The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Hush, Hush On Surdam Incident

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by Alex Brooks

Hoosick Falls Central School Bus Driver Leo Surdam has not been driving his school bus since an incident that happened on his bus on December 8 in which Surdam intervened to stop two sixth grade boys from harassing a fourth grade girl. Information on exactly why this may lead to charges against him either by police or by the School District is not available at present.

Neither Surdam nor the School administration can discuss the incident, which will be investigated and adjudicated through the School District’s normal procedures.

A police report was not available to this newspaper late Wednesday afternoon.

HFCS District Superintendent Ken Facin said Surdam “has privacy rights and due process rights” that the District will respect. Facin said it is a personnel matter which cannot be discussed in public.

There has been a lot of discussion of the incident on Facebook, and many in the community seem to be rallying behind Surdam and urging the School District to reinstate him. A group of Surdam’s supporters are expected to show up at this week’s School Board meeting, but Facin said the Board and the Administration will not be able to discuss the matter at a public meeting.

Stephentown Town Board Action – Avoiding A Cash Flow Problem

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by David Flint

The Stephentown Town Board is hoping to get through the year and into January without having to take out a loan to pay bills. Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt said at the  Town Board meeting on Monday that, “We’re coming down to the wire,” with only about $60,000 left to pay bills.

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Petersburgh Town Board Action – Highway Problems

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by Alex Brooks

The Petersburgh Town Board meeting was called to order by Deputy Supervisor Mario DiDomenicantonio because Supervisor Siegfried Krahforst was sick.

Highway Superintendent Rob Cottrell said he lost his temporary seasonal person Bryan Amidon, and asked for the Board’s guidance on what basis he can hire a new seasonal worker.

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Berlin Town Board Action – Don’t Bite That Tire!

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by Kieron Kramer

The tail end of the lingering snowstorm on Tuesday and Wednesday, December 9 and 10, had its effect on the Berlin Town Board meeting on Thursday, December 11. Not only was attendance at the meeting dampened but Jim Winn, who is Berlin Highway Superintendent as well as the Supervisor of Water District #2, missed the meeting because he was either still out on the roads tidying up the plowing and sanding in Town, or, as Town Supervisor Rob Jaeger said, he was recovering from his prodigious efforts. Board Member John Winn, who works for the State Highway Department, also missed the meeting, presumably for the same reason. Because Jim Winn was absent there was no Water District #2 or Highway Department report.

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Berlin School District To Receive $20k Award

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by Thaddeus Flint 

The December monthly meeting of the Berlin School Board on Tuesday started off with the announcement that Berlin High School was named a State finalist in the “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow” contest.

“This is very good news,” said High School Principal Dr. Cathy Allain, who praised the hard work of teacher and team coordinator Dawn Wetmore. “We are very proud of Miss Wetmore,” she said.

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Hoosick Planning Board Action – Solar Panels Approved; Hathaway’s Second Screen Not Approved

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by Bea Peterson

At the start of its meeting on December 15 the Town of Hoosick Planning Board passed two resolutions. The first approved the Hoosick Falls Central School Solar Panels project on the Wysocki farm, and the second disapproved the Hathaway’s Drive In request for an additional screen.

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Grafton Planning Board Action – No Clear Cutting

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by Kieron Kramer

There were two public hearings held before the Grafton Planning Board regular meeting at 7 pm on Monday, December 15. The first one, at 6:40, concerned the Michael Longo minor subdivision at 132 North Shore Road; the second one, at 6:50, concerned the Kenneth Maxfield minor subdivision at 321 Jay Hakes Road.

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Panther Boys Basketball Off To A Good Start

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by Steve Bradley

When the HFCS Panthers boys basketball team took to the court Monday evening against the Tamarac Bengals, it was their first time on the hardwood for the 2014-15 season. By comparison, many teams have played as many as five or six games up to this point. As of Wednesday afternoon, Hoosic Valley is 5 – 0, the Panthers are 1 – 0. Hoosic Valley played Wednesday evening, so when the Panthers and Indians meet Friday, Hoosic Valley will have played six games to the Panthers’ one. The Panthers’ game against Cohoes was cancelled due to storm conditions, and last Friday’s game against Tamarac was postponed due to a power outage at Tamarac and rescheduled for Monday. Hoosick Falls was the only varsity basketball team in the State that had not played a game as of Monday afternoon.

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