The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Pipes Break In Petersburgh Pump House; Flood Is Difficult To Control

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by Alex Brooks

On Saturday, February 22, pipes in the Petersburgh Water District pump house broke. The damage proved to be difficult to repair. After shutting off the system to clean out a chlorination line in the pump house that had become plugged, Water District Superintendent Ben Krahforst completed the job and re-opened the valves and turned the pumps back on. Then a severe water hammer occurred, which shattered the main line from Well #2 and damaged connections in the manifold.

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Ayla Senecal Wins Bronze At The Empire State Games

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by Kieron Kramer

Ayla Senecal is a freshman at HFCS and skates and trains year round at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial rink in nearby North Adams, MA. Her mother, Sara Senecal, wrote in an email, “Ayla misses out on hanging out with friends and doing normal teenage things because of all of her traveling and training required, but all of that hard work paid off this past weekend.” [Read more…] about Ayla Senecal Wins Bronze At The Empire State Games

Helen Ellett Honored By County

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by Bea Peterson

The Valentine’s Day Birthday Celebration scheduled for February 14 at the Grafton Senior Center had to be postponed because of a snowstorm that made traveling almost impossible. The celebration was held on Friday, February 21, however, with balloons, a great dinner, birthday cake and table favors in honor of anyone celebrating a birthday in February. And there were plenty of folks celebrating February birthdays! Among them was Helen (Babcock) Ellett who is now 100 years old!

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Mardi Gras Celebration To Benefit Petersburgh Youth Program

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Featuring Music Of The 1920s By Tune Travelers

submitted by Ingrid Schaaphok

On Saturday, March 1, from 7 to 9 pm, travel back in time to the era of flappers and prohibition and the birth of jazz. Join Tune Travelers as they transform the Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center into a 1920’s speakeasy. Come hear the music that made the Roaring Twenties roar!

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Grafton Planning Board Action – The Best Is Yet To Come

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by Kieron Kramer

The Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, February 24, was short and uneventful. A public hearing was held at 6:50 pm on the two-lot simple subdivision at 15 Brock Road at the intersection with Babcock Lake Road which was applied for by Marion Jeffries last month. An approximately 60 acre parcel, formerly owned by Mr. Aumond, will have a parcel of 9.8 acres separated for Marion Jeffries’ sister, leaving 49.9 acres. The sister said, “I grew up with that property, and I want to keep it.” She may build a home on her lot at a future date. Jeffries said that the family may log the larger parcel.

During the meeting last month Marion Jeffries said that the family may subdivide the 49.9 acre parcel in the future. Perhaps from reading this in the Eastwick Press last month or hearing something in the rumor mill, a neighbor, curious about the subdivision, had an informal discussion before the hearing with Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey, who assured her that there were no plans at present for developing the larger parcel. If they subdivide the property more it becomes a major subdivision which has a more complicated application process, he said. The family will have to apply for a major subdivision, and a public hearing would be held on that issue. The neighbor said that she had the impression that Mr. Aumond wanted the property held forever wild. Since Jeffries said that she was the executor of the estate and has power of attorney from the heirs, this is a moot point. But, with her worst fears allayed, the neighbor left before the hearing. No interested party attended the hearing.

During the regular meeting Withcuskey said he had reviewed the Environmental Impact Statement, and he declared that there was no negative impact to the environment from the Jeffries subdivision. The Planning Board approved the negative declaration 3-0; Board Members Pete Gundrum and Jim Goyer were absent, as they announced last month that they would be. The Board then voted 3-0 to approve the two-lot subdivision on Brock Road. Jeffries must submit five copies of the plot map to be stamped by Withcuskey. Four will go to the County, and one will be filed in Grafton, Withcuskey said.

Yet To Come

At this meeting AT&T was to apply for a site plan review for modifications to its cell tower at 38 Radio Tower Way. Radio Tower Way runs off of Snyder Road. They want to place three new antennas on the tower to upgrade the signal to 4G LTE. AT&T is doing this upgrade throughout its nationwide system. Withcuskey announced that AT&T had withdrawn its application before the meeting because the lawyers for AT&T had not completed the paperwork. It will be on the agenda at the March 17 meeting if they have their paperwork done. The Town of Grafton Cell Tower ordinance requires that the change of use application must include the Long Environmental Assessment Form, Withcuskey said.

Hearing Nothing

Withcuskey also said that he had “heard nothing” about the site plan review required for the change of use at the R.J. Valente mine. The site plan review is required by Town law when there is a change of use. In this case the R.J. Valente Company, which has an approved site plan for mining to a depth of 850 feet, wants to mine its quarry on Route 2 near the Brunswick Town line to a depth of 950 feet and to increase its hours of operation. Last month the Planning Board passed a resolution requiring that a site plan review be filed. The Board also resolved to send a letter to the NYS DEC declaring itself the lead agency in the NYS Environmental Quality Review process (SEQR).

