The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Stephentown Planning Board Action – August 2008

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by David Flint

The only item on the agenda for the Stephentown Planning Board at their meeting on August 21 was an application from Thomas Pecoraro for a 5-lot subdivision in Stephentown Center. Pecoraro received a variance from the Zoning Board in January to subdivide a one-acre parcel on the south side of Newton Road at the intersection with Route 43 into two half-acre lots. Since February he has been coming before the Planning Board seeking approval to subdivide a parcel on the north side of Newton Road into three more lots. Two of these lots, a 2.1 acre lot and a 4.5 acre lot located behind the Stephentown Center Community Church, will have houses built on them and will have a shared driveway from Newton Road. The third lot of 13.2 acres will be retained as undeveloped woodland for the recreational use of the homeowners on the other four parcels. A pedestrian right of way will provide access to and through this shared area. 

The Planning Board earlier advised Pecoraro to return with a completed Part 1 of the Environmental Assessment Form, which he did. Last month when it became apparent that a small portion of the land to be subdivided was deeded under the name of Pecoraro’s brother Stephen, the Board’s attorney, Craig Crist, advised that Stephen’s name would also have to appear on the application for subdivision approval. 

At last week’s meeting, with both Craig Crist and Chairman Tom Morelli absent, acting Chairman Lew Sharp questioned why there was any need after all for Planning Board approval. Sharp noted that the two half-acre lots on the south side of Newton Road were not actually part of the subdivision now in question. He pointed out that the Land Subdivision Regulations (Local Law #3 of 1991) specify that a subdivision, for purposes of the Regulations, is defined as “the division of any parcel of land into five or more lots, parcels or sites╔,” Therefore he saw no reason for the Planning Board to be involved. Pecoraro’s 3-lot subdivision will require boundary changes, but Sharp advised that boundary changes could be accomplished through the County Clerk’s Office. Sharp said he would consult with Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick and Chairman Morelli and that they would further consult with Craig Crist on this matter. In the meantime, with Board Members Freling Smith, Bob Lobdell and Derrick Gardner in agreement, he advised Pecoraro to go ahead and get the boundary line changes he needs at the County Clerk’s Office.

Brunswick Library Barbecue

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On Friday, September 5, from 4 to 7 pm, the Board of Trustees of the Brunswick Community Library are sponsoring a chicken/rib barbecue from “The Old Daley Inn” at the Wal-Mart Plaza on Route 7 in Brunswick. The dinner includes  chicken or ribs, a baked potato, coleslaw and a dessert. This is take-out/drive through service only. Tickets are $10 each for the chicken and $11 for the ribs and can be purchased in advance at the Brunswick Community Library, 605 Brunswick Road, at the corner of Route 2 and Moonlawn. A limited number of tickets will be available as walk-up sales. Call the Library with any questions at 279-4023.

The Founder Of Free Libraries

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The Lebanon Valley Historical Society and the New Lebanon Library will be presenting a talk, “Searching for Jesse Torrey,” on Monday, September 15, at 7 pm. 

Dr. Jesse Torrey was the founder of the free public library movement in the United States. In 1804, at the age of 16, he established the Library of the “New Lebanon Juvenile Society for the Acquisition of Knowledge.” This organization was the first free lending library in the nation and became the present New Lebanon Library. Dr. Torrey’s passion for education drove him to petition Congress for a network of free public libraries and schools across the country, enlisting President James Madison to his cause. 

While in Washington DC, Jesse became struck by the abusive treatment of slaves. He wrote a book about slavery which is now an important archival work in African-American studies. He worked ardently for the humane treatment of slaves and for a government-purchased redemption program. He also collaborated with attorney Francis Scott Key to try to secure the restitution of liberty to illegally captured freed slaves.

A physician by trade, Jesse Torrey wrote a dissertation about contagious diseases, advocating treatment by innovative remedies. He also petitioned congress for the establishment of a national botanical garden for medicinal purposes. As an educator, he developed original and practical systems of teaching English, reading and spelling. 

Frances Bonner and Anne Nardacci, descendants of Jesse Torrey, will be the presenters. They will talk about their extensive and meticulous research into original texts in the National Archives, congressional records, the NYS Museum Archives and Library and many other institutions. They will share their discoveries about the life and work of this accomplished and intellectually independent man. 

The presentation will take place at the Forge, at the Mount Lebanon Shaker Site, on Shaker Road in New Lebanon. Please call 518-794-9177 for directions.

Grafton Library Gets Grant To Conserve Its Anti-Rent War Banner

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The Grafton Community Library has received a grant award of $7,500 from the Lower Hudson Conference for the preservation and conservation of its Anti-Rent War banner, “Down with the Rent.”

