, the money saved on electric bills can help pay for heating oil. Interested parties can call 1-877-NYsmart or log onto www.getenergysmart.org for more information.

Supervisor Jaeger announced that he had received a phone call from a Texas company regarding the possibility of erecting windmills in Berlin. He referred the company to Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Don French because a special use permit would be needed to put up a windmill. The Texans are also considering a location in Averill Park. Mace said that NYSERDA has the entire state wind-mapped so you can tell how much wind there is at any location and how high you would have to build the windmill. “Is this a pretty windy area?” one resident asked, prompting wisecracks and snickers.

Town To Share Services With BCS

Jaeger announced that he had received notification from NYS  that there are grant opportunities available for municipalities to develop shared services. The grants start at $200,000, he said. He informed the Board that the Berlin Central School District, for whom he works as a school bus driver, is renovating and modernizing its fueling station. The idea of purchasing gas and diesel under the School District’s bid was discussed at previous Board meetings. Jaeger suggested that the Town could apply for a shared services grant and use the money to help fund the School District’s fueling station. The Town trucks would then be able to fuel up 24/7 at the fueling station using a key code for each vehicle to keep track of use. The Fire District might also share in the fuel purchase and fueling station. At present, when the Town vehicles need gas, they purchase it by credit card at the Mobil Station in New Lebanon because it is the nearest  station the Town has a credit card for. 

Highway Superintendent Jim Winn asked about the liability if there were a fuel spill at the fueling station. Town Attorney Tate said the liability would spread among the three entities and, besides, the exposure would be minimized because the facility would be better than the fueling station at the Town Garage. Winn said he would still purchase some fuel from the County, under whose bid he buys it now, because he “doesn’t want to burn  any bridges with the County.”

The Board voted unanimously to enter into a shared services relationship with the Berlin School District to buy and use fuel, to use the BCS fueling station and to use Town shared services grant money, if received, to help fund the renovation of the District’s fueling station.

Highway

Winn reported that the Highway Department has been busy “running around patching” and making up chip seal. The chip sealing will begin in 10 to 14 days. Winn said that the County has come out to “shim” CC Dam Road, that is – smooth out the sand and oil  mixture that is put down on road surfaces. Berlin has been helping the County with their chip sealing projects by carrying stone to the chipper because the Berlin trucks have chipper bars. The County has been hauling blacktop to Berlin for the patching. He also said that Stephentown has come up and ditched Bly Hollow Road to the top of the hill. “Now we have to reshape the road,” he added. Winn has borrowed the Town of Nassau roller and used it to pack down the roads that he has graveled and reshaped.

Winn said that Erdmann Anthony & Associates, an engineering firm from Troy, completed its first monitoring of the Southeast Hollow Road bridge. The Town plans to replace the  bridge with a culvert-bridge like the  one the County installed on East Hollow Road in Petersburgh. To rebuild the bridge would cost $200,00 easily, Winn said. Winn is getting a rough idea from Chemung of the cost of the culvert  and the cost of the concrete.  He thinks the culvert-bridge will cost 1/3 the amount needed to replace the bridge. The culvert will have a span just under 20 feet to avoid future inspections by the County but will be higher in order to accommodate the volume of water in the brook.

Surplus Equipment Bids

Bids for Berlin’s surplus highway equipment were opened at this meeting. The items bid on were a 1992 Ford one ton truck, a 1964 Cat loader and a 1972 John Deere bulldozer. Henry Ruebel of Berlin bid $350 for the Ford, $3,500 for the loader and $2,500 for the dozer. Jason Saunders of Cherry Plain bid $550 for the Ford, $1,202 for the loader and $3,203 for the dozer. Darryl Maxon of Cherry Plain bid only on the bulldozer, $1,250. James Brundige of Petersburgh bid only on the bulldozer, $3,501. David Thurber bid on the Ford, $400, and the loader, $900. The Board accepted the high bids for each item – Ruebel’s $3,500 bid for the Cat loader, Saunders’ $550 bid for the Ford truck and Brundige’s $3,501 bid for the John Deere bulldozer.

Board Member Carl Greene asked if  the 1970 Gradall G600 and the two surplus sanders should be put out to bid. The Board and Winn’s consensus is that these items are junk, but it was agreed that if no attractive bids were received, the Town would sell them for junk so the Board voted to publish a request for bids.

