The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Be a Part of Our Graduation Special Edition

By

Our 2022 Special will not only contain photos and information about the various graduation ceremonies but the lists of graduates and future plans, comments from school officials and students and much more.

As in the past, we will offer area businesses a chance to be part of this special edition with congratulatory ads. 

This year, we are also offering the parents, grandparents or other loved ones the opportunity to submit a photo of their graduate along with a short personal message.

If you would like to be part of our most popular edition of the year, please email Doug at ads@eastwickpress.com by June 20.

Our costs are as follows:
For a business ad 3.25” x 2” $50.
A double size ad 3.25” x 4” $95

For a graduate’s portrait and text $50.
Limited to 50 words.
Please send a high resolution image. [Read more…] about Be a Part of Our Graduation Special Edition

Rensco Social Services Commissioner Nominated

By

A new leader for the Rensselaer County Department of Social Services has been selected, with County Executive Steve McLaughlin nominating Michael P. McMahon to lead the important department, it was announced today.

McMahon’s name will be submitted to the Rensselaer County Legislature for confirmation during the June meeting of the County Legislature. He would succeed Theresa Beaudoin, who retired as DSS Commissioner at the end of 2021.

The Commissioner of the Department of Social Services is responsible for overseeing the operation of social service programs as mandated by the state and the operation of the county’s Van Rensselaer Manor nursing home.

McMahon is the current leader of the Montgomery County Department of Social Services. He has extensive experience in the fields of social services, human services and care giving. He also worked as a guardian for children in child protective cases, as a substance abuse counselor and in employee management and recruitment for Greyhound Lines.

McMahon also currently serves as Mayor of the Village of Ames in Montgomery County and served with the U.S. Navy. [Read more…] about Rensco Social Services Commissioner Nominated

Moment of Silence at Tops Market

By

The Tops Friendly Market in Hoosick Falls will join all Tops stores in a collective moment of silence on Saturday, May 21 at 2:30 pm, seven days after the tragic shooting in Buffalo.

“The impact of this tragedy stretches across our community and nation. We stand together as we remember them and pray that their families may find the strength needed to heal and move forward,” stated John Persons, president of Tops Friendly Markets.

Play Ball on Troy City Streets

By

By a unanimous 7-0 vote, The Troy City Council on Thursday evening, May 19, approved an amendment to what Council President Carmella Mantello referred to as “an archaic law” that said “no person shall play ball in any of the streets of the City.” In her press release, Council President Mantello said after a recent neighborhood issue where a resident who was upset regarding local children playing ball in the street contacted code enforcement, the code enforcement officer mentioned to me he was issuing a citation to the homeowner of the basketball hoop in front of the owner’s home and referred me to this city code. You could only imagine my response. “I was shocked and was unaware of this archaic code,” Mantello added. “We are working so hard to keep our youth active and away from illegal activities, yet we have a local law on the books discouraging our youth from everyday activities like playing ball on our streets. That’s ridiculous.”

Mantello initially proposed a complete repeal of the law but said after conversations with the Troy Police and Corporation Counsel, it was expressed even though rarely used we should add language that says only if a person unduly or unsafely obstructs the free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic law enforcement will officials have the option of enforcement.

The legislation now goes to Mayor Patrick Madden who has ten days to sign or veto it.

Chief Ashe Resigns and Pleads Guilty to Misconduct

By

by Doug La Rocque
Former Hoosick Falls Village Police Chief Robert (Bob) Ashe was arrested by NYS Police on Monday, May 16, and accused of Official Misconduct. He pled guilty that evening in Village Court to the charge, a misdemeanor. Village Court Judge Thomas Restino gave the former chief an unconditional discharge and ordered him to pay [Read more…] about Chief Ashe Resigns and Pleads Guilty to Misconduct

New Firehouse Proposed in New Lebanon

By

by Chris Tergliafera
At the May 10 regular meeting of the New Lebanon Town Council, Lebanon Valley Protective Association (LVPA) president Stephen Houghtling discussed the proposed plan for a new firehouse. Under the plan the LVPA would become centralized in one building instead of three. A local family has offered to match donations made for the new firehouse, dollar for dollar, until the end of 2022, up to an amount of [Read more…] about New Firehouse Proposed in New Lebanon

Redistricting Opens Up Many Opportunities

By

by Doug La Rocque
Both the NYS Court of Appeals (the State’s highest court) and a Federal Appeals court recently held that the new congressional and State Senate districts, as redrawn by the State Legislature, were in fact gerrymandered in favor of the Democratic party, and ordered a Special Master to redraw those lines. On Monday, May 16, those new districts were revealed and it set off a flurry of activity. One of the largest redraws involved Rensselaer County’s congressional representation. Currently, most of the County falls within the 19th Congressional District, which is occupied by Representative Antonio Delgado, while the Troy area is in the 20th District, represented by long time incumbent Paul Tonko. Now, all of Rensselaer County moves into the 20th district. It would encompass the cities of Albany and Schenectady, but not Amsterdam, Congressman Tonko’s place of residence. [Read more…] about Redistricting Opens Up Many Opportunities