The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Hoosick Town Board Action – Surdam Wants Cooling Off Period For Highway Workers

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by Bea Peterson
At the Town Board meeting on Monday, February 11, Councilman Mark Surdam said there were some things he wanted to get off his chest. Surdam said he understands why the Highway Department wants a Union. “I may not agree with it, but I understand it,” he said. [Read more…] about Hoosick Town Board Action – Surdam Wants Cooling Off Period For Highway Workers

Petersburgh Town Board Action – Clerks And Secretaries

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by Alex Brooks
There was a wide-ranging discussion about the Town of Petersburgh’s clerical and secretarial needs at the February Town Board meeting. On the agenda were appointments for the Assessor’s Clerk, a Deputy Court Clerk, a 2nd Deputy Town Clerk, and a Secretary to the Supervisor.
[Read more…] about Petersburgh Town Board Action – Clerks And Secretaries

Determination On Motocross Set Back Variance Reversed By Stephentown ZBA

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by David Flint
A contentious issue standing in the way of finishing up the environmental review of Howard Commander’s proposed Motocross park became moot at the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting last Thursday, February 7. The question was whether a setback variance was required for an earthen berm topped by a fence that is proposed to be constructed along a neighboring property line to cut down on noise from the park. The Board had received a letter from Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick indicating that no such variance was needed.
[Read more…] about Determination On Motocross Set Back Variance Reversed By Stephentown ZBA

Grafton Town Board Action – A FOIL Request By A Councilman

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by Thaddeus Flint
When a Town Councilman, in order to do his job, feels he must resort to the Freedom of Information law in order to obtain documents from the very town he in part oversees, it could raise some eyebrows. But when Town of Grafton Councilman Rick Ungaro did this at the Town Board meeting Monday night, nobody in the packed Town Hall seemed all that surprised. Such is Grafton.
[Read more…] about Grafton Town Board Action – A FOIL Request By A Councilman

NYS Assemblyman McLaughlin Announces Mobile Office Hours In Rensselaer County

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Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin (R,C,I-Melrose) today announced that he will be holding mobile office hours throughout Rensselaer County during February and March. McLaughlin said traveling around the District will provide constituents with more opportunities to meet with him personally to discuss local and State issues. With the onset of State budget negotiations, McLaughlin also said this would give constituents an opportunity to address and ask questions about issues that are important to them.
“As the people’s voice in state government, the best way I can represent our District’s needs is by hearing directly from the families, seniors and business owners who live in the District,” said McLaughlin. “This is a great way to open up conversations about the local issues my office might be able to assist community members with as well as an opportunity to help shape our legislative agenda in Albany.
“I am encouraging everyone to stop by my Mobile Office Hours to share thoughts, concerns and ideas with me and my staff.”
Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin’s Mobile Office Hours
• Berlin: Wednesday, February 20, 11 am to 2 pm, Berlin Town Hall, 17563 NY Route 22, Berlin.
• Sand Lake: Thursday, February 21, 11 am to 2 pm, Sand Lake Town Hall, 8428 Miller Hill Road, Sand Lake.
• East Greenbush: Thursday, February 28, 3 pm to 6 pm, East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush.
• Hoosick: Thursday, March 7, 3 pm to 6 pm, Hoosick Town Hall, 80 Church Street, Hoosick Falls.
Assemblyman McLaughlin will be holding additional Mobile Office Hours in Rensselaer County during the spring months. A March grand opening is also expected for McLaughlin’s new District office in Troy.
Assemblyman McLaughlin represents the 107th NYS Assembly District, which consists of parts of Rensselaer, Columbia and Washington counties. For more information, please visit Assemblyman McLaughlin’s official website.

North Hoosick Fire Department Kids Dance

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The North Hoosick Fire Department will hold a kids dance this Friday, February 15, at the firehouse on Rt. 22. The dance will be held from 7 to 10 pm.
Students ages 9 to 15 who attend Hoosick Falls Central, Cambridge Central, Berlin Central or St. Mary’s Academy are welcome to attend dance # 313.
As part of the Department’s accountability, parents are reminded they need to sign the students out after the dance.

February Events At The Stephentown Memorial Library

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• Annual Meeting and Public Hearing – The Board of Trustees of the Stephentown Memorial Library will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 21, at 6:30 pm, following the regularly scheduled Board meeting at 5 pm. Both meetings are open to the public. The Director and Board of Trustees will provide reports on the state of the Library and the future of the Library. Refreshments will be provided.  Following the Annual Meeting, there will be a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed Library vote on March 19 to make the Library a Special Legislative District Library.  Bring any questions you may have and get answers.
Library Annual Meeting – 6:30 to 7:15 pm; Public Hearing – 7:15 to 8:30 pm.
• Family Movie Night – On Friday, February 22, at 6:30 pm we will show the recently released “Hotel Transylvania” on our large screen. Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis. This animated movie is rated PG.  Running time for this movie is 91 minutes.  Popcorn and juice will be served.  This event is free and all are welcome. Bring the whole family.
• E-Reader Class – On Saturday, February 23, at 11 am, local technology consultant Nathan Hans will go over the features of e-readers such as the Kindle and Nook and share how to obtain and use free pc software for e-readers on your personal computer. If you have recently gotten an e-reader device and would like some help learning how to use it, please bring it with you to this class. Those who have not yet purchased an e-reader, but are interested in learning more are also welcome. Want to learn how to download Library books to your device? This class will also discuss how to access the Library’s online catalog of downloadable materials and give general tips on using your eReader. Advance registration is suggested. Call the Library at 733-5750 to register.  If you have an e-reader device, please bring it along with you!
• Thursday Night Coffeehouse Series – On Thursday, February 28, at 6:30 pm the Library will kick off its new musical coffeehouse series. In response to your requests, the Library is offering a monthly Thursday evening of music, coffee and socializing at the Library. Each month we will feature a different performer or group, and musical styles will range from jazz to classical to bluegrass to hip hop. Check the Library website for a schedule of dates and performers. This month we are pleased to welcome Martha von Schilgen on fiddle along with French Canadian duo Vonnie Estes (piano) and John Guay (hammered dulcimer) of Two Bits String Band. They will play traditional tunes from Quebec and Ireland, with some modern tunes that sound like traditional tunes thrown in. The Coffeehouse event is free and open to all. There will be refreshments for sale to benefit the Library.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during Library hours.  Also check the Library website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.