The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Board of Education Highlights

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by Chris Tergliafera
All internal and external cameras have been installed at the Middle/High School, with the cameras for the Elementary School expected to be installed over the summer. Access control door installation is also expected be completed over the summer.

Superintendent Joseph Dhara has been in discussions with Rensselaer County about a School Resource Officer (SRO), and will update the Board as more information becomes available.

Berlin CSD will be participating in the Stop Arm Program. This is a free program through Rensselaer County that will install cameras inside and outside of buses. If someone passes the bus when the stop sign is out it will take a picture of the vehicle and send it to the Sheriff’s office.

The District is getting a Raptor system for visitor check-in. With the system, visitors to the building will need to provide identification that will be scanned to produce a name tag. The system should be available shortly.

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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Berlin Central School – Propane Conversion Project

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the Wednesday, May 18 regular meeting of the Berlin Central School District Board of Education (BOE), what was intended to be a presentation to establish a budget, funding source and schedule for the propane conversion project at the middle/high school, turned into a conversation about fast tracking the project to complete it as soon as possible. 

Among the concerns with the current system are the ever rising heating oil prices, which currently stand at roughly

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Grafton Town BBQ

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The Town of Grafton invites you to the 2022 Grafton Town BBQ, sponsored by the Town of Grafton and hosted by Greywacke Meadows (aka the wedding barn!).  This is a FREE family event with great food, entertainment and a beautiful venue. We will also have a covered dish and dessert contest so please bring an item to share. It will be held on Sunday, June 5, from 2 to 5 pm.  Hot dogs & hamburgs provided. 40 Dunham Rd, Grafton.

For Grafton residents only

Grafton Town Council Meeting

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Further Discussion Required

by Chris Tergliafera
At the April 11 regular meeting of the Grafton Town Council, EMT Services NY LLC (EMTS) gave a presentation in which they detailed their current partnership with the Grafton Rescue Squad (GRS). The agreement between the two is currently on a consultation basis, for such things as assessing best practices and bylaws in order to make sure the ambulance station is in compliance. EMTS also discussed the possibility of extending the agreement with GRS to include staffing services, mentioning some of the reasons this would be beneficial, such as alleviating pressure on current volunteers so they don’t get burned out.

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Mrs. Kent Honored as Principal of the Year

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Submitted by BCS Communications

Congratulations to Berlin Elementary School Principal Mrs. Tracy Kent, who was awarded the 2022 Principal of the Year honor by the Greater Capital Region Principal Center and the Capital Area School Development Association (CASDA).

The Principal of the Year award recognizes a principal for exemplary leadership qualities (highlighted by the unique challenges of the pandemic) who has made a difference in the lives of their students.

Tracy Kent has been in the field of education for 29 years. For 18 of those years Tracy was a classroom teacher. She transitioned into administration 11 years ago and has spent the last eight years as the principal of Berlin Elementary School.

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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.

Grafton Residents and RPA Discuss Community Forest

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by Chris Tergliafera

On Monday, February 28, the Grafton Town Council hosted a public forum for residents and the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) to discuss plans for property the RPA recently purchased in Grafton. As it stands now, plans to have a trailhead and parking lot at the end of Foster Rd. are not sitting well with Foster Rd. residents. 

More than one person raised the question: if the RPA is creating a community forest, and want to have a good relationship with the community, but the community is making it clear they don’t want them there, isn’t it disingenuous for them to continue saying they care about the community? 

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Grafton Town Council Meeting

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Two Resolutions Passed

by Chris Tergliafera

At the February 14 regular meeting of the Grafton Town Council, two resolutions were passed. The first was to schedule a public information meeting to discuss the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance’s (RPA) proposal to place an entrance and parking area on Foster Road. The meeting will take place on February 28, in lieu of the Town’s monthly workshop meeting, and will be held at the old Grafton Elementary School, 13 Babcock Lake Road. 

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