The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick Falls

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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Bernard J. Davendonis – Obituary

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Hoosick Falls – Bernard J. “Bernie” Davendonis, 71, passed away at his residence on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. He resided on Saratoga Street with his wife Sue A. (Dooley) Davendonis.

Bernie was born on May 29, 1951, in Troy, NY, son of the late Peter and Eileen (Kincaid) Davendonis. He graduated from Hoosick Falls Central School and received his Associate Degree from Hudson Valley Community College. Bernie was employed at St. Gobain in Hoosick Falls until retiring. He enjoyed reading, doing crossword puzzles, listening to music and playing guitar. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls. [Read more…] about Bernard J. Davendonis – Obituary

In Honored Remembrance of Those That Gave All

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by Doug La Rocque
On Memorial Day morning, May 30, the Village of Hoosick Falls once again paid tribute to all of those who died defending our country with the annual parade sponsored by Hoosick Post 40 of the American Legion.

The day started out as all in the past have, with memorial services at Wood Park, the Shop Bridge to honor those in the Navy who lost their lives at sea, the Civil War monument and finally the placing of wreaths at the Veterans Memorial, to honor those from WWI, WWII, the Korean and Vietnam wars.

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Moment of Silence at Tops Market

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The Tops Friendly Market in Hoosick Falls will join all Tops stores in a collective moment of silence on Saturday, May 21 at 2:30 pm, seven days after the tragic shooting in Buffalo.

“The impact of this tragedy stretches across our community and nation. We stand together as we remember them and pray that their families may find the strength needed to heal and move forward,” stated John Persons, president of Tops Friendly Markets.

Chief Ashe Resigns and Pleads Guilty to Misconduct

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by Doug La Rocque
Former Hoosick Falls Village Police Chief Robert (Bob) Ashe was arrested by NYS Police on Monday, May 16, and accused of Official Misconduct. He pled guilty that evening in Village Court to the charge, a misdemeanor. Village Court Judge Thomas Restino gave the former chief an unconditional discharge and ordered him to pay

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Hoosick Falls Police Chief Resigns

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Hoosick Falls Mayor Rob Allen has announced that Robert Ashe has resigned as Chief of the Village Police force. The resignation took effect on Friday, May 13. In making the announcement on Monday morning, Mayor Allen said “We wish him the best of luck with his future endeavors.

Our Village Police Officers stepped up and served with distinction and honor over the past several months. We are deeply appreciative of their efforts and dedication. Officer-in-Charge Paul Aleksonis will continue to lead the Village of Hoosick Falls Police Department while they provide their essential service to the Village of Hoosick Falls.

The Village will have no further comment at this time.”

Chief Ashe was currently suspended with pay as allegations of impropriety concerning absentee ballots for last Novembers general election are being investigated by state and federal authorities.

The Eastwick Press will have more on this development as it becomes available.

Contamination Site Scheduled for Cleanup in Hoosick Falls

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by Doug La Rocque
The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has announced that Oak-Mitsui Technologies LLC (Oak), the owner of the property, will be executing the environmental cleanup work at the 80 First Street Site in the Village of Hoosick Falls. Their press release says the environmental cleanup action will be performed as an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) under NY’s State Superfund Program and the provisions of an Order on Consent established between Oak and DEC. An IRM is a cleanup activity that may be implemented when the source of contamination or exposure pathway can be effectively addressed in the short term. The objective of this IRM is to prevent contact with residual levels of contamination in the soil.

Highlights and Key Components of the IRM: 

• Installation of a 2 foot thick cover system that consists of a 6 inch gravel underdrain placed directly over existing asphalt or concrete foundations and 18 inches of soil cover over the gravel underdrain. 

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Hoosick Falls CSD Budget Vote Information

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Submitted by HFCSD Communications
On Tuesday, May 17, from 9 am to 8:30 pm, the Hoosick Falls Central School District will hold its budget vote in the high school gymnasium. The proposed budget of $25,348,933 will have a tax levy increase of 1.96%. Also on the ballot will be three seats on the Board of Education. The three candidates for those three seats are Jena Case, Joseph Patire and Brian Keegan. 

There will also be four propositions, which are general fund, bus proposition, expanded scope of capital project and student Board of Education member. Neither the bus proposition nor expanding the scope of the capital project will have any impact on taxes. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/37tqpD5.

Oak-Mitsui Site Clean Up Announced by DEC

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Oak-Mitsui Technologies LLC (Oak), the owner of the property, will be executing the environmental cleanup work at the 80 First Street Site in the Village of Hoosick Falls. The environmental cleanup action will be performed as an Interim Remedial Measure (IRM) under NY’s State Superfund Program and the provisions of an Order on Consent established between Oak and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). An IRM is a cleanup activity that may be implemented when the source of contamination or exposure pathway can be effectively addressed in the near term. The objective of this IRM is to prevent contact with residual levels of contamination in the soil.

Highlights and Key Components of the IRM: [Read more…] about Oak-Mitsui Site Clean Up Announced by DEC

Eva K. Calhoun – Obituary

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Hoosick Falls – Eva K. Calhoun, 90, passed away on April 30, 2022, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, Bennington, Vermont. 

Born in Hoosick Falls on November 16, 1931, Eva was the daughter of the late Marcus and Mary (Wolf) Kipp. She was a graduate of Hoosick Falls High School. She was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church. She also was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. For over 20 years she volunteered at American Red Cross blood drives. After the death of her youngest sister, Mary, she served many years on the Victim’s Impact Panel for RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers).  [Read more…] about Eva K. Calhoun – Obituary