by Thaddeus Flint
At the Berlin School Board meeting on June 17 it was reported that NYSEG seems determined to turn that long line of trees bordering the Berlin Middle/High School along Route 22 in Cherry Plain into a large pile of wood chips.
David Sutton’s Last Meeting As School Board Member
by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board meeting this month was David Sutton’s last meeting as a member of the School Board. Many fine words were spoken about his long service on the School Board and the difference he has made. He served on the Board for 13 years and was Board President for seven years. Current School Board President Greg Laurin said with great conviction, “Nobody has done more for this school in the last dozen years.”
[Read more…] about David Sutton’s Last Meeting As School Board Member
218 Years Of Stephentown History Comes To An End
by David Flint
The Stephentown Baptist Church, now known as the Church at the Crossroads, will be closing its doors next week. The Church is being dissolved and the remaining congregation will disperse to other churches in the area, thus ending 218 years of ministry in Stephentown.
[Read more…] about 218 Years Of Stephentown History Comes To An End
Grafton Planning Board Action – Business Galore
by Kieron Kramer
The Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, June 16, was packed for the first time this year; lots of business was done by the Board which now has four members since Pete Gundrum’s resignation. One item of old business and five new items filled the agenda.
[Read more…] about Grafton Planning Board Action – Business Galore
Joyce Brewer Honored As PTA Founders’ Day Award Winner
submitted by Paula Kamperman, HFCS PTA
The Hoosick Falls Central School PTA annually seeks nominations to honor community members who make outstanding contributions to the well being of children and youth. This year’s award recipient is Joyce Brewer who has been active in Girl Scouts and the greater community for over 14 years.
[Read more…] about Joyce Brewer Honored As PTA Founders’ Day Award Winner
Jr. Girl Scouts Receive Bronze Award
by Bea Peterson
On Monday evening, June 23, seventeen members of Jr. Girl Scout Troop 1259 received Bronze Awards, the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can earn. To achieve this award the girls had to “demonstrate a commitment to helping others, to improving their community and to identify a need in the community. Once the need was determined they had to develop a plan to meet that need and then put the plan in motion.”
Town Of Hoosick Summer Camp Opens Next Week
by Steve Bradley
The Town of Hoosick Summer Day Camp is being offered again this year. Several great programs are available to children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old, including a weekly trip to Grafton Lakes State Park.
[Read more…] about Town Of Hoosick Summer Camp Opens Next Week
Congratulations To The St. Mary’s Academy Class Of 2014
Sweet Sara’s Desserts
by Bea Peterson
Kelly O’Connor has been baking since she was 13. “I even went to college for it,” she said. She’s a graduate of Schenectady Community College. “They taught us to cook and bake,” she said. “But I chose to stick with what I loved – baking.” Kelly worked at Sweet Nothings in Round Lake for years. “That’s where I learned how to run a wholesale business,” she said. She also occasionally makes desserts for Peaches & Cream in Stuyvesant Plaza and the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy.
Hoosick Rising – The Economic Development Project
by Bea Peterson
Mayor David Borge opened the second meeting of the Hoosick Rising Economic Development meeting downstairs in the HAYC3 Armory on Wednesday, June 11, by saying, “Hoosick is a great place to live, a better place to work and play.” He said, “This is the Village and the Town working collaboratively. We need economic development downtown. We have terrific public and private schools, plenty of stuff for kids to do, the Country Club, Greenway and a rich history and traditions.”
He continued, “We need to start planning for the future and how to market the community. That is why we went with Camoin Associates. They have a lot of experience working with rural communities. They will help us develop strategy for our unique community and help us market the region. To do what’s best for the community we need new blood and new perspectives.”
Though Borge was encouraged by the larger group of people that attended this meeting, he said, “We need to continue recruitment, to interest more people to help increase visitation and tourism to our community, to attract new residents, grow businesses and continue the momentum that is beginning.”
Robert Camoin of Camoin Associates began his power point presentation noting that the necessary components for this are communication, initiatives and projects. Using the acronym SWOT for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, he told the group it is essential to identify initiatives and identify and prioritize project ideas. From there it is important to put together an economic development and marketing strategy.
Other areas are going through the same thing, he said. “The important thing is to develop a capacity to move forward.” He cited examples.
• Entrepreneurship, small businesses – how do we support them.
• Business friendly – zoning laws must be clear. Don’t change the rules in the middle of the process.
• Regionally – the community can’t do it alone, it needs to help and support other areas and vice versa.
• And a quality workforce is essential.
People And Leadership Needed
He encouraged everyone to “think big.” He cited the 30 million dollar Adirondack Museum on Blue Mountain Lake as an example of what a dedicated group can do. He encouraged those attending the meeting to make a plan and keep focused, to think about funding and incentives and to engage the private sector in funding. To these ends skilled leaders are needed. “Never doubt what a small group can do,” he concluded.
Next Meeting July 22
Christa Franzi of Camoin Associates said that at the next meeting on Tuesday, July 22, at 6:30 pm the group should be prepared to consider leadership and priority projects. She challenged those at the meeting to identify helpful social media, to find Hoosick Rising advocates and to invite five new people to attend the July meeting. She encouraged folks to begin thinking about private funding.
Franzi and Camoin expect that they will meet with the Hoosick Rising group four more times, about every two to three months for a year to offer ideas and encouragement for choosing and completing community projects.