The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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PFOA’s Found In Stephentown Trailer Park

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A mobile home park in Stephentown has been cited for exceeding the state maximum contaminant level for PFOA, the Rensselaer County Health Department announced today.

The Mountain View Park public water system has a level of 10.75 parts per trillion at well 1 and a level of 12.5 ppt at well 2. The state maximum contaminant level as outlined in state Sanitary Code is 10 parts per trillion.

Located on State Route 22, the Mountain View Park includes approximately 80 mobile homes.

A written notification has been sent to residents in all mobile homes in the large park regarding the discovery of the elevated PFOA level, said county health officials.

“We have taken the necessary action to inform residents of the situation and to provide owners of Mountain View Park with steps to improve the situation,” said Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas.

“The town has been informed of the situation at Mountain View, and is working with the county and other parties to protect public health. We will work jointly with the county to provide more information to the public when it becomes available,” said Town Supervisor PJ Roder.

The steps required of Mountain View Park, as detailed in state Sanitary Code, include a public notice to all customers of the park’s water district, hiring a consulting engineer within 30 days to perform a feasibility study, and submission of the feasibility study within 90 days to the Health Department.

Child Drowns in Schaghticoke

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On Sunday, April 17, at approximately 7:08 pm, Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Deputies

responded to a call for a missing three-year-old child from Oakhurst Street in Pleasantdale,town of Schaghticoke. Following intense searching by First Responders and members of the surrounding community, the missing child was located unresponsive, in a swimming pool on the property from which he was reported missing. First Aid was immediately provided on scene, and the child was transported to Samaritan Hospital, but was unfortunately unable to be revived. The death has been determined to be an accidental drowning.

We are extremely saddened by this tragic event, and ask that the public continue to pray for this family as they grieve the unimaginable loss of their child.

We would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance on scene; New York State Police, Troy Police Department, Troy Fire Department, Hoosic Valley Rescue, Pleasantdale Fire Department, and Rensselaer County 911. We are also grateful to over 100 members of the community who came out to assist in the search.

No further details are available at this time.

NYS Lt. Governor Arrested

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According to the New York Times and WNBC in New York City, Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin has been arrested on campaign finance fraud-related charges  and is expected to appear in Manhattan Federal Court later today

Uncle Sam Parking Garage Coming Down

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A long time stable in Troy, now closed because it has fallen into disrepair , the Uncle Same Parking Garage is slated to be torn down within the next couple of months, according to City Council President Carmella Mantello. Large concrete portions of the structure starting falling down when the garage was used by the NYS Labor Department for parking when they had offices in the Troy Atrium.

Ms. Mantello does not have a problem with the structure being demolished, what concerns her is that it becomes just a large hole in the ground in the middle of the city. The Council President tells The Eastwick Press “I have requested the planning commission (director) ensure landscaping, trees and that the location is clean and safe while they put together their plans to redevelop the site. Also I don’t want it to sit idle and a hole at the gateway of the city and the bond should be the developer present a plan before the planning commission within one year.”

Security Incident at Ichabod Crane Schools

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Sheriff Donald Krapf reports that the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office handled a school incident at the Ichabod Crane Central School (Kinderhook) on April 6th at about 11:30 am.

A group of students reported a social media post that was a cause for concern and the school resource Deputy was immediately notified by school administrative staff.  Once the post was viewed by the school resource Deputy, protocols were put in place for a Lock Out in the primary and Middle Schools and Shelter in Place for the high school.  Law Enforcement was able to quickly identify the source of the media post and conduct a thorough investigation which allowed the school to be reopened shortly after the regular daily dismissal.

A sixteen year old was arrested and charged with Falsely Reporting an Incident in the Third degree (A Misdemeanor).

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the New York State Police, and the Albany Police Department.  Several canines were brought in from each agency to sweep the school in an abundance of caution to ensure there was no threat.

“I credit the quick and successful resolution of this incident to the dedication and hard work of the men and woman of the Sheriff’s Office and the multiple agencies that responded.  I would also like to thank the school district staff and students for their patience, and cooperation which assisted greatly in allowing Law Enforcement to ensure the safety of the campus.” states Sheriff Krapf.

Submitted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office

Stephentown Annual Easter Party

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The Easter Party is back on Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm at the Stephentown Memorial Library. Join the festivities for games, candy crafts and a visit with the Easter Bunny, who will be escorted to the Library by the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department.

New Lebanon Clean Up Day

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It’s been a difficult year, but here is spring again, right on schedule, so some of us residents of New Lebanon are planning to show our gratitude on April 23, the Saturday after Earth Day.

Bring your family and meet with us at the Pavilion at Shatford Park at 10:00 am.  We will assign you and your family to a team and provide the equipment you will need for an hour of safely picking up litter along a predetermined route.

Refreshments back in the Park will follow. 

Bring your own gloves and reflective vests if you have them. If you don’t, we will supply them.

Let us know you plan to join us by contacting Bob Gilson at nlcac.gilson@gmail.com.

Grafton Fire Chief’s Car Stolen/Crashed

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28-year-old William Stata III stands accused of stealing Grafton Fire Chief Jim Goyer’s official vehicle from a locked garage on March 29, and crashing it into a tree, before driving off. The vehicle sustained significant front end damage.

Stata was arrested the following day by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office and arraigned on two counts, Burglary 3rd and Grand Larceny 3rd, both felonies. He was released on his own recognizance and ordered to reappear in Grafton Town Court on May 10.

State Redistricting Thrown Out

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A judge based in Steuben County has thrown out the state legislature’s redistricting maps as unconstitutional claiming the redrawn was done to favor Democrats. He has ordered the legislature to submit new maps by April 11. A rather prompt and high profile appeal is expected.

These new districts effect the areas represented by Congressman Antonio Delgado, Paul Tonko and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as well as State Senator Daphne Jordan, Assemblyman Jake Ashby and John McDonald.