The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Moose Hit By Car In Hoosick Falls

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The dead moose, still on the side of River Road on Thursday morning, September 25, had been put out of its misery by State Police after it was struck by a motor vehicle. Photo by Rick Ferrannini.
The dead moose, still on the side of River Road on Thursday morning, September 25, had been put out of its misery by State Police after it was struck by a motor vehicle. Photo by Rick Ferrannini.

by Bea Peterson

 

According to Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Whalen a bull moose was allegedly struck by a car on River Road about 4 am Thursday morning, September 25. The injured animal dragged itself to the edge of the road and then back across the road. Nearby residents told police they could hear the moose moaning. The NY State Police were called and Chief Whalen said, “They dispatched the animal.” 

The moose was estimated to be a three year old male weighing between 750 and 900 pounds. After daylight it was moved to the Hoosick Falls highway garage where portions of the animal were taken by the Department of Environmental Conservation to test for heart or brain worm and to assess the overall health of the moose before its death.

Not The First Moose

Chief Whalen said other moose have been seen in the area. “Last year we escorted a mother moose with her baby off of Main St., and they wandered away toward Wood Creek.” He said that another time traffic was tied up on NY Route 7 and County Road 79 as cars pulled off the road to observe a large bull moose clearly visible on the top of the hill.

In Friday’s case, the Chief said they located the driver that struck the animal and passed the information on to DEC.  

DEC Warns Motorists

Motorists should be alert for moose on roadways in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas at this time of year – a peak of moose activity – the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) cautioned last week.

Early fall is the breeding season for moose in northern New York. During this time moose are wandering to look for mates, leading them to areas where they are not typically seen. 

While this improves the opportunities for people to enjoy sightings of a moose, it also increases the danger of colliding with one on the roadway.

DEC estimates that New York has a population of approximately 500 moose in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas. Over the past couple of decades the moose population has increased mainly by entering the state from Vermont and Canada. Now the increase in population is mainly due to the birth of moose calves here in New York.

Moose are much larger and taller then deer. Their large body causes greater damage, and, when struck, their height often causes them to impact the windshield of a car or pickup truck, not just the front of the vehicle. Last year, 10 moose-vehicle accidents were reported in New York. However, there has not been a human fatality from an accident with a moose – a record DEC hopes to retain.

Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, which are times of poor visibility. Moose are especially difficult to see at night because of their dark brown-to-black coloring and their height – which puts their head and much of their body above vehicle headlights.

DEC advises motorists to take the following precautions to prevent moose-vehicle collisions:

ź Use extreme caution when driving at dawn or dusk, especially during September and October.

ź Reduce your speed, stay alert and watch the roadsides.

ź Slow down when approaching moose standing near the roadside, as they may bolt at the last minute when a car comes closer, often running into the road.

ź Moose may travel in pairs or small groups, so if a moose is spotted crossing the road, be alert for others that may follow.

ź Make sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts and children are properly restrained in child safety seats.

ź Use flashers or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when moose are spotted near the road.

ź Motorcyclists should be especially alert for moose.

If a moose does run in front of your vehicle, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a vehicle-vehicle collision or cause the vehicle to hit a fixed object such as a tree or pole.

If a moose is hit and killed by a vehicle, the motorist should not remove the animal unless a permit is obtained from the investigating officer at the scene of the accident.

DEC expects the moose population to increase rapidly over the next decade. Drivers will likely be encountering moose on the roadway and need to become accustomed to practices that will help avoid collisions. DEC continues to work with the Department of Transportation to identify and place signs in areas where moose are present along roads.

Native American Gallery And Meditation Center Opens In Stephentown

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This traditional tipi was set up at the Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival organized by Fidel Moreno and Susan Jameson, part of the Rock, Rattle & Drum Powwow held in August at Eastover in Lenox, MA. Photo by Marc Manoli.
This traditional tipi was set up at the Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival organized by Fidel Moreno and Susan Jameson, part of the Rock, Rattle & Drum Powwow held in August at Eastover in Lenox, MA. Photo by Marc Manoli.

by David Flint 

Visitors can partake of complimentary Buffalo Chili and Indian Corn Chowder at the official opening of the White Eagle Gallery and the White Eagle Meditation Center and Sanctuary next weekend in Stephentown Center. Open House is on Saturday, October 11 from 1 to 5 pm. The center is located at 910 Route 43 between Fiske Lumber and the Stephentown Center Community Church.

There will be Native American storytellers and re-enactors, native arts & crafts demonstrations including

An Indian woman doing a native american dance. Photo courtesy of Fidel Moreno.
An Indian woman doing a native american dance. Photo courtesy of Fidel Moreno.

traditional tipi and wigwam building, a Native American dance and regalia exhibition, a Sanctuary tour and much more. 

