The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Drainage Work at Petersburgh Landfill Completed

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by Alex Brooks

Tom Berry said the drainage improvement work designed by the Town’s engineer to keep water runoff out of the landfill as much as possible has been completed by the Berlin and Petersburgh highway departments. “All water drainage issues have been resolved,” said Berry. He said Mark Millspaugh, the engineer from Sterling Environmental, visited the site and inspected the work when it was completed, and he will communicate with DEC about the completion of this phase of the work.

Berry said now that this work is completed, the engineers can start monitoring the volume of seepage coming out of the landfill, which will determine [Read more…] about Drainage Work at Petersburgh Landfill Completed

Schodack Planning Board Highlights 

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by Denise Wright

Even though the Christmas holiday is quickly approaching, the Schodack Planning Board was busy at their December 20 meeting. After the minutes were approved, a Schodack resident voiced questions about the Muslim Community of Troy cemetery project proposed on Phillips Road. The resident asked for clarification about the burial process, the phasing of the project and the impact on groundwater. Members of the Board explained that the burial ceremonies involve simple pine boxes with no embalming process. 

The project presenter from Environmental Designs updated the Board that a geotechnical consultant had completed an environmental study. According to the report, there will be [Read more…] about Schodack Planning Board Highlights 

Local Olympian Speaks at Tamarac High School

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by Amy Modesti 

Do you know what it takes to be an Olympian? Emma White does.

Tuesday, December 21, White spoke to students inside the Tamarac High School District Auditorium about her Olympic career. The 24-year-old, originally from Duanesburg, now residing in Jersey City, NJ, took up cycling at nine years old. Inspired by her older brother and family at their cycling outings, White made it her mission to become a cyclist. 

Upon becoming a cyclist, she majored in Computer Science at Union College. It was during her college years that she trained under famed coach Kristen Armstrong, and raised her cycling skills to new heights, even taking part in the 2014 and 2015 Junior World Championships. 

Eventually, White made the switch to track cycling and joined the USA Olympic Team [Read more…] about Local Olympian Speaks at Tamarac High School

Hoosick Falls School Board COVID-19 Threat Nearly Compels Remote Learning

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Hoosick Falls School Board

by Alex Brooks

At the Hoosick Falls School Board meeting on Thursday, December 16, there was discussion of a possible need to go to remote learning on short notice because of a high number of COVID-19 cases in the Hoosick Falls community, some of which had shown up among teachers and students. But in the latter part of that week the number of cases dropped and on Friday the District announced that it will not need to switch to remote learning this week.

The Board approved the District’s contract with managerial/confidential employees dated December 13, 2021, which is effective from July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2024.  It also approved a contract with the District’s support staff dated December 14, 2021, which is effective July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2025. Superintendent Pat Dailey said the District now has contracts in place with [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls School Board COVID-19 Threat Nearly Compels Remote Learning

January 2022 Regents Exams Cancelled

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Submitted by NYSEG Communications

The January 2022 administration of the High School Regents Examination Program is canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This cancellation applies to all Regents Examinations that had been scheduled for the January 2022 period. No decisions have been made regarding the June and August 2022 administrations of Regents Examinations or any other State assessment programs.

To ensure students are not adversely impacted by the cancellation of the exams, the Department will ask the Board of Regents to adopt emergency regulations regarding the assessment requirements students must ordinarily meet to earn a diploma. Under the proposed emergency regulations, students who are planning to take one or more Regents Examination during the January 2022 examination period at the conclusion of a course of study or make-up program shall be exempt from the requirements pertaining to passing a corresponding Regents Examination to be issued a diploma. To qualify for the exemption, the student must meet one of these requirements by the end of the first semester of the 2021-22 school year:

  • Be enrolled in a course that would ordinarily culminate with a January 2022 Regents Examination and earn credit for such course of study.
  • Complete a make-up program to earn course credit.
  • Be prepared to take a required Regents Examination to graduate at the end of the first semester.

 NYSED is developing additional guidance in the form of an FAQ and will issue that guidance in early January 2022 to address topics such as safety net options, mastery, honors and technical endorsements, so that schools may determine which diplomas to grant to their graduates. Please visit the Department’s COVID-19 Information site for additional information and guidance as it becomes available.

Hoosick Falls Village Police Chief Ashe Suspended

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Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen has issued a statement announcing the immediate suspension with pay of Village Police Chief Robert (Bob) Ashe. The Mayor’s statement says only that the suspension is due to an on going criminal investigation by the New York State Police. Officer Bernard Davock has been appointed as officer in charge.

The Mayor’s statement further says “the Board of Trustees remains committed to our police department and the necessary and essential work they do, as well as the safety and security of our community.  We will ensure that our police department serves our Village with the highest standards.  Because this is a personnel matter, there is nothing more we can say at this time.”

The Eastwick Press reached out to Chief Ashe to see if he wished to make a comment. So far, he has not, but that is not unusual when a criminal investigation is involved. If there are more developments, we will post them on our website and Facebook page.

An investigation is does not necessarily mean there has been any wrong doing.

Hoosick Falls Woods Brook Buyout Demolition Begins

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by Doug La Rocque

Efforts to prevent another flood like the one on July 1 of 2017 that caused so much damage in the Village have taken another major step forward, with demolition of structures that are part of the Woods Brook Buyout Program beginning earlier this week. In all, seven properties are marked to come down, part of a multi-phase drainage improvement project.

The first building demolished was at 7 Hall Street. Buildings at 3 and 5 Hall Street, 27 Elm Street and [Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Woods Brook Buyout Demolition Begins

Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

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Article submitted by HVCC and Wreaths Across America

Known as the longest veterans’ parade in the country, Wreaths Across America made a stop at Hudson Valley Community College on Tuesday, December 14, for a special ceremony honoring veterans and service members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. 

Wreaths Across America is a national organization with a mission to remember our fallen U.S. service members, honor those who serve and teach children [Read more…] about Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

Developer Withdraws Glamping Application from Petersburgh

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by Alex Brooks

At a special meeting of the Petersburgh Planning Board held on Monday, December 13, Chairperson Janet Spitz said the application for approval of a high-end camping resort on East Hollow Road has been withdrawn by the developer. The communication from the developer’s attorney confirming withdrawal of the application did not state the reason for it, but it appears to be about additional permits that may be required and the possibility that it would be be declared a Type 1 action under SEQRA, which would require an extensive (and expensive) environmental review. The Eastwick Press contacted said attorney, John Hartzell, who said [Read more…] about Developer Withdraws Glamping Application from Petersburgh