The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Zachary R. Clyde – Obituary

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Petersburgh – Zachary Ryan Clyde passed away August 18, 2022 at the age of 28. He was born in Stephentown, NY to Claude and Terri Clyde.

Zach was a very compassionate, kind, peaceful, generous, and humble young man. Everyone who met him loved him. He could light up a room while making you feel welcome and loved. Zach loved the outdoors and could always be found partaking in his favorite pastimes, hunting and fishing. Zach was always excited to get in the woods on opening day or to get a pole in the water on a beautiful day. More than anything, Zach loved being a Dad and his son Mason was his entire world. [Read more…] about Zachary R. Clyde – Obituary

Primary and Special Elections

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Early voting for the Tuesday, August 23 Primaries and Special Elections has begun, and will run through Sunday, August 21. The primaries are the result of contested redistricting boundaries which weren’t settled in time for the original June 28 primaries. Early voting in Rensselaer County will take place at the Town of Brunswick office building, 336 Town Office Road, Troy; Schodack Town Hall, 265 Schuurman Road, Castleton; and 500 Federal St. office building, 500 Federal St., Troy.

The Special Election is to fill the remaining four months of the term for the U.S. House District 19 seat, which was vacated when Antonio Delgado resigned to become Lt. Governor. That race is being contested between Pat Ryan for the Democratic/Working Families Party and Marc Molinaro for the Republican/Conservative Party. 

Also in Rensselaer County are the primaries for the new 20th and 21st U.S. House Districts. The 20th District will be contested between Democratic candidates Rostislav Rar and incumbent Paul Tonko to see who will oppose Republican/Conservative candidate Elizabeth Joy in the November 8 General Election. The 21st District will be contested between Democratic candidates Matt Castelli and Matthew Putorti to find out who will oppose Republican candidate Elise Stefanik in the November 8 General Elections. 

To find a polling location and information, visit https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov. [Read more…] about Primary and Special Elections

The Little Back Road Farm

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by Amy Modesti
Rensselaer County has a plethora of farms along its busy routes and little back roads. Among those is Hilldale Farm in Poestenkill. With farms serving as a learning laboratory for growing food, milking cows, or selling food in neighboring towns, one raises the question, “Why farm?” 

That is answered in The Little Back Road Farm: The Reichard Family History and Memories, a book inspired by the late Fred Reichard, along with his family and friends, which focuses on the history of Hilldale Farm. 

I met with Joycelyn, Linda, and Kimberlee King, for a sit-down interview to discuss the book, the Hilldale Farm Foundation Inc., and what farming means to them. They relived precious memories and expressed their hopes to help fund future Rensselaer County students. 

Hilldale Farms’ Past Life and Inspiration for the Book
“What made me decide to write the book was [Read more…] about The Little Back Road Farm

Stephentown Town Board Highlights

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by Denise Wright
The Stephentown Town Board met on August 15 and passed some essential amendments and resolutions, but also discussed an impending pilot program that should have more information available in September. 

The transfer station report wanted to remind residents that permits will be on sale at the end of the month, and at this point, there will be no changes in pricing, and that clean-up day is officially finished and was successful. It was discussed that the Town is finalizing a pilot program to dispose of paint according to new State guidelines. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced this program in May 2022 to make it easier for households and businesses to safely dispose of leftover paint. DEC will oversee the program, which PaintCare will operate to manage unwanted architectural coating products and provide for recycling or proper disposal. To participate, residents will have to [Read more…] about Stephentown Town Board Highlights

Brunswick’s KFC Opening Delayed

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by Doug La Rocque
KFC, which is part of the Aldi complex still under construction, had sent out a press release that they planned to open for business on Tuesday, August 16. However, a condition imposed by the NYS Department of Transportation (DOT) stated the newly installed traffic light at the corner of Lord Avenue and Hoosick Road must first be functional. It is not. Speaking with Brunswick officials, they tell The Eastwick Press the DOT has indicated it might put the light on flash by the end of the week.