Considering the cost of heating oil, one would have expected that the replacement of the Town Garage doors with new, insulated doors would be high on the agenda, but it wasn’t until the end of the meeting when Kent Goodermote reminded the Board of Board Member George Shuhart’s request to buy the doors last spring. “Now is the time you will need them,” Goodermote said. Jaeger replied that they had put off purchasing the doors in order to “make sure we had money until the end of the year.” The proposal Shuhart got last spring was for $3,200 for two doors. “They have already gone up 20%,” Shuhart said. Jaeger said, “George’s point is well taken.” A resident suggested that the money from the sale of the surplus equipment could be used to buy the doors.

Transfer Station

“Everything is running good at the Transfer Station,” Ivan Wager said. The Town was charged only for the labor for replacing the rollers on the containers that needed them. The rusted-out side of one container cost $495 to repair; when the second container is empty a similar repair will be done to that. Waste Management won’t pull the containers if they are in bad condition, Wager said.

Wager has been negotiating a new waste hauling contract with Waste Management. He said they will probably stay with a 5% increase across the board even though he has been trying to “whittle them down.” This will result in a $5 to $7 increase per haul, he said. This increase includes the tipping fee; there will be no fuel surcharge. Wager is still negotiating the price of newspaper disposal, and he asked the Board for authorization to sign the contract with Waste Management if the increase in newspaper charges is 5% or less. Town Supervisor Jaeger said, “If they are within that range, go ahead.”

Youth Programs

Tammy Osterhout reported on the Youth Program. She said that 52 kids enrolled in the swim program. Use of the Hoosick Town Pool will rise to $40 per child next year, she said. All the bills for the summer programs have been paid except for the bus costs to the Hoosick pool because that bill hasn’t been received yet, she said. Osterhout said that 43 children went to the Schaghticoke Fair, with Kathy Burdick donating $11 to make up the difference in the admission cost of $17 so the 43rd child could attend. Osterhout said this will be the last year for the Fair because the $720 budgeted for it could be better used in the programs. The Halloween party will take place on Friday, October 31, from 6 to 8 pm – or maybe later since it is a Friday. Osterhout said that the stove donated by Todd and Sheila Hewitt has been moved into the Watipi building. She thanked Carl and Jimmy. She will attend a seminar on obtaining arts grants that is being held in Petersburgh. She said that grants for as much as $5,000 are available.

Game Night

Osterhout was heartened by the Youth Commission meeting held earlier in the evening. Amy Buck and Sarah Pettibone attended and volunteered to supervise game nights on October 11 and 25 in the Watipi Building. Game night will run from 6 to 9 pm with children in grades 3 to 5 attending in the first hour and sixth to twelfth-graders attending from 7 to 9. The younger kids will have to be signed in and out by their parents. The older kids can sign in themselves, but once they leave they can’t return. More game nights will be planned if the first two are well attended, Osterhout said.

Dogs, Dogs, Dogs

Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote reported that ever since it appeared in the Eastwick Press last month that he is only responsible for dogs he got more calls than ever. “I don’t know if they can read or what,” he said. Most were people trying to get rid of cats. Goodermote also reported a few dog barking complaints – two in the village and one on Cold Spring Road. He also announced that the fall rabies clinic would be held on October 16 at the Berlin Highway Garage. Inoculations cost $10 each, cash only. Cats will be treated from 6 to 7 pm and dogs from 7 to 8 pm. If you have questions, Goodermote can be contacted at 658-3308.

Planning Board Vacancy

Chairwoman of the Planning Board, Pam Gerstel, announced that Christine Young has resigned from that Board. Now the Planning Board is looking for a regular member as well as an alternate. Jaeger asked, “Anyone interested in one exciting night out a month?” The Planning Board will meet this month to consider a site plan for a subdivision in center Berlin.

Cells Towers

Jaeger reported that three or four private individuals have been approached by Verizon for the use of their land for possible cell phone tower sites. Others interested in hosting a tower can go on the Verizon website and register. Verizon will deal directly with the landowners. According to Jaeger, the lawyer for Verizon indicated that they are looking for two sites in Berlin. For optimal coverage, the towers will be located on either side of Route 22 as it meanders through the valley.

