The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Brunswick

John W. Crook Jr.

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Brunswick – John W. “Jack” Crook Jr., 86, a longtime resident of Brunswick, passed away peacefully Monday, May 16, 2022, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy with his family by his side, following a short illness.

Born in Liberty, New York, April 25, 1936, Jack is the son of the late John W. and Viola (Muthig) Crook Sr. and the loving husband, for over 66 years, of Joan M. (Rifenburg) Crook of Brunswick, who survives.

Jack attended Troy City Schools. He entered the workforce as a young man and worked at several area businesses, where he learned and honed his automotive and mechanical repair skills. Jack earned the friendship and appreciation of the many whose houses he kept warm while working as a service technician for the Hastings Oil Company in Albia. After more than 35 years of service, through all types of weather and seasons, he retired in 2004.

[Read more…] about John W. Crook Jr.

Traffic Concerns Linger at Aldi Site in Brunswick

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by Doug La Rocque
David Leon’s representatives, MJ Engineering, were back before the Brunswick Planning Board on Thursday evening, May 12, with a new rendering of what the proposed addition of an Aroma Joe’s Coffee Drive Thru would look like. The problem the Planners have is that it is not just drive thru but has a walk up window as well. Several members of the Board voiced their concern about pedestrians crossing an increased traffic flow, particularly since the rendering did not show any crosswalks or other protective features leading to that walk up window. [Read more…] about Traffic Concerns Linger at Aldi Site in Brunswick

New Tamarac Elementary Principal Named

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Brunswick Brittonkill Central School District is pleased to announce that Kelly Onorato has been named the new principal of Tamarac Elementary School.
Onorato, a resident of Brunswick, is currently the assistant principal at Tamarac Elementary. She replaces Mr. Richard Pogue, who is retiring after 16 years in the District.

Mrs. Onorato is bringing to the position 17 years experience in education. Kelly provided services to students in grades K-12 as a speech-language pathologist during her first 10 years in education. Kelly worked as a speech-language pathologist in the Brunswick Central School District for 8 years. [Read more…] about New Tamarac Elementary Principal Named

Aldi Site Change Deemed a Major Revision

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by Doug La Rocque
When the developer of the new Aldi store site currently under construction along Hoosick Road first approached the Brunswick Planning Board at their April 7 meeting, they proposed what they considered to be a minor buildout change. At the Planners’ Thursday, April 21 meeting, they informed David Leon’s representatives that changing the size of the Wendy’s fast food restaurant, modifying the parking, adding for electric vehicle charging stations and sticking an Aroma Joe’s drive thru coffee site between the Aldi and Planet Fitness building was indeed a major site change, and would require reviewing the environmental effects of the proposal, as well as another public hearing. Some of the prosed parking lot changes would also require a new review by the Zoning Board of Appeals, which would also dictate a public hearing. [Read more…] about Aldi Site Change Deemed a Major Revision

Sue E. Beaudoin – Obituary

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Brunswick – Sue E. Beaudoin, 71, a lifelong resident of Brunswick, died peacefully Monday, April 18, 2022, at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany following a short illness.

Born in Troy and raised in Brunswick, Sue was the daughter of the late Floyd and Dorothy (Hall) Rifenburg and the wife for over 28 years of Joseph C. Beaudoin Jr. of Brunswick, who survives. Sue and Joe were married on July 30, 1994.

Sue attended Tamarac District School and was a graduate of Tamarac High School, class of 1969.

She had an engaging smile and fun personality. For many years she was employed as an assistant manager by Stewart’s Shops and worked in several area stores. She then worked for several years as a receptionist at the Brunswick Family Practice office in Cropseyville. Most recently, she returned for five additional years to her assistant manager position at Stewart’s Shops, working at the Pawling Avenue Store. After more than 11 years of service, she retired in 2012. [Read more…] about Sue E. Beaudoin – Obituary

Brunswick Town Council Meeting

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Ready to Review Code Changes

by Doug La Rocque

More than a year into a moratorium on two-family and multi-family construction in the Town, Supervisor Phil Herrington announced at the Thursday, April 14 Town Council meeting, the proposed changes are nearly complete, and scheduled a Council Workshop for Tuesday, April 26 at 6 pm. This workshop is open to the public, but no comments will be entertained — those will be heard when a public hearing is scheduled.

The moratorium came to be because of many complaints about overcrowding in some areas of the Town along with comments that these multi-family dwellings were being proposed for some rural and agricultural areas. Since the moratorium’s enactment, a group of public officials and Town attorneys and the LaBerge Group have been meeting on a weekly basis to identify the issues that needed to be addressed and put together proposed solutions. That work is now complete. [Read more…] about Brunswick Town Council Meeting

Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

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Developer Unveils Plans for Additional Business at Aldi Site

At the Brunswick Planning Board meeting Thursday, April 7, David Leon’s representatives asked the Board to approve what they labeled a minor build out change for the site of the proposed Aldi, Wendy’s and KFC, now under construction along Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7). The change, however, now includes the construction of a fifth building on the site for an Aroma Joe’s Drive-Thru Coffee (the Planet Fitness building already exists). Other proposed changes include a redesign of the Wendy’s building and parking space alterations and the installation of four electric vehicle charging stations. [Read more…] about Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

Carol M. Donovan – Obituary

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Brunswick – Carol McNeilly Donovan, 73, died March 15, 2022, at her home surrounded by her loving family. Carol was born July 11, 1948 in Cambridge, NY, the daughter of the late Alice (Welch) and Gordon McNeilly of Hoosick NY. 

Carol is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Timothy, her daughter Kate Henson (Eric) of Boulder Colorado and her son Michael Donovan (Sarah) of Canandaigua NY, four adoring grandchildren, Wyatt and Owen Henson, Tyler and Toby Donovan and her sister and closest friend, Kathy White (Kevin) of Clifton Park NY and their children Rachel, Greg and Bryan. She is also survived by the Donovan clan, her sister-in-law Ann (Bill) White, Marge (Richard) Marker and Marianne Donovan and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was predeceased by her brother-in-law Joe Donovan. [Read more…] about Carol M. Donovan – Obituary

Verizon Cell Tower Extension Placed on Hold in Brunswick

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by Doug La Rocque

The application by Blue Sky Towers III, representing Verizon Wireless, to increase the height of the cell tower under construction on property at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane has been deemed by the Planning Board and the Brunswick Building Department to be incomplete. That determination was made prior to the Board’s March 17 meeting, important because under Federal Communications Commission guidelines, the Planners had only 30 days to act on the application. By deeming it to be incomplete, that so called shot clock is suspended.

The original tower application was for a 105 foot structure, but meet with vehement opposition from area residents, and the Planning Board eventually approved an 85 foot tower, placed in a stand of pine trees, and disguised to look like a tree. It has been indicated that any extension back to 105 feet would have to face another public hearing. [Read more…] about Verizon Cell Tower Extension Placed on Hold in Brunswick