Code Changes Not Yet Ready for a Vote
The Brunswick Town Board is once again looking to extend the ban on [Read more…] about Brunswick’s KFC Opening Delayed

Audio Comes to the Bennington Battlefield

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In its latest initiative to enhance the visitor experience, the Friends of the Bennington Battlefield have added an audio dimension to the ten signage panels placed on the Battlefield two years ago.  

Each signage panel now bears one or more audio-connected QR codes. Point your smartphone camera at the code, tap the link that appears on your screen, and an audio file will play. You will hear a short musical prelude under a concise spoken introduction, then an actor’s voice speaking words from history, including accounts from inside the Battle, keyed to panels located at the scene of the action described. The narrations are between 30 seconds and two minutes long.  [Read more…] about Audio Comes to the Bennington Battlefield

County Recognized for Innovative Programs

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Rensselaer County was recently honored by the National Association of Counties (NACo) for four innovative programs that have been implemented or expanded to serve residents. The annual NACo Achievement Awards program recognize innovative County government programs from across the nation that are the cutting edge of public service or government efficiency and effectiveness. The following four services and initiatives were recognized:

Naloxone Now
This effort provides residents with an opportunity to obtain Narcan through curbside delivery to help fight often fatal drug overdoses, and is done on a no-questions asked basis. This was instituted during the pandemic to combat the opioid crisis. [Read more…] about County Recognized for Innovative Programs

Bruce A. Andrews – Obituary

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Hoosick Falls – Bruce A. Andrews, 80, passed away on Monday, August 8, at the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls. He resided on Ball Street Ext. with his wife Rosemary (Hoag) Andrews.

Bruce was born on June 4, 1942, in Brooklyn, NY, son of the late Kenneth E. and Christine J. (Alderman) Andrews. He was educated at Adams Memorial High School. Bruce worked for many years in the paper industry, retiring as a Quality Control Tech at Crane & Company in Dalton, MA. A loving husband and father, Bruce was known for his gentle nature and playful sense of humor. His greatest enjoyments were the simple pleasures of spending time with family and friends. From an early age, he enjoyed racing pigeons and was a member of the North Adams Pigeon Club for many years. Bruce also enjoyed traveling, raising animals and listening to oldies and country music. [Read more…] about Bruce A. Andrews – Obituary

Remembering Pat Casale

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Former New York State Assemblyman Pat M. Casale passed away Friday, August 5 at his home surrounded by loved ones. Among his many accomplishments were serving in the U.S. Army where he was deployed to the Korean Conflict, becoming a member of the Troy City Council, being elected as Mayor of the City of Troy, serving as Rensselaer County Clerk, and serving the 108th District as a New York State Assemblyman. 

Pat Casale is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Mary, their three children: Daniel (Darlene), Lisa Fane (Donald), and Frank (Carol); ten grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren; younger siblings, Robert Casale (Rosemary), John Casale (Beth), and Kathleen Kindinger (Tom); and many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. [Read more…] about Remembering Pat Casale

Brunswick Housing Development Creeps Forward

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by Doug La Rocque
There was a resolution put forward to allow the 24 single home project to begin grading nearly half the site prior to Rensselaer County Health Department (RCDOH) septic approval, but it was tabled by the Brunswick Planning Board at their Thursday, August 4 meeting for further review. The resolution is a unique solution to a complex problem. The RCDOH approved the septic for 13 of the 24 sites, but could not act on the remaining 11 because of the extensive grading that must be completed first. The Board also brought forth some engineering questions they wanted address in relation to that grading. It is expected the Planners will vote on the resolution at their August 18 meeting.

The project is located on the north side of Brunswick Road (NYS Route 2) just west of Heather Ridge Road.

Medical Office/Surgery Center
There was a brief review of the proposal by Paulsen Development to construct a [Read more…] about Brunswick Housing Development Creeps Forward