The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

New Assistant Principal

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Submitted by BCS Communications
The Berlin Central School District is pleased to welcome Mrs. Jodi Cataldo as Berlin Elementary School’s Assistant Principal.

Mrs. Cataldo has spent the past eight years teaching first grade at Turnpike Elementary School in Troy, as well as teaching kindergarten, fourth grade and Middle School Response to Intervention (RTI).

She completed her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education at the College of Saint Rose and earned a master’s degree in Reading from the University of Albany.

Mrs. Cataldo enjoys spending time with her husband, Sean, and four children, exploring different hiking trails, paddle boarding and visiting national parks. Additionally she enjoys reading, playing golf, volunteering in the community and cheering on her kids on the soccer field. [Read more…] about New Assistant Principal

ARPA Funding Requests

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the Monday, June 20 regular meeting of the Petersburgh Town Council three different groups gave presentations to the Council requesting American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The first proposal, which was prepared by the Friends of Petersburgh History and submitted by Town Historian Peter Schaaphok, requested funds for the purpose of preserving the original Town record books, if possible, and making a replica and digital copy of the books for public viewing. Items needed include a laptop, scanner and external hard drive. The requested items total $7,660.37 but an anonymous resident has offered to donate $3,000 towards the cause. [Read more…] about ARPA Funding Requests

Vacant Council Seat Filled

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On Thursday, July 7, the members of the Troy City Council unanimously approved Steve Figueroa as the replacement for the resigned Kim Ashe-McPherson. Ms. Ash-McPherson left her seat on the Council after pleading guilty to a voter fraud related charge.

The three Democrats on the Board supported Mr. Figueroa from the start, while the three remaining Republican members wanted to hold open interviews first. Seven candidates expressed their interest in the job, and after talking to all, Council President Carmella Mantello announced her caucus would support Mr. Figueroa for the post.

He will face a special election in November if he desires to fill the remaining portion of the term.

Making the Classic Street Sidewalk Problem Go Away

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by Doug La Rocque
Take a walk on Classic Street by Bistro 42 (not their problem) and on the sidewalk there is a mess and considered by many to be dangerous. All year long the Hoosick Falls Board of Trustees has been discussing what to do about it and at their June meeting asked Village Attorney Andy Gilchrist to look into taking the land by eminent domain. The Catch-22 here is that Village Codes talk about unsafe structures being covered by such action, but not necessarily sidewalks. To make sidewalks part of a legal eminent domain proceeding would mean the Trustees would have to change a 2008 local law. Attorney Gilchrist presented the Board with a new law to consider, and introduction of which will most likely occur at a special meeting on July 19. Mr. Gilchrist also explained they need to decide if they just want to take the land around the sidewalk or the entire site, and what would they do with the site after the sidewalk is repaired. All points to ponder. [Read more…] about Making the Classic Street Sidewalk Problem Go Away

2022 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Events

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County Legislature
Rensselaer County, the City of Troy and the Town of Bethlehem are partnering on an inter-county Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) disposal program for 2022. The program consists of six events. 

These events, currently scheduled throughout the second half of the year, provide residents of the participating municipalities the opportunity to safely dispose of hazardous materials not accepted through normal garbage collection service.

The next event will be Saturday, July 30, at the Town of Schodack Highway Garage in Nassau at 3776 U.S. Route 20.

Participating Municipalities for the July 30 event are the Town of Schodack, the Town of Nassau, the City of Troy and the Town of Bethlehem. [Read more…] about 2022 Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Events

Ruth B. Gutermuth – Obituary

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Berlin – Ruth Brigham Gutermuth, 70, died Friday, July 8, 2022 at the Samaritan Hospital in Troy after a brief illness.

She was born in Troy, the daughter of the late John and Harriet Benjamin Brigham. She attended School 16 in Troy and was a graduate of Troy High School. She attended Green Mountain College in Poultney, Vermont and later graduated from Russell Sage College in Troy with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. [Read more…] about Ruth B. Gutermuth – Obituary

Edward O. Schultz – Obituary

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Grafton – Edward O. “Ed” Schultz, 90, a lifelong resident of Grafton, died peacefully Monday, July 4, 2022, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, following a short illness.

Born in Troy, March 13, 1932, Mr. Schultz was the son of the late Orley and Mary (Grosh) Schultz and, for over 46 years, the devoted husband of the late Mabel T. (Schermerhorn) Schultz, who predeceased him in December 1998.  Edward and Mable were married on October 24, 1952.

Mr. Schultz was a graduate of Berlin Central High School and a veteran of the United States Army. [Read more…] about Edward O. Schultz – Obituary

Betsy M. Davendonis – Obituary

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Bennington – Betsy Mae (King) Davendonis, 55, born May 26, 1967 in Bennington, Vermont, passed peacefully on Sunday, July 10, 2022. 

Betsy followed in her Grandmother’s footsteps becoming a CNA so that she could care directly for the elderly and veteran populations. She enjoyed a lifetime career as a Certified Nursing Assistant/Medical Technician and Caregiver for the elderly and our nation’s Veterans, working largely with Alzheimer clients in Vermont and Florida. [Read more…] about Betsy M. Davendonis – Obituary

Man Shoots at State Police and Landlord

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Facing Attempted Murder Charges

NYSP Press Release
On July 7, 2022, at about 10:43 pm, State Police and Washington County Sheriffs responded to 210 Jermain Hill Lane in White Creek for the report of a landlord-tenant dispute. After arriving at the scene, Matthew Parant, 38, who rents a home on the property, fired shots from a rifle at police and the property owner.

The investigation determined that Parant got into an argument with the property owner, and after learning police had been called, retrieved the rifle from his residence. While Troopers and Deputies were interviewing the property owner, Parant threatened to kill the officers and then began to shoot. Parant then barricaded himself inside the home with his girlfriend. Members from the State Police Crisis Negotiations Unit responded and negotiated with Parant for several hours.   [Read more…] about Man Shoots at State Police and Landlord

Board of Education Highlights

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by Chris Tergliafera
All internal and external cameras have been installed at the Middle/High School, with the cameras for the Elementary School expected to be installed over the summer. Access control door installation is also expected be completed over the summer.

Superintendent Joseph Dhara has been in discussions with Rensselaer County about a School Resource Officer (SRO), and will update the Board as more information becomes available.

Berlin CSD will be participating in the Stop Arm Program. This is a free program through Rensselaer County that will install cameras inside and outside of buses. If someone passes the bus when the stop sign is out it will take a picture of the vehicle and send it to the Sheriff’s office.

The District is getting a Raptor system for visitor check-in. With the system, visitors to the building will need to provide identification that will be scanned to produce a name tag. The system should be available shortly.