 

All are invited to view the Native American arts and crafts in the Gallery and learn about what the Resource Center has to offer, such as access to an archive with over 1,000 hours of interviews with Native American leaders, elders, teachers and spiritual healers from all over North America.

Fidel Moreno, Co-Director of the Gallery and Center along with his partner Susan Jameson, explains that the focus of the Meditation Center is “Understanding energy, its soul origin and flow to and from our human experience and its impact on our natural world, human relationships and earthly mission.” The Center will employ North American indigenous models as well as Eastern disciplines for relaxation, focus, grounding, chronic pain management, emotional clarity and personal harmony. There will be individual and small group meditation classes and meditative nature hikes. Natural and herbal applications will also be offered by an accredited herbalist and integrative bodywork and massage will also be available by appointment. 

Fidel Moreno is past President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico and a filmmaker with award winning productions such as “The Peyote Road” and “Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations” to his credit. Information on Moreno’s documentaries, some of which have influenced US Congressional legislation, can be found at www.seektv.tv. 

For more information on the White Eagle Gallery and Meditation Center and the open house, please call 518-733-9227 or email humanityinconcert@earthlink.net.

Public Hearing Scheduled For Stonybrook Subdivision

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by Alex Brooks

The Grafton Planning Board held a Special Meeting on October 1 in which they accepted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement from Stonybrook Properties for a 26 lot subdivision proposal involving about 141 acres on land between South Long Pond Road and the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, with frontage on South Long Pond. The project includes construction of a new road 4000 feet long.

The board passed a resolution declaring the Impact Statement “complete and adequate for public review,” and scheduled a Public Hearing on it for October 20 at 6 pm.

The impact statement is a lengthy document with several documents, exhibits, and maps appended. It is available for public review at the Grafton Town Hall. Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo told all present that if they would like him to send an electronic copy of the document in PDF format, they may email him at sdf@girvinlaw.com and he will send a copy by email. Grafton Town Supervisor Allison Kirchner said she would try to put the document on the Town of Grafton web site so it can be downloaded from there, but she wasn’t sure when or if this could be accomplished. This site is at www.graftonny.org.

When asked if there will be limits on how long someone can speak at the public hearing, members of the Planning Board said that no formal limit has been established, but in general a comment of about 5 minutes or so has been the norm, and the board hopes that comments won’t go too much longer than that.

Ferlazzo encouraged people with detailed and lengthy comments to put them in writing and submit them that way, so the Board could review them thoroughly and respond to their contents. Written comments on this subdivision proposal will be accepted from now until November 7, 2008.

Warner Benjamin Harrison

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Hoosick Falls – Warner Benjamin “Ben” Harrison, 79, died Friday, September 26, 2008, at the Hoosick Falls Health Center. He had resided on Griffin Avenue in Hoosick Falls, NY, with his wife of fifty-six years, Henrietta Ann “Hennie” (Demick) Harrison.

Born on November 14, 1928, in Cambridge, NY, he was the son of the late Howard and Ina (Mason) Harrison. Ben graduated from Hoosick Falls High School. After high school, he worked in the family business, Harrison Vending. He later started Harrison Mobile Sales before starting his own vending business, now operated by his two sons, David and Doug. Ben retired in 1983. He was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, the Army National Guard, the Derby Club, a life member of the St. Stanislaw Society and a charter member since 1961 of the Lions Club, all in Hoosick Falls. Ben enjoyed playing golf, spending summers at Hedges Lake, winters in Florida, boat parades at the lake and riding his scooter.

Survivors other than his wife Hennie include his children, Lee Ann Kilby and Kimberly Harrison, both of Tallahassee, FL, David Harrison and wife Heather, Doug Harrison and friend Sandy Trembly, all of Hoosick Falls, a brother, Ronald Harrison of Syracuse, NY, and two sisters, Shirley Moses of Eagle Bridge, NY, and Ann Gilfeather of Red Hook, NY. He is also survived by his five grandchildren, Stephen, Lauren, Patrick, Emily and Evan. Ben is pre-deceased by three brothers, Harry, Malcolm and Mason Harrison.

Funeral services were Monday, September 29, at 10 am from St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the service at Maple Grove Cemetery, Hoosick Falls.

Isabelle B. Marshall

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Hoosick Falls – Isabelle B. Marshall, 95, passed away suddenly on October 1, 2009, at her residence in the Wood Park Apartments in Hoosick Falls, NY. She formerly resided in Hoosick, NY, and was the wife of the late H. Rudolph Marshall. Isabelle and Rudolph had been married for forty-seven years at the time of his death.

