The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Petersburgh

ARPA Funding Requests

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the Monday, June 20 regular meeting of the Petersburgh Town Council three different groups gave presentations to the Council requesting American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The first proposal, which was prepared by the Friends of Petersburgh History and submitted by Town Historian Peter Schaaphok, requested funds for the purpose of preserving the original Town record books, if possible, and making a replica and digital copy of the books for public viewing. Items needed include a laptop, scanner and external hard drive. The requested items total $7,660.37 but an anonymous resident has offered to donate $3,000 towards the cause.

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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.

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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Marion K. Manchester – Obituary

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Petersburgh – Marion Katherine Manchester, 98, died peacefully, slipping from the bonds of earth to be with her savior Jesus in Heaven, on Friday, May 13, 2022 at the Center for Living & Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls.

She was born in Rensselaer, NY on August 11, 1923, the daughter of the late Henry and Catherine Monsees Trinemeyer. Her mother passed away in 1928 and due to the depression Marion and her 3 siblings were placed in the Troy Orphan Asylum. She grew up there until the age of 15 when they were all placed together in a foster home in West Stephentown. Marion was a graduate of Berlin High School, class of 1941, then went on to graduate from Berkshire Business College. Prior to her marriage, she was employed by Montgomery Ward & Co. in Menands, and a munitions factory for the war. [Read more…] about Marion K. Manchester – Obituary

Elaine M. Jones

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Petersburgh – Elaine Marie Jones left this world behind on January 2, 2022. Elaine was born March 3, 1945 in Baltimore, Maryland from two of the most wonderful people ever, Mary and Owen Ringwald. She grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, where she brought her tireless spunk and energy to the home she shared with her three surviving brothers, John, Art and Alan. She is also survived by Woody Gillies and their three children, Bonnie, Ian and Daniel; her children’s spouses/partners John, Christine and Julie; eight grandchildren, David, Michael, Allison, Stephen, Amy, Abigail, Nate and Jace; three great-grandchildren, Madeline, Theodore and Rosie; and her husband Don. [Read more…] about Elaine M. Jones

Petersburgh Bridge Project Progressing

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by Chris Tergliafera
At the April 18 regular meeting of the Petersburgh Town Council, more was revealed about the upcoming project to replace the bridge on Rt. 2 and 22. Engineers have said the bridge can be taken down in one day if the crew is allowed to work through the night, which would require special approval from the Town. Otherwise deconstruction would take roughly two days. How traffic will be rerouted is still to be determined. Efforts are being made to ensure the design of the new bridge will fit with the current bridge’s look. It’s believed that the project will fall within the $4.5 million budget. A presentation to the Town will be scheduled once the next design of the bridge is completed. Once started, the project will likely take about five months to complete. More details should be available by early summer.

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Brian D. Jones – Obituary

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Petersburgh – Brian D. Jones, II, 33, passed away April 7, 2022. Born in Bennington, VT on January 10, 1989, he was the son of Kathy (McCumiskey) and Brian Jones, Sr. of Petersburgh.

Brian was a hard working tradesman who worked in roofing, construction and masonry. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, hunting, snowboarding, gardening and his Harley-Davidson. While these hobbies were important, nothing meant more to him than his children. He always enjoyed the time spent with his family and friends. [Read more…] about Brian D. Jones – Obituary

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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Darel G. Manchester – Obituary

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Petersburgh – Darel Gregory Manchester, 37, died suddenly Friday, March 25, 2022. He was born in Bennington, VT on August 26, 1984, the beloved son of Colleen S. Walker Manchester of Petersburgh and the late Gregory Neil Manchester.

Darel was raised in Petersburgh and was a graduate of Berlin Central School. He was previously employed by Callahan Industries and was the owner of his own landscaping business, Above & Beyond for over 10 years. Currently he was employed as a plant operator for Westway Feed Products at the Port of Albany where he has worked since being hired in June, 2013, in a job that he loved, with coworkers he loved.

Darel loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing, hunting, kayaking and skiing with his daughter. Darel was an artistic oil painter. He had an eye for detail and created many beautiful paintings. His paintings can still be seen on Facebook at Country Life Free Hand Oil Paintings by Darel Manchester. [Read more…] about Darel G. Manchester – Obituary

Petersburgh PFOA Class Action Settlement Is Official

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by Doug La Rocque
In early October last year, a settlement in a class action lawsuit against Taconic was announced that totaled $23.5 million, the money to cover damages from the alleged PFOA contamination of the Town’s water supply and that of some residents with private wells. On Monday, March 21, State Supreme Court Justice Patrick McGrath held a fairness hearing, where no objections to the settlement were voiced. He then signed the document. A portion of this money is to be set aside for medical monitoring for 15 years for residents with PFOA levels in their blood greater than 1.86 parts per billion. 

Stephen Schwarz of the firm Faraci Lange was the lead attorney in the case. He tells The Eastwick Press “This is one of the largest settlements per capita in the country involving PFOA contamination. Homeowners in Petersburgh will now be compensated for their loss of property value caused by the contamination as well as receive payments for the loss of the use of their private well water before filtration systems were installed.”

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