The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Early Voting Underway in Gubernatorial Primary

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Minor Party County Judge Race Also on Ballot

by Doug La Rocque
Both Republicans and Democrats have several people vying for their party’s nod to run for Governor this November. Sitting Governor Kathy Hochul, elevated to that post with the August 2021 resignation of former Governor Andrew Cuomo, is battling two challengers for the Democratic Party nomination, those being Congressman Thomas R. Suozzi (Long Island/Queens) and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. Many polls, including the respected Siena College Poll, have Governor Hochul with a healthy double digit lead on her opponents.

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Swearing-In Ceremony

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On Friday, June 17, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department held a special ceremony at the County Public Safety Building for eleven new recruits to become corrections officers. With family, friends, Rensselaer County Legislators and County Executive Steve McLaughlin looking on, Sheriff Pat Russo administered the oath of office to the eleven new members of the corrections bureau and discussed the important role they will have in protecting residents. The new hires will help fill a number of recent vacancies. Rensselaer County thanks the new members for their willingness to serve and protect our County.

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Berlin 4th of July Parade and Grand Marshal

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On Monday, July 4, the Town of Berlin will have its annual 4th of July parade, and this year’s theme is iconic American brands. From Amazon to Zippo, American brands, slogans and mascots have created both our and the world’s image of us. We certainly are looking forward to see how America will be celebrated. Volunteers and donations are always needed and appreciated for both advance responsibilities and on parade day. If you’d like to be part or need additional information, please contact the Town of Berlin office at janfirszt11@gmail.com.

Grand Marshal
The Grand Marshal for the 2022 July 4th parade is Anne Maxon. 

Since 1982 Anne has been Berlin Town Clerk and six years prior, she was Deputy Clerk. She is lifelong resident of Berlin, with the exception of one long year in Oklahoma.

After graduating, she asked Stanton Goodermote for a job at the Taconic Bank, where she worked for over 3 decades, serving as manager for years.

Anne is much more interested in talking about others than herself. She beams when talking about her grandchildren Kaitlyn, Ryan, Jacob, Colin and Ben.

The other time she shines is talking about the people of Berlin: “I love helping everyone as much as I can” and she does make Berlin a better place. Thank you, Anne Maxon, and congratulations.

The parade has an 11 am step off time at Berlin Elementary School.

New Medical Building on the Horizon in Brunswick

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by Doug La Rocque
The Brunswick Planning Board learned more about plans to construct a two-story medical office and ambulatory surgery center on McChesney Avenue, near the Market 32 Plaza, at their Thursday, June 16 meeting. Representatives from Paulson Development indicated Upstate Gastroenterology and Ortho New York are two of the planned occupants. Items involved in the preliminary discussion include the height of a tower on the building, which would require a zoning variance, and a possible connecting walkway to Market 32.

Encroachment
The firm constructing the new Aldi/Planet Fitness complex on Hoosick Road (NYS Route 7) has

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Local Farm Receives Cannabis Growing License

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Earlier this spring, the Juniper Jill Cannabis Company (located at the Scarp Family Farm) was awarded one of the first conditional cannabis growing licenses by New York State. Under New York’s Cannabis legislation enacted in 2021, Juniper Jill will not be allowed to sell the product directly to the public. That will be done by approximately 100 dispensaries, still awaiting their conditional licenses.

Chief Operating Officer Jenny Scarpulla tells The Eastwick Press work is already underway to begin their cannabis growing operation, which will include

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ARPA Survey Concludes

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New Lebanon Town Council Meeting

by Chris Tergliafera
After compiling the 208 responses to the recent community survey about how the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds should be used, the top five areas of interest are: local businesses, monitoring Town water, health and wellness, the community center and the Rail Trail. There will be a special meeting on Tuesday, July 26, at 6 pm to not only discuss the results of the survey in a more in-depth manner, but also to discuss how to use the unallocated fund balance and excess sales tax revenue.

Cool Ravines CEA
The resolution to adopt a negative resolution declaring and designating the Cool Ravines Critical Environmental Area (CEA) was approved.

Main Street Revitalization
The Council is looking to apply for a two phase grant that will help with business revitalization, however they will

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Grafton Town Council Highlights

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by Chris Tergliafera
Grafton is looking for someone who can maintain its cemeteries and keep them in presentable condition. The matter will be discussed further at the upcoming workshop meeting, as there are many details that still need to be worked out.

Highway Garage Overhead Doors
The $26,000 bid by Diamond Overhead Doors to replace the highway garage overhead doors was approved. The current doors are roughly 50 years old and don’t close properly, which makes heating the garage difficult and costly. It will take roughly three months to get the materials, and the funds for the project will come from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

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Pushback After Stefanik Meet and Greet

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by Doug La Rocque
Representative Elise Stefanik, whose 21st Congressional District will include a vast portion of Rensselaer County starting in 2023, held a meet and greet at the Brunswick Community Center on Tuesday, May 31 that was quite civil inside, but replete with about 30 protesters outside the building. Ms. Stefanik is a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump and has repeatedly criticized the January 6 Insurrection Public Hearings currently taking place in Washington, D.C. as a “witch hunt.” 

These protesters were eventually locked out of the event, because as Brunswick Town Supervisor Phil Herrington told the June 9 Town Council meeting, they became “disruptive” with one individual “attempting to intimidate” those wishing to attend the meet and greet. He described the affair as a “private event” with the standard $150 rental fee paid in advance. Mr. Herrington added if those who did not agree with the Congresswoman just simply wanted to attend without protest, they would have been welcome.

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Naturae Court Case Nears End

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by Doug La Rocque
For over a year the Town of Hoosick has been involved with complaints by neighbors about both an odor and appearance problems at the Naturae LLC facility on NYS Route 67 in North Hoosick. The Town began legal proceedings to shut the operation down, citing a lack of compliance on the part of the owners. The court action was delayed, however, because of the pandemic.

After the Monday, June 13 meeting, Town Attorney Jonathan Schopf tells The Eastwick Press, a tentative disposition of the case has been reached, but the details cannot be released until that disposition has been approved by Town Court. Mr. Schopf says he and Codes Enforcement Officer Lloyd Moses met onsite with the ownership and their legal representation and were able to hammer out the proposed agreement.

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Process to Replace Former Police Chief Ashe Beginning

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by Doug La Rocque
Former Hoosick Falls Village Police Chief Bob Ashe was suspended in December of last year after it was revealed he was under investigation by the NYS Police as part of a ballot-fraud allegation. Chief Ashe resigned his post on Friday, May 13 and three days later pled guilty to a misconduct charge in Village Court. Since that time, Officer Paul Aleksonis has been Officer in Charge running the day to day operations. Following the Tuesday, June 14 meeting of the Board of Trustees, The Eastwick Press spoke with Mayor Rob Allen about the status of the replacement efforts. He told us the Board has been having discussions about it, and is ready to move forward with the search and/or any other options that might be brought to the table. At the meeting, Trustee Kevin O’Malley disclosed that revisions to Civil Service Law dictate any new Police Chief must be a full-time appointment (Chief Ashe was considered part-time). The Trustees also discussed looking into obtaining sample contracts that might be used for any replacement candidate.

Resignations
At the meeting, the Trustees accepted the resignations of four part-time officers from the Police Department, those being

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