The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Hoosick Man Honored by Legislature

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by Amy Modesti

Prior to the opening of the Rensselaer County Legislative meeting on Tuesday, January 1, District 5 representatives Jeff Wysocki and Bruce Patire paid homage to the late Robert Breese of Breese Hollow in the Town. He was a World War II veteran serving aboard the USS Tarawa, the last aircraft carrier built during the war. Mr. Breese was also named Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1963. Mr. Breese was a member of the Hoosick Fire Department, receiving a 65-year service award. He also served [Read more…] about Hoosick Man Honored by Legislature

A Year Later, Bail Reform Is Still a Hot Topic

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by Doug La Rocque

Members of the Republican New York State Senate Caucus were joined at the New York State Capitol by representatives of the Law Enforcement Community as well as some NYS Assembly members on Monday, January 10, to express their ongoing displeasure with what was labeled as bail reform, enacted as part of the State’s 2019-20 budget process and now law. They criticized this law for taking away critical decision making for judges when it came to setting cash bail for alleged offenders. Specifically the law eliminated cash bail for [Read more…] about A Year Later, Bail Reform Is Still a Hot Topic

Grafton Town Council Meeting

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Community Forest Announcement a Bit of a Surprise

by Chris Tergliafera and Doug La Rocque

During the public comments section of the January 10 regular meeting of the Grafton Town Council, a resident mentioned concerns over an upcoming project by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) on Foster Road that they believe could lead to increased traffic and other potential issues. The RPA’s project, involving approximately 300 acres on land situated between [Read more…] about Grafton Town Council Meeting

Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

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Mine Expansion To Be Discussed

by Doug La Rocque

Following their Thursday, January 6 meeting at which only subdivisions were on the agenda, the full Brunswick Planning Board was informed that the Valente Quarry, currently mining in the Town of Grafton but with land that reaches across the border into Brunswick, is considering crossing that border with their mining operation [Read more…] about Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh PFAS Health Study

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Submitted by the NYS Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health and the University at Albany School of Public Health have announced that residents in the Hoosick Falls area (including Petersburgh) are invited to take part in a national Multi-Site PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Health Study. This by-invitation-only effort seeks to recruit eligible adults and families who will then be invited for a health clinic visit for blood and urine testing along with [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh PFAS Health Study

Hoosick Falls Board Village Board Meeting

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Cops, Copiers and All Things Water Related

by Doug La Rocque

Mayor Rob Allen announced up front at the Tuesday, January 11 Village Board meeting that there has been a change in the Officer in Charge position for the Village Police Department. As of that evening, Officer Paul Aleksonis will assume the department’s top spot during the suspension of Chief Robert Ashe. He replaces Officer Bernie Davock, who was appointed to the position on December 16. Officer Davock will assume the position of 2nd in command.

According to the Mayor, Officer Aleksonis has been with the Police Department since 1995 and has been Officer in Charge many times in the past when the Chief was on vacation. He is also available to work several shifts per week.

Chief Ashe’s son Justin also attended the meeting and during public comment read a letter expressing his displeasure with Mayor Allen and some other members of the Police Department [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Board Village Board Meeting

Hoosick Town Council Meeting

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Updating Assessment Values

by Doug La Rocque

Assessor Tony Rice told the Hoosick Town Council on Monday evening, January 10, it’s time to look at property values again, noting overall property values are up by about 10 percent. He is very quick to emphasize this is not a reassessment, simply an update to keep the Town’s equalization rate at 100 percent. This means homes are assessed at their true value, not a percentage of it.

Mr. Rice said during the last year, many homes in the Town are selling at $100,000 higher than their assessed value. He also indicated these updates should take place [Read more…] about Hoosick Town Council Meeting

Four Area Dams Listed by DEC as Unsound

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Rating Does Not Mean Failure Is Imminent

by Doug La Rocque

A recent survey of dams around New York State by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) obtained by The Eastwick Press places three dams in the Town of Grafton and one in the Town of Berlin on their unsound list. The DEC however explains a Condition Rating of Unsound refers to “dams with deficiencies of such a nature that the safety of the dam cannot be assured.” The unsound ratings do not mean that [Read more…] about Four Area Dams Listed by DEC as Unsound