Grafton’s request to be lead agency was supposed to be given to the DEC Commissioner to adjudicate, and Withcuskey had expected a ruling before this meeting. He believes that Valente will not proceed with the application until the Commissioner decides whether the DEC or the Town of Grafton will be lead agency. Ever optimistic, Withcuskey hopes that the Commissioner will decide before the next Planning Board meeting on March 17.

Hoosick Planning Board Action – February 2014

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by Bea Peterson

Orebed Road

On Monday, February 24, William Sparks appeared before the Hoosick Planning Board regarding a subdivision on Orebed Road in East Hoosick. Sparks is dividing a 60 acre parcel into two parcels. He has decided to put the house and five acres up for sale and retain the rest of the property as one piece. The Board declared the property a Simple Subdivision.

Automotive Repair

David Buckner appeared before the Board for its approval of an Automotive Repair Shop in the 22 x 24 foot, two car garage behind his home on Route 22. He explained there will be a lighted sign on the property near the road, but it will not be placed where it would block traffic view. He has met the requirements of the ZBA, and they have approved his use of the property. A public hearing was held, he said, and a representative of HFCS was there to discuss Buckner keeping the vegetated area between the garage and the school fence in place. It is his intention to do so, he said. Attorney Denis King and Board Chairman Jim Dunigan then read aloud the requirements in the Site Plan Review. A Public Hearing and many of the items in the Review were waived because they had been covered by the ZBA. Buckner will return to next month’s March 17 meeting with a new plat that defines the parking area and a designated handicapped spot, where the lighting will be and details regarding a storage container.

Joint Meeting

Hoosick Town Supervisor Mark Surdam attended the meeting and addressed the Board suggesting that the Town Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board and Town Building Inspector Ed King hold a joint meeting to better open communication between them. “Things are going better,” he noted. “In 2001 a Site Plan Law was created. A new plan has been written and reviewed and needs to be discussed,” he said. Surdam said he had attended the last ZBA meeting, and he would like to see a couple members of the two Boards work with the Town Board to update the Law. “I’m here to open the door to a coordinated meeting,” he said. “I don’t want politics to get involved,” he added, noting, “this is a lengthy process, and it should be done.

A Fund Raising Scam In Hoosick Falls

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submitted by Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe

I have received a few complaints concerning phone calls being made to the area residents concerning donations for the Police Department. It is a fund raising company that is calling the area and requesting donations. The Hoosick Falls Police Department is not fundraising and is not involved with any fundraising company.

Any resident receiving any phone call of this nature should not send any money nor give any information to the caller. The resident should advise the caller that he or she does not wish to donate and should end the conversation. They then should call the Hoosick Falls Police Department and report the call.

Too many times, residents, especially older residents, receive this call and feel pressured into providing the caller with personal information. Please do not. End the conversation and then call the Hoosick Falls Police Department.

Petersburgh Old Photo Scanning Session

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submitted by Peter Schaaphok

On Saturday morning March 15, the Petersburgh Library and the Town Historian will be hosting a photo scanning session at the Town Hall from 10 am to noon.

While the Berlin Petersburgh Library and the Historian’s office have an extensive collection of photographs dating from the 1880’s to the present and covering everything from pastoral scenes to houses and buildings to families, we are still always amazed at how many old photos exist in private collections that few have ever seen.

It is our hope that long time Petersburgh families might be willing to share some of their old photos by bringing them to the Town Hall on the 15th where we can scan them while you wait. That way the photos never leave your possession, and you don’t have to worry about them being either lost or misplaced. In addition, once a photo has been scanned, it can be saved in multiple locations thus making the image’s future preservation much more secure.

We are especially interested in landscapes, farm scenes, views of houses, streets and roads and images of Town residents involved in various activities from parades to public gatherings.

So help us in our continuing quest to preserve Petersburgh’s history by bringing your old photos to the Town Hall on March 15.

Hoosick Federal Credit Union Annual Meeting

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submitted by Jim Martinez

The Board of Directors and Jim Martinez, President, of the Hoosick Federal Credit Union at 28 Church Street in Hoosick Falls invite all to join them for the annual meeting and election of Board members to be held at the Hoosick Falls Central School High School Cafeteria on Wednesday evening, March 5, from 6 to 7:30 pm.  Come enjoy a nice dinner catered by the top-notch HFCS dining staff while you hear the “State of the Credit Union,” detailing what happened in 2013 and what we have in store for 2014. The meeting will conclude with an abundance of door prizes.  Positive things are happening.  Don’t miss this opportunity!

We hope to see you all there.  Please RSVP at 518-686-4504 by Monday March 3. Seating is limited to the first 125 who respond.

If you are reading this ad, you are likely able to join the Hoosick FCU. If you live, work, worship, attend school, belong to an organization or volunteer in Hoosick, Eagle Bridge, Buskirk, Petersburgh, Berlin, Grafton, Stephentown or Pittstown, you may become a member of Hoosick Federal Credit Union.  Businesses and not-for-profits are also welcome and encouraged to join.