The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Stephentown

Howard Leibensperger – Obituary

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Stephentown – Howard Leibensperger, 95, passed away on April 23, 2022 in North Providence, RI. Born in Tampico, Mexico on July 29, 1926, Howard grew up in The Hague, The Netherlands, speaking both English and Dutch. He was the son of Raymond and Bertha Leibensperger, who raised their family in different parts of the world through Raymond’s job in the oil industry. The family eventually returned to New Jersey, where Howard graduated from Montclair High School. In 1944, Howard took college classes at the Virginia Military Institute, and in 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving as a battery clerk in Germany in the immediate aftermath of WWII. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1947. From then until his retirement in the early 1990s, Howard worked as an auto mechanic. [Read more…] about Howard Leibensperger – Obituary

Ruth E. Devlin – Obituary

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Stephentown – Ruth Elizabeth Devlin, 88, a resident of Stephentown for over 50 years and recently of Mannsville, New York, passed away on April 9, 2022, after a brief illness, surrounded by loving family members. She was married for 67 years to the late Vincent S. Devlin, who passed away November 26, 2020.

Ruth was born in Jamaica, Queens, NYC on February 11, 1934. She was the only child of the late Kurt O. Krell and Elizabeth P. Mueller Krell.  [Read more…] about Ruth E. Devlin – Obituary

PFOA’s Found In Stephentown Trailer Park

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A mobile home park in Stephentown has been cited for exceeding the state maximum contaminant level for PFOA, the Rensselