Local News

by Gary Danforth

The Town of Hoosick Planning Board meeting took place Monday evening, September 15, in the Hoosick Falls Armory with interim chairman Jim Dunigan calling the meeting to order at 7:30 pm. Following the Pledge of Allegiance the minutes of the previous month’s meeting were approved, with two corrections noted. Dunigan introduced the newest member of the planning board, Everett Quackenbush, a local surveyor, who was approved by the Town of Hoosick Board at its meeting last week.

First, Peter Schaaphok appeared before the Board and explained that he wanted to relocate his business from South Troy to Hoosick. His completed application had been sent to Rensselaer County which determined the site plan was within the parameters of the Town’s comprehensive plan. The Board passed a motion declaring this project to have a negative impact upon the surrounding environment. The Board had set a public hearing for this project for 7 pm on this night with no one voicing concern about the project. The Board passed a motion by a 6-0 vote allowing this project to go forward.

Then, Robert Breese, representing the Hoosick Fire District, appeared before the Board to discuss the Fire District acquiring the former Haynes Ford auto dealership lands, which would result in the land being used for a different purpose. Two disclosures had been made in the previous meetings concerning this proposed project. First, Stan King, the Town Planning Board attorney, disclosed that he had agreed to represent the Hoosick Fire District in this matter prior to the Planning Board meeting and this could be a potential conflict of interest, but he believed this would be up to the Board to decide. Second, Jim Dunigan, the interim Planning Board Chairman, disclosed that he was a Hoosick Fire District commissioner, another potential conflict of interest, with the latter not being able to vote on any Planning Board matter concerning same. Dunigan had recused himself from this discussion, taking a seat in the sparse audience A site plan had been gone over with existing lighting, utility and septic systems, along with any impact on local schools discussed. The Board would waive having a site plan on linen along with lighting, floor elevations, a topographic map, grade contours, landscaping planning, parking plans, a survey, an engineer’s stamp on the project, interior design, a seating plan, service and storage areas and a scale of building heights. Handicapped parking and access to the existing building and traffic flow patterns were shown on the site plan. The Board and applicant went over a short form environmental assessment. Breese said two additional overhead doors would need to be installed on site and two existing overhead doors would need to be enlarged. The project is on 6.5 acres in both an agricultural and residential district within the Township. The Board resolved that they had a complete application and that this application would be sent to Rensselaer County for review with the land being used for a new purpose with modifications to the existing building. The Board, by a 3-2 vote, set a public hearing for this matter for 7 pm on Monday, October 20, before the regular Planning Board meeting that starts at 7:30 pm. Breese and other fire department officials will be back before the Board next month.

Finally, a party appeared before the Board with clearance from the Village of Hoosick Falls for water and septic for a parcel of land which he had originally presented in May of 2008. The party had a letter from a local engineer stating same with the land being divided into two parcels. Board members John Cooney and Jim Dunigan had to recuse themselves from this matter for their involvement in same. By a 4-0 board vote the matter was declared a simple subdivision.

The meeting adjourned at 8:03 pm.

On Wednesday, September 10, Hoosick Grange met at the Grange Hall with Master David Cornell. The fair committee presented the blue ribbon and the fair check to the Master. The Master thanked the fair committee for their work. The fair committee thanked all those who provided the wood and the stove and pipe and all those signs so beautifully done. They also thanked the helpers who helped to set the booth up.

The Lecturer discussed the planning meeting for the year. It was decided to have the meeting on our next regular meeting, September 24. It was also decided that we would do shoe boxes again this year and would give them to the Hoosick Falls Food Closet to be given to the children who needed them, at Christmas. 

Elsie Marpe was in charge of the program for the evening. She told us about harvest  time and elderberries. The elderberries are very high in vitamin C and second only to black currants. Dyes can be made from the berries and the blossoms. Some people make wine and pies from the berries. Young elderberries can be scalded in boiling water and eaten in salads. Elsie told us many other uses of the berries. 

Elsie told us two jokes – one about the Mother Superior of an Irish Convent and one about Katie O’Neal, who dreamed of being a dancer. She was especially good at acrobatic dancing and became well known for her dancing in America. She became lonesome for Ireland so she returned for a visit. She went straight to the church and into the confessional. After that, the old priest gave her a light penance and said, “Aren’t you Katie O’Neal?” She said, “Yes.” So he asked her what she had been doing. She told him she lived in America and she was an acrobatic dancer and danced on stage. He thought that was wonderful, but he didn’t know what an acrobatic dancer does. She said, “Let me show you, Father,” and with that she leapt out of the confessional, skipped down the aisle, did 3 somersaults, 3 twirls, 3 handsprings and finished with a split landing on the floor in front of two astonished village matrons. “My gracious,” one woman said, “look at the penance Father is handing out today,” and the other said, “And me forgetting to put on my bloomers.” After that joke and when everyone stopped laughing, Elsie proceeded to tell us about Betty Crocker and Duncan Hines and finished with another joke. 

The Lecturer thanked Elsie and told about the next meeting being on September 24. It will be a planning meeting. Helen Filkins will be in charge of refreshments. Refreshments for the evening were provided by Edna and Allen Cornell.