The Anti-Rent War banner given to the Grafton Library by Mina Hydorn Stuart and which hangs in the Town Hall is the only known banner of its kind. Photo courtesy of Lorna and Bill Dils.
The Anti-Rent War banner given to the Grafton Library by Mina Hydorn Stuart and which hangs in the Town Hall is the only known banner of its kind. Photo courtesy of Lorna and Bill Dils.

This banner,  which is the only known banner of its kind,  represents the unique period in New York State history known as the Anti-Rent Wars (1830s-1860s).

 

 

The banner was  donated to the Library by Mina Hydorn Stuart. It belonged to her grandfather Peter Hydorn who was very active in Grafton Anti-Rent War activities. The conservation work will be performed by the highly acclaimed conservator Gwen Spicer of Spicer Art Conservation, LLC.  Upon completion of the conservation work the banner will be re-hung in Grafton Town Hall.

The Lower Hudson Conference  awarded $124,755 in conservation treatment grants to 25 organizations, located in 22 counties, in association with the Museum Program of the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), a state agency.

These grants  fund  treatment by professional conservators to aid in stabilizing, preserving and making accessible to the public an array of unique objects in collections of New York State’s museums, historical and cultural organizations of all sizes. 

The grants were awarded to non-profit organizations with stewardship responsibility for cultural collections. The awards were for prioritized, urgently needed conservation of objects that, once treated, will impact public interpretive programs, exhibitions and education.

The  2008 grants will support treatment and conservation of  Grafton’s Anti-Rent War banner as well as  other textile treatments including a 19th century silk mourning sampler,  a civil war secessionist flag, a silk wedding dress and an 18th century crewelwork as well as 18th, 19th and 20th century oil paintings,  20th century photographs, objects of Judaica, and a print from the Oneida Community,  leather and needlepoint-upholstered furniture and a contemporary outdoor sculpture from institutions throughout upstate New York. 

Second Electronics Recycling Day Set For October 4

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The Rensselaer County Legislature is again joining with eLot Recycling to sponsor an electronics recycling day for County residents in October, Chairman of the Legislature Neil J. Kelleher announced.

The second electronics recycling day will be held Saturday, October 4, from 9 am to 2 pm at the upper parking lot of the County Office Building, 1600 7th Avenue, downtown Troy.

The second electronics recycling event follows the inaugural electronics recycling day held in March which was rated a big success by County officials and eLot. More than 350 cars visited the event, and approximately 50,000 pounds of recyclable electronics were dropped off.

“The first recycling day was a tremendous success and a real service for County residents. We expect the second day will also be a success and thank eLot for their continued partnership with Rensselaer County in this endeavor,” said Kelleher.

 In the months following the inaugural recycling day, representatives from eLot and the County Environmental Management Council worked to schedule the second recycling event.

 Electronics that can be recycled include computers, copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, air conditioners, refrigerators and various household appliances. There is no cost for County residents, except for a $10 charge per television and a $30 charge per wood console. Proof of identification may be required for those wishing to participate.

“This recycling effort helps protect the environment and allows residents to dispose of these items safely and inexpensively,” said Legislator Alex Shannon, chairman of the Legislature’s Environmental Committee.

 “eLot Recycling is excited to be holding another recycling event with Rensselaer County. The last event was a huge success, and we kept 50,000 pounds of mixed electronics and appliances out of the waste stream. We look forward to assisting all of Rensselaer County residents at our October 4 event, and we look forward to keeping Rensselaer County green,” said eLot’s Peter Bindleglass.

Residents with questions about the second Rensselaer County Electronics Recycling Day are invited to call the County Environmental Management Council office at 270-2888.

Letter to the Editor: Playground Needs Attention

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To the Editor:

It seems like the playground at the Berlin Central Elementary School needs some attention. There are broken glass beer bottles on the ground and missing slats in the jungle gym tower, among other safety concerns. Aside from obvious safety issues, what is the school’s state of disrepair telling the kids about the importance of school and community? With a bunch of community members and a couple hours some weekend it seems like we could really fix up the playground. Email me if you are interested, and we’ll pick a date. BIGBUG9@juno.com. 

Schuyler Gail

Route 22, Berlin

Letter to the Editor: In Awe Of The Community

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Letter to Editor:

We are life long residents of Hoosick Falls with the last nine years in the North Hoosick-Walloomsac area. Our family recently attended the fund raising event at the North Hoosick Fire House for Luke Hoag and we are in awe of our community, the Fire Dept. and all of their hard working “angels.” The entire event, ran so well from the largest task (food) to the smallest of details and the many generous raffles, was so well organized. Even the weather cooperated! I hope all of you are as proud of this community as we are.