Born on June 25, 1913, in Bennington, VT, Isabelle was the daughter of the late Harry G. and Belle (Rudd) Breese. She graduated from Bennington High School in 1931 and attended Simmons College and Burdett College in Boston, MA. Isabelle was employed at the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY, as the Medical Record Librarian.

She was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick, an honorary member of the Bennington Chapter of D.A.R., a member of the Cambridge Area Branch of the Woman’s National Farm and Garden Association, the Cheney Library Book Club, a volunteer at the Louis Miller Museum, Hoosick Falls, and a Genealogy Library volunteer at the Bennington Museum.

Survivors include her twin daughters, Sandra Phelps and husband Robert and Susan Lohnes and husband Robert, all of Hoosick, her sister, Jane Rydberg of Rochester, NY, her brother, Robert Breese of Hoosick Falls, five grandchildren Carol MacDonald, Gary Lohnes, Heidi Byrne, Betsy Seplowitz and Brenda Phelps, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Isabelle is pre-deceased by a brother, Alexander Breese.

Funeral services will be Friday, October 3, at 11 am from All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick. Burial will follow the service at Hoosick Rural Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, on Thursday from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either the Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls or the Hoosick Rural Cemetery Association through the funeral home.

Helen B. Eddy

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Eagle Bridge – Helen B. (Bartling) Eddy, 93, died Tuesday, September 30, 2008, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT. She had resided on Rt. 67 in Eagle Bridge, NY, and is pre-deceased by her husband Perry Eddy.

Born on November 24, 1914, in the Town of Pittstown, NY, Helen was the daughter of the late Walter and Florence (Quackenbush) Bartling. She was educated at schools in Pittstown and was a homemaker all of her life. Helen also owned the Owlkill Gift Shop in Eagle Bridge. She enjoyed reading, taking care of other people and playing with her grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter, Joan Gardner of Hoosick Falls, NY, a sister, Louise Splatt of Albany, NY, seven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren. She also leaves her close friends, Debbie and Denny Brownell, Leslie, Jean and Lynn. Helen is pre-deceased by her daughter, Lois Sukuskas, sisters, Eva Gates and Lois Haner, and a brother, Walter Bartling.

Funeral services are Thursday, October 2, at 2 pm from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial follows the service at Island Hill Cemetery, Buskirk, NY.

Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 12 pm until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cambridge Valley Rescue Squad through the funeral home.

Bertha M. Jost

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Hoosick Falls – Bertha M. Jost, 101, died Friday, September 26, 2008, at the Hoosick Falls Health Center in Hoosick Falls, NY, where she had resided since 2007. Bertha formerly resided on South Street in Hoosick, NY. She was the wife of the late Milford Strait and the late Casper Jost.

Born on May 5, 1907, in Petersburgh, NY, Bertha was the daughter of the late Guy and Fidelia (Church) Barber. She was educated at schools in the Town of Hoosick and was a homemaker all of her life. Bertha was a member of the Senior Citizens and enjoyed playing cards and bowling.

Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Hayes, and her grandson, Ron Bovie, both of Hoosick Falls, a family friend, William Hamlin of Saratoga Springs, NY, and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were on Monday, September 29, at 2 pm from All Saints Episcopal Church in Hoosick. Burial followed the service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to All Saints Church through the funeral home.

County Legislator Stan Brownell Charged With DWI

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by Bea Peterson

Rensselaer County Legislator Stanley Brownell has pleaded not guilty to a DWI charge incurred on August 10 in Springfield, VT. According to Brownell’s attorney Daniel McManus, Vermont law states a first time offender has a right to refuse a breath test. Brownell refused it. “He is innocent until proven guilty,” said his attorney. “We haven’t seen the video that was taken in the processing room by Springfield Police.” He feels that the video will provide more evidence on Brownell’s behalf. McManus asked that people keep an open mind until the case comes to court. “It’s unfortunate that because of his position in the Legislature this case has had a lot of publicity.”

“Legislator Brownell has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. He expects to bring the case to trial some time this fall,” said Richard Crist, Republican Legislative Liaison from the Rensselaer County Legislature Majority Office. He added that so far as he knew, recently published stories appearing in several local daily newspapers had the facts correct.

The Eastwick Press does not have a copy of the police affidavit at this point, but, according to published reports, Brownell was stopped for driving 50 m.p.h. in a 40 m.p.h. zone. He was also alleged to be weaving in his lane, which his attorney disputes. Brownell reportedly admitted to police that he had consumed alcohol earlier in the evening. 

The case is scheduled for the Windsor, VT, District Court at 3 pm on October 8.

Experimental Paving Project On Route 43

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A Callanan crew led by Francis Grant lays down an experimental type of asphalt on Route 43 across from Dave’s Market last Thursday. Photo by Pat Flint.
A Callanan crew led by Francis Grant lays down an experimental type of asphalt on Route 43 across from Dave’s Market last Thursday. Photo by Pat Flint.

