The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Luke and Make-A-Wish Team Up Again

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For many years now Hoosick Falls Central School student Luke Hoag has spearheaded a Letter to Santa campaign in conjunction with the Macy’s Department Stores. For each letter Luke delivered to Macy’s at the Colonie Center Shopping Mall, Macy’s made a $2 donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This has resulted in tens of thousands of dollars raised each year.

Luke kicked off his 2021 campaign at the school this past week, with a few COVID-19 wrinkles. In years past, people have delivered mailbags full of letters to the school, which were then delivered to the Colonie store. This year’s, it will be a virtual event, no letters will be accepted at the school building. A direct link has been set up on the Macy’s website. Macy’s will donate one dollar for each letter that is received, up to $1 million.

[Read more…] about Luke and Make-A-Wish Team Up Again

Troy Farmers Market Returns to the Atrium

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The Troy Waterfront Farmers Market returns to the Troy Atrium for the winter this Saturday, November 6. The winter market is held every Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm, and features most of the vendors from its popular outdoor market.

The Troy Atrium is located in downtown Troy with entrances on Fulton Street, 3rd Street, Broadway and 4th Street. Free parking is available in [Read more…] about Troy Farmers Market Returns to the Atrium

Wildcats Dominate Quarterfinal Game

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Hudson                                         6      0     6    0     12
Hoosick Falls/Tamarac         13    27     7    0    47

For the third week in a row the Hoosick Fall-Tamarac Wildcats dominated an opponent. By halftime the Panthers were in change and things were looking good for the JV to in some playing time.

A couple minutes after being helped off the field on the opening kickoff, Dillon Grogan pulled in a pass from quarterback Jake Sparks on their first possession and raced down the sideline for 59 yards and into the endzone to put the Wildcats up 6-0. The extra point was missed.

Hudson countered later in the quarter on a four yard dive [Read more…] about Wildcats Dominate Quarterfinal Game

Stewart’s Opens Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Schodack

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by Doug La Rocque

Stewart’s Shops President and CEO Gary Dake was joined by the outgoing President of the New York Power Authority, (NYPA) Gil Quiniones, on Friday morning, October 29 to cut the ribbon on the new fast charging Electric Vehicle (EV) station at the Stewarts on Columbia Turnpike near the intersection with I-90 in Schodack. This the first of [Read more…] about Stewart’s Opens Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Schodack

Halloween Costume Photo Submission Contest

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Please send in Halloween costume pictures to news@eastwickpress.com, the best photos will appear in next week’s newspaper! Please provide a caption and be sure to have the subject’s permission to use their name and image. Make sure to send your photos to us by Tuesday, November 2, at noon. Please include for the caption: Full names of the people in the photo, and the name of the Town they are from or where the photo was taken.

We look forward to seeing and sharing your Halloween photos with the community! =

Third Round of Testing for PFOA/PFOS in Poestenkill Finds Three New Samples in Residential Properties

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Submitted by the Rensselaer County Department of Health

A third round of sampling of properties in Poestenkill for PFOA has been concluded, with three new properties found to have levels of PFOA above state-permitted levels, county officials announced on Friday.

The results were finalized on Tuesday afternoon and prepared for public release on Thursday. The third round of testing results was announced as testing is now underway on additional properties on a voluntary basis.

The third round of testing was conducted from sites located to the north and east of Algonquin Middle School. The ten sites registered samples that show two non-detect, five detections of PFOA/PFOS below the state maximum contaminant level standards for public drinking water, and three that registered levels above the state maximum contaminant level of 10 parts per trillion (ppt).

All property owners have been contacted prior to public release of this information and provided with information regarding their samples.

For the three homes with levels above the state MCL, the state Department of Environmental Conservation will be providing bottled water while a home treatment system is installed.

The third round of testing did not determine a source for the contamination. The county and state are currently investigating the possibility of multiple, unrelated sources for the contamination.

  •  Testing started after PFOA/PFOS was discovered during state-mandated testing for PFOA/PFOS at Algonquin Middle School earlier this year.
  • The county has to date collected samples for 27 private wells, with seven wells tested at or above the drinking water standard of 10 ppt for either PFOA/PFOS. These seven include the three announced today. There are 24 samples now pending completion.
  • No source for the contamination has been determined during the three rounds of testing.
  • The lack of a source has restricted the ability for wide-spread testing.
  • Town officials have been informed, along with state Department of Environmental Conservation and the state Department of Health.

“The county continues to test residences and properties on a voluntary basis, and is providing this information as quickly as possible to the public. We can report that testing has yet to reveal a source for the contamination, and we are in fact reviewing whether there are multiple sources involved in the Poestenkill situation,” said Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas.

“The samples show readings that are in the teens in relation to the MCL. We continue to test to determine a source and to get additional answers for residents,” added Wachunas.

“Residents should know the county continues to work cooperatively with the state and the town to provide an effective response to this issue. Residents can call our office at 518-270-2632 if they have additional questions,” added Wachunas.

Halloween Events

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Brunswick Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 30, from noon to 3 pm, at the Brunswick Sports Complex, 4165 NY RT 2, Troy.

Brunswick Library – Haunted Trail
A socially distanced Halloween event. Follow the spooky trail and grab your goody bag in the shed on Friday, October 29 – Sunday, October 31.

Center Brunswick United Methodist Church
Trunk or Treat for all ages on Halloween Sunday, October 31 from 10:30 to 11:30 am in the parking lot of the Church located at the intersection of Rt. 7 and Rt. 142. Adults—decorate the back of your cars/trucks and bring your candy. Snacks will be provided. All are welcome.

Grafton’s Trunk-or-Treat
Trunk or Treat on Sunday, October 31, from 1 to 3 pm at the Grafton VFW/Fire Hall. If you would like to volunteer, or decorate your trunk, call or text Noelle Goyer at 518-269-8988.

Hoosick Falls Halloween Parade
The Hoosick Halloween parade is Saturday, October 30, at 6 pm, in Wood Park. Prizes will be given for funniest, cutest, scariest, best family or group, best pet and most creative costumes. If any person or business would like to donate or volunteer to help please contact Kevin O’Malley at 518-894-5035 or Eric Sheffer at 518-859-6034. 

Petersburgh Kids Halloween Party
The Parks and Recreation Committee will be hosting their annual kids Halloween party on Saturday, October 30, from 2 to 5 pm at the Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center. Please join us for a costume parade, pumpkin painting, bingo, games, fun and treats.

Petersburgh Trick-or-Treat Book Giveaway
Library Trustees will have books for the Trick-or-Treaters to choose from at the Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 7 pm on Sunday, October 31 at the Petersburg Baptist Church.

Stephentown Halloween Party and Trunk-or-Treat
Saturday, October 30, 1 to 3 pm (Rain date, October 31) Join us from 1 to 3 pm on Saturday, October 30 at the Stephentown Fire Hall. All games, activities, and crafts will be held outside with appropriate social distancing. Prizes for best costumes, best trunk decorations and best dog costumes. Costume contest will end at 2 pm. We are looking for people to decorate their trunk and hand out candy for kids at the Halloween Party. If you would like to participate, please go to the library’s website to sign up. 

 
[Read more…] about Halloween Events