New Carpet In Town Hall

Town Justice Joe Rechen has applied for a grant in the amount of $5,050 through the Justice Court system to re-carpet the Town Hall, which also serves as the Town Court. The Board unanimously voted to file the application and signed the cover letter that will be sent to the Justice Court with the grant application.

The Gladioli 

Beautification Project 

Towards the end of the meeting Supervisor Jaeger read a letter from Don Calman asking the Board  for its support in the gladioli project. Calman’s letter eloquently states the case.

“Our trial gladioli bed has been planted, cared for and flowered profusely, as the Town Board members must be aware. The many unsolicited personal, phone and mail comments from Town residents have strongly indicated the program was a huge success.

All of the materials and labor for the trial bed were contributed at no cost. We have learned several ways to reduce the anticipated costs; however, in expanding to an additional greater number of flowerbeds throughout the Route 22 corridor, it cannot be expected that all will be accomplished without cost, which brings us to purpose of this report.

Now is the time for the Board to indicate whether it wishes to support, continue and greatly expand this program, which will greatly enhance the appearance and image of Berlin╔with all the direct and indirect benefits to the Town.

Each additional new bed will cost about $500-$600 (digging the bed, buying the bulbs and soil/compost materials, some labor) for the initial planting, with subsequent years for each bed costing about $150-$200 (soil/composting materials, some bulb replacement and some labor). Much of the required labor should continue to be donated through the High School Community Service program. 

It is expected that some part of the overall cost can be raised from local companies, individuals and organizations, but for this to be a truly endorsed Town project some financial support is required from the Town Board. Without that financial support the project remains a personal project, which will not be sustainable.

This request is for $2,000 to be allocated for 2009 and $1,500 for 2010. It is projected, but not guaranteed, that any ongoing Town financing should not be needed if the companies, individual and organization solicitations are successful. I offer to manage the project and fund-raising while seeking a future replacement manager from within the Town. Hopefully, The Board will recognize this as an appropriate investment in the Town’s well being.

Respectfully,

Donald R. Calman”

It was obvious from the reaction in the room that the gladioli bed in front of the Bank of America was universally appreciated. “It sure looked nice,” said Board Member Jim Saunders. It was obvious to anyone who followed the project that it took a great deal of time, effort and good will to plant this one bed. It was also obvious that the Board was reluctant to support the project with money. Board Member Sheila Hewitt said, “I am concerned about adding anything to the budget. Everything is going up, and people cannot afford extra at this point.” She suggested private donations. Carl Greene asked if Calman had looked into the I Love NY grant program. Hewitt said that donations and work can be used to obtain matching funds. Calman replied that he won’t pursue grant money or donations until the Board supports the project. He said the Town should look at it as an investment, not as an expense.

The Board decided to wait for the budget process to begin before making any commitment. “Taxes will go up, but we need to control how much,” Jaeger said. Requests from department heads are due on September 20 with a tentative budget proposal to be circulated to the Board on September 30. Presumably the tentative budget will be presented at the October Board meeting. Jaeger thanked Calman “for all your work.” Later, Carl Greene said, “We really appreciate the people who donate a lot to the Town. We do the most with the little we have.” Of course, the Town sometimes has to respond with more than a ‘thank you very much’ if it hopes to continue to enjoy the extraordinary contributions of its more community-minded citizens. Money talks, after all. Even a token allocation of funds might ensure the sprouting of gladioli up and down Route 22.

In other business the Board:

• heard from Len Clapp that Water District #1 is running smoothly;

• heard from Jim Winn that Water District #2 is quiet and that the cross connection control plan presented to the Board needs to be adopted by the Board; Jaeger said it would be on next month’s agenda;

• heard from Shuhart that the air conditioner did not work because of a faulty electrical outlet and that he fixed the outlet and oiled the hinges of the Town Hall door;

• heard from Carl Greene that the Little Hoosic Watershed Association was preparing for its meeting with representatives from the US Division of Fish and Wildlife;

• heard from Saunders that the sidewalk project will be completed soon;

• responded positively to Billy Hammersmith’s suggestion that the Town issue vouchers for use as tax deductions for donations of time or equipment to Town projects;

• heard from Kent Goodermote that two streetlights have recently gone out.