Another First For Stephentown

by David Flint

The second phase of paving on Route 43 from Stephentown to the Massachusetts line began last Thursday with the laying down of an experimental new type of blacktop called warm mix asphalt (WMA). Stephentown was the first site in eastern New York State selected for the use of this new technology which originated in Europe. According to Peter Van Keuren, spokesman for the New York State Transportation Department (NYSDOT), the WMA process allows conventional hot mix asphalt to be produced at a reduced temperature, thereby saving fuel at the plant and reducing emissions at the plant and in the field for the workers and inspection staff.╩ The savings realized in energy can range from 10% to 50%.╩Since each ton of hot mix produced uses the equivalent of two gallons of diesel fuel to heat, reduced fuel consumption, he said, is obviously of interest.

He added that WMA also reduces the aging of asphalt in the plant, which may provide for a longer lasting pavement when compared to hot mix asphalt.╩ Van Keuren said that NYSDOT is allowing contractors to place trial sections, as here in Stephentown, in order to learn the benefits and limitations of different types of WMA technology.╩ 

NYSDOT has already used over 30,000 tons of WMA on State owned roads, mostly in the Syracuse area using a number of different forms of the technology. Demonstration projects have also been carried out on some county and town roads.

Francis Grant, a native of Stephentown and Paving Foreman for Callanan Industries, was in charge of the job on Route 43. Grant is aware that NYSDOT is excited about the potential for WMA as “the green thing” that will also serve to reduce the cost of highway maintenance in the State. Some have said that in the next five years NYSDOT will be using only WMA. Grant, however, is far from convinced that the technology in its present form is the wave of the future. This was his first experience with WMA, and he was not pleased with the quality of the job that was done. Grant said they used WMA in the eastbound lane but for the westbound lane and for the shoulders they used conventional asphalt. The westbound land and the shoulders are fine, he said, but the eastbound lane is not smooth, and it is slippery even though the material is open graded for a porous surface. The material, he said, is very difficult to work with. In his 30 years in road work, Grant said he has never worked with material this bad. He believes that the machinery currently being used to lay roads will need some adaptations to properly work with WMA. He believes the technology will eventually improve but if it is to be the wave of the future it will have to test out better than this. 

Van Keuren said he believes the WMA in Stephentown “was placed on a day that was apparently too cold and was too far from the plant and therefore has some ride and aesthetic issues.╩ The contractor is going to address some of these issues, but it is not completely determined the extent of the repairs required.” He added that NYSDOT did use the opportunity to make test samples to test for durability and to compare the new technology with hot mix asphalt.╩ In tests from other projects he said that so far the technology appears to maintain durability.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, “The benefits of warm mix asphalt technologies to the United States in terms of energy savings and air quality improvements are promising, but these technologies need further investigation and research in order to validate their expected performance and added value.”

Fire At Hoosac Meadows

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The smell of smoke was evident from the opened windows at 22 Hoosac Meadows Way Wednesday afternoon as a result of a kitchen fire Tuesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)
The smell of smoke was evident from the opened windows at 22 Hoosac Meadows Way Wednesday afternoon as a result of a kitchen fire Tuesday evening. (Bea Peterson photo)

by Bea Peterson

The Hoosick Fire Department received the call of a structure fire at Hoosac Meadows Way at 10:02 Tuesday night. “The first engine was at the scene in five or six minutes,” said Hoosick Fire Chief William Rifenburgh. Smoke from the kitchen fire was visible to Route 22, he added. 

The family of Darlene Lockrow had turned in for the night when smoke detectors alerted them to the fire, which was the result of an unattended cooking fire; something unintentionally left going on the stove. “The kitchen suffered heavy smoke, fire and heat damage,” said Chief Rifenburgh. 

Residents and neighbors with fire extinguishers held the flames at bay until Fire Departments from Hoosick and Hoosick Falls arrived on the scene. They quickly knocked down the remaining fire. “The automatic pre-plan we have in place for apartment complexes worked well last night,” said the Chief. Hoosick and Hoosick Falls Departments were automatically deployed and the North Hoosick Fire Department was on standby in quarters. “The Hoosick Falls ladder truck was on the scene and because there are no hydrants, trucks were sent up Route 22, across from McDonald’s, to be filled with water from hydrants located there. 

Some of the apartments share common attic space, and fire fighters made sure fire had not gotten into the walls before allowing residents to return to their homes about 11 pm. “The family of four was very fortunate their smoke detectors worked,” said Chief Rifenburgh. Often individuals are overcome by smoke rather than the fire, he added. “It was a good reminder that everyone should make sure their smoke detectors are in good working order.”