The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Hoosick Man Honored by Legislature

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by Amy Modesti

Prior to the opening of the Rensselaer County Legislative meeting on Tuesday, January 1, District 5 representatives Jeff Wysocki and Bruce Patire paid homage to the late Robert Breese of Breese Hollow in the Town. He was a World War II veteran serving aboard the USS Tarawa, the last aircraft carrier built during the war. Mr. Breese was also named Conservation Farmer of the Year in 1963. Mr. Breese was a member of the Hoosick Fire Department, receiving a 65-year service award. He also served [Read more…] about Hoosick Man Honored by Legislature

Grafton Town Council Meeting

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Community Forest Announcement a Bit of a Surprise

by Chris Tergliafera and Doug La Rocque

During the public comments section of the January 10 regular meeting of the Grafton Town Council, a resident mentioned concerns over an upcoming project by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) on Foster Road that they believe could lead to increased traffic and other potential issues. The RPA’s project, involving approximately 300 acres on land situated between [Read more…] about Grafton Town Council Meeting

Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

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Mine Expansion To Be Discussed

by Doug La Rocque

Following their Thursday, January 6 meeting at which only subdivisions were on the agenda, the full Brunswick Planning Board was informed that the Valente Quarry, currently mining in the Town of Grafton but with land that reaches across the border into Brunswick, is considering crossing that border with their mining operation [Read more…] about Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh PFAS Health Study

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Submitted by the NYS Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health and the University at Albany School of Public Health have announced that residents in the Hoosick Falls area (including Petersburgh) are invited to take part in a national Multi-Site PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Health Study. This by-invitation-only effort seeks to recruit eligible adults and families who will then be invited for a health clinic visit for blood and urine testing along with [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh PFAS Health Study

Hoosick Falls Board Village Board Meeting

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Cops, Copiers and All Things Water Related

by Doug La Rocque

Mayor Rob Allen announced up front at the Tuesday, January 11 Village Board meeting that there has been a change in the Officer in Charge position for the Village Police Department. As of that evening, Officer Paul Aleksonis will assume the department’s top spot during the suspension of Chief Robert Ashe. He replaces Officer Bernie Davock, who was appointed to the position on December 16. Officer Davock will assume the position of 2nd in command.

According to the Mayor, Officer Aleksonis has been with the Police Department since 1995 and has been Officer in Charge many times in the past when the Chief was on vacation. He is also available to work several shifts per week.

Chief Ashe’s son Justin also attended the meeting and during public comment read a letter expressing his displeasure with Mayor Allen and some other members of the Police Department [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Board Village Board Meeting

Hoosick Town Council Meeting

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Updating Assessment Values

by Doug La Rocque

Assessor Tony Rice told the Hoosick Town Council on Monday evening, January 10, it’s time to look at property values again, noting overall property values are up by about 10 percent. He is very quick to emphasize this is not a reassessment, simply an update to keep the Town’s equalization rate at 100 percent. This means homes are assessed at their true value, not a percentage of it.

Mr. Rice said during the last year, many homes in the Town are selling at $100,000 higher than their assessed value. He also indicated these updates should take place [Read more…] about Hoosick Town Council Meeting

PFAS Study in Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh

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Village and Town will be Part of Multi-Site PFOA Study

Submitted by the NYS Department of Health

The New York State Department of Health and the University at Albany School of Public Health have announced that residents in the Hoosick Falls area (including Petersburgh) are invited to take part in a national Multi-Site PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Health Study. This by-invitation-only effort seeks to recruit eligible adults and families who will then be invited for a health clinic visit for blood and urine testing along with a health evaluation to measure exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The study will also collect information about the immune response, lipid metabolism, kidney function, thyroid disease, liver disease, glycemic parameters and diabetes. In return, confidential test results will be provided to participants at no cost to them. Recruitment for participants in the Hoosick Falls/Petersburgh area is expected to begin in February.

“New York State is collaborating with some of the best researchers in the country to collect data from participants with common exposures,” said New York State Department of Health Acting Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “What we learn by working with these researchers could provide important clues about the complex relationship between PFAS exposures through drinking water and human health outcomes.”

A Community Advisory Panel (CAP), made up of unpaid individuals from Hoosick Falls and Petersburgh as well as other communities, is a critical partner in this study. Members relay community questions and concerns and encourage community outreach and participation. They also help advise researchers on study design, outreach and progress.

Learn more about the Multi-site PFAS Health Study at www.health.ny.gov/chemicalsandhealth

Limited Supply of At Home COVID-19 Tests Kits Available

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NYS has provided free at home COVID test kits for residents through the Town of New Lebanon.  That said, we have 2,514 residents and have only received 96 test kits. Our goal is to get one test kit in each household at this time (if we receive more in the future we can expand our efforts to get one for each resident). The New Lebanon Central School District has also received free test kits for all students. They have one for each and every student. If you have a child who lives in your household and goes to NLCSD, you are NOT eligible to get a test kit through the town and you should contact the school for the test kit your household is eligible for.

Town test kits will be given out next Tuesday, January 11 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the New Lebanon Town Hall. We will have tables set up outside. You will need to show proof of residency (ID with physical address within the Town of New Lebanon or a utility bill with a physical address within the Town of New Lebanon). Due to the high number of COVID cases currently, everyone must be wearing masks event though we are outside.

You will only  be eligible to pick up a test kit if you:

1) Are a resident of New Lebanon

2) Have no children in your household who go to NLCSD

3) Nobody else in your household picks up a test kit

Please reach out to Town Supervisor Houghtling at supervisor@townofnewlebanon.com or 518-505-1535 with any questions.

Four Area Dams Listed by DEC as Unsound

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Rating Does Not Mean Failure Is Imminent

by Doug La Rocque

A recent survey of dams around New York State by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) obtained by The Eastwick Press places three dams in the Town of Grafton and one in the Town of Berlin on their unsound list. The DEC however explains a Condition Rating of Unsound refers to “dams with deficiencies of such a nature that the safety of the dam cannot be assured.” The unsound ratings do not mean that [Read more…] about Four Area Dams Listed by DEC as Unsound

Schodack Planning Board 

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by Denise Wright

The January 3 meeting of the Schodack Planning Board opened with public comment from one resident voicing concern over the sequence of burials and rate of funerals in the Muslim Community of Troy’s proposed cemetery on Phillips Road. According to Muslim Community members, the estimated rate of calculated graves incorporated the high pandemic death rates of approximately 35 to 50 per year. The resident hoped that a vinyl fence could be installed behind the residences that would be affected. Planning Board members approved the special permit and site plan with the stipulation that [Read more…] about Schodack Planning Board