Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Thaddeus Flint
The fate of Brendan Hoffman, the 22 year old Stephentown man accused of manslaughter and homicide charges, as well as leaving the scene of a 2012 accident, now lies in the hands of the jury.
The trial, which began on March 25, wrapped up with closing arguments at the Rensselaer County Court House in Troy on Wednesday.
The Rensselaer Land Trust, Inc. (RLT) and The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall Corporation announce the Hall debut of Troy’s own Sean Rowe on April 12. The opening act will include MaryLeigh Roohan. There will be a special Meet the Artist Reception prior to the performance at 6 pm at the Rensselaer County Historical Society. Both events will benefit RLT.
by Kieron Kramer
At its regular meeting on March 11, the Rensselaer County Legislature passed a resolution that will break the deadlock at the former WCW, Inc. property at 1 Mechanic Street in Hoosick Falls. In February of 2011 the County commenced an in rem tax proceeding against the property, owned by JW Realty and then transferred to Four J’s One Mechanic Street, LLC, for property tax delinquency in the amount of $1,213,000 owed the Village of Hoosick Falls. [Read more…] about County Moves To Take Hoosick Falls Property By Eminent Domain
by Kieron Kramer
In a letter dated February 25, Acting Regional Director of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Sam Zhou responded to the Rensselaer County Legislature’s letter of February 3 prioritizing improvements to New York State routes within the County. Zhou’s letter says, “In consideration of your letter and after careful consideration and a review of available funding, I am pleased to let you know that we are scheduled to begin paving on Route 22 and Route 20 in the coming 2014 construction season. Route 22 will be paved from the Columbia County line north, 9.4 miles, to Cherry Plain. We are proposing to pave from Cherry Plain to Petersburgh in 2015.”
All events are free and open to the public. Go to www.renstrust.org or call 518-659-5263 for more information.
• Solar Energy: Cooperating With Your Neighbors to Save Money – Thursday, March 27, at 7 pm at the East Greenbush Library. “Community Solar” is an initiative to increase the use of solar energy in Troy and local communities and reduce its cost for participants. Steve Andersen will share information about how solar electric energy works then introduce the innovative community solar program which has already been implemented in communities in Tompkins County and Madison County. Jaron Kuppers, a homeowner in Troy, will share his experience with the installation of rental solar. Global warming, children’s futures – you can make a difference within your budget
• Finding the Mohican Indians in Rensselaer County with Shirley W. Dunn – Sunday, March 30, at 2 pm at the East Greenbush Library. Learn about the Mohican Indians, first inhabitants of Rensselaer County, how they met Henry Hudson, how and where they lived and how their role in local history has been overlooked because of emphasis on the Iroquois, who lived far inland. Speaker Shirley W. Dunn will show the locations of some of the Mohican villages in Rensselaer County and name some of the Mohican leaders of past centuries who not only signed land deeds but helped the newly arrived Dutch. Shirley Dunn is the author of three books about the local Mohican Indians.
by Bea Peterson
A ride along Route 7 in Hoosick on Wednesday morning, March 12, confirmed that guardrails are down in four places along the north side of Route 7, the westbound lane, between Tibbitts Forest and the Man of Kent Restaurant. Prominent orange and white barrels mark the areas where the rails should be standing.
[Read more…] about Two Truck Accidents In One Week On Route 7
Did you know that the Rensselaer Plateau is the fifth largest forest in New York State and that it is 90% forested and that those forests are 90% privately owned? Do you love your land and value your woods? Then attend a Woods Forum conducted by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) on Tuesday, March 18, at 7 pm at the Berlin Town Hall (17563 NY Rt. 22).
Join fellow woodland owners and forestry professionals for a discussion on how to maintain the value of your woods for timber harvesting, recreation, wildlife and for future generations. Discuss how to care for your woods today and plan for its future. Talk with, and hear about the experiences, of other landowners. There will also be an opportunity to sign up for a walk of your property with a Master Forest Owner and to win RPA gear. Attendees will also receive a copy of the new Guide for Landowners intended to help landowners find information in the recently published Rensselaer Plateau Regional Conservation Plan that is useful to them. Both of these resources and much more are now on the RPA website at http://rensselaerplateau.org/RensselaerPlateau/ConservationPlan.aspx. Refreshments will be served. Please call Sarah Parks at 302-584-7748 for additional information. This program is co-sponsored by New York Forest Owners Association, the Rensselaer Land Trust and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.
Keep informed of the many activities going on with RPA or the more than 30 Alliance organizations by checking out our new database driven calendar of events at http://renpa.azurewebsites.net/.
submitted by Rik McClave
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) implemented a new open burning regulation that took effect in October 2009. As part of that regulation no open burning is permitted between March 15 and May 15 each year. The regulation also specifies what can and cannot be burned. [Read more…] about Open Burning Banned Between March 15 and May 15
The Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company will serve its monthly breakfast at the firehouse on Sunday, March 16, from 8 until 11:30 am. Breakfast consists of your choice of French toast or pancakes, together with bacon or sausage, toast, orange juice, beverages and eggs prepared to your order for a cost of $6 with children under five served free.
Support your locate fire company while visiting with friends and neighbors and enjoying a hearty breakfast to start your day. The firehouse is located behind the post office near the intersection of Routes 20 and 66 North in the hamlet of Brainard and is handicap accessible. For more information call 518-766-3815.
The Brunswick Community Library is pleased to present storyteller Gil Payette, with Traditional Stories, on Saturday, March 8, at 2 pm. Payette enthralls the audience with his stories and images. Come learn why the Arizona Daily Star wrote of Payette, “a gentle basso voice to bring a few minutes of rapt silence.”
