The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick Falls

Welcoming New Girl Scouts

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Local Girl Scout Service Unit 154 would like to welcome your girls to join Girl Scouts this year. We will be holding meetings after school for grades K through 5 in the elementary school, and will choose the day of the week when all registrations have been received. We have other troops in place but are happy to create new ones depending on the interest. Please call Robin Conner at the Girl Scout council at 518-489-8110 x153 and she will be able to help you get registered and get you into a troop in our area. 

Alvin W. Hunt – Obituary

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Hoosick Falls – Alvin (Al) Wallace Hunt, 80, a resident of Hill Road in Hoosick Falls, passed away July 13, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family. Al was born in Hoosick on November 28, 1941, the son of the late Frederick and Edith Hunt. He attended Hoosick, NY schools, graduating from Hoosick Falls High School class of 1960. Alvin worked as a driver for Peoples Gas & Oil and as a boiler technician for many years at Oak-Mitsui. Upon retirement he worked for Fairdale Farms and drove a bus for Southern Vermont College. Al loved [Read more…] about Alvin W. Hunt – Obituary

Making the Classic Street Sidewalk Problem Go Away

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by Doug La Rocque
Take a walk on Classic Street by Bistro 42 (not their problem) and on the sidewalk there is a mess and considered by many to be dangerous. All year long the Hoosick Falls Board of Trustees has been discussing what to do about it and at their June meeting asked Village Attorney Andy Gilchrist to look into taking the land by eminent domain. The Catch-22 here is that Village Codes talk about unsafe structures being covered by such action, but not necessarily sidewalks. To make sidewalks part of a legal eminent domain proceeding would mean the Trustees would have to change a 2008 local law. Attorney Gilchrist presented the Board with a new law to consider, and introduction of which will most likely occur at a special meeting on July 19. Mr. Gilchrist also explained they need to decide if they just want to take the land around the sidewalk or the entire site, and what would they do with the site after the sidewalk is repaired. All points to ponder.

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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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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.