Please remember to continue to keep Luke and his family in your prayers. It goes to show us that big hearts grow in small places.

God Bless All

The Stratton Family

Cottrell Road, Hoosick Falls

Letter to the Editor: Stop The Grousing

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To the editor:

On August 18, I attended the Stephentown Town Board meeting. It was a fairly normal and relatively routine meeting, except for the item on the agenda having to do with the film, Taking Woodstock. The issues were discussed briefly at the Town meeting with regard to the shoot locations on Route 43 between Calvin Cole and Tinley Road, the Stephentown Hotel and the Stephentown Evangelical Church. A number of residents who lived in and around Tinley Road made their concerns known again – and again, and again. The individuals from the film company, including the location manager continued to give as much information as possible as to how the process would work and how the company would do as much as possible to create as little inconvenience as possible. Tom Sherman, the Town Supervisor, suggested that those who still wished more information and had other questions could stay afterwards for a post-meeting get-together with the representatives from the film company.

Unfortunately, from the comments, attitudes and overall demeanor of the same residents, one would have thought that the film company was doing a three month invasion of Cambodia…. We are talking about two days of shooting on Route 43, one of which is on a Sunday with setup. All one could hear from 5 or 6 people was antagonism, negativism, grave personal “inconvenience” and seeming infringements on their personal liberties: Where would all the “extras” go? The road is too small; people were parked on part of a lawn; they would refuse “to use a placard to get to my house.” The film company was not trying to locate a lead smelting plant 100 yards from their homes. 

As I said in the meeting – after I frankly could take no more – there are communities and villages all around America (and of course in upstate New York) which would kill to have filmmaking done in their towns and locations. The Governor has a whole agency devoted to making things smooth and attractive so filming companies will come to the state, towns or cities. How can the people who are opposed to this be so myopic as to not see the benefits to the community as a whole. Have so many people in our society become so parochial and so selfish in refusing to be “inconvenienced” a very modest bit on two days, while there is a significant benefit for the community in shooting parts of a national film there? What happened to the concept of working for the betterment of the whole, even if it means a very modest personal “sacrifice” – if at all. I must commend the four young individuals from the set location unit of the film company for their patience. They really showed Job-like behavior. Honestly, I can imagine some other organizations simply snapping shut their folder and saying “Adios, who needs this hassle?” Thankfully they did not. 

The people fighting this and clamoring for “answers” to repetitive questions must not have heard that the location unit was renting a house on Garfield Road for the duration of the filmmaking. Maybe they also did not hear that many people have been paid significant sums for the use of their personal property for parts of the film or that local restaurants are already benefiting. Maybe they do not understand if an entity is cordially welcomed into a town’s midst, they will return for other films or spread the word to other companies what a nice place Stephentown is and how open and welcoming the people are. Maybe they have not heard there is a national recession and local businesses actually appreciate companies coming in and spending money. 

Rather than grousing and griping about the filmmakers coming and setting up a tent on a vacant field, maybe those people who are complaining should simply wander over and introduce themselves and tell them how glad they are that these guests can come to Stephentown and appreciate its beauty. Instead of demanding that everyone who comes on the set have “criminal background” checks, maybe they can just go and engage in polite, friendly, welcoming conversation. Just maybe, as a result of a positive interaction with other people from outside the area, the people who are clamoring and angry might not feel so insular and might even receive a significant intellectual, moral, and personal benefit.  

Brian Baker 

Main Street, Stephentown

The Berlin Rescue Squad Says Wow!

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The all volunteer Berlin Rescue Squad has one thing to say. WOW! Your support at our recent Mini Hot Dog night was incredible, and so were those 1,100 hot dogs that everyone ate! Thanks to all who supported our fund-raiser. 

A Special Invitation 

Our next Eat Out ą Eat Local event is on Friday, September 5,  from 5 to 8 pm. We are offering a BBQ chicken dinner with a baked potato, corn on the cob, a dinner roll, a drink and an ice cream dessert all for just $9. 

Call Barb now at 518-658-2510 for advance sale tickets as we are limited to 160 dinners.

Nora Lamphere Graduates From Hartwick College

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Nora Lamphere, of Petersburgh, daughter of Nancy and Terry Lamphere, has graduated from Hartwick College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.

Lamphere graduated Cum Laude, with Departmental Distinction in English. At Hartwick she participated in Student Union, Untitled Art Club, Grassroots Environmental Club, Education Club and Wick Watch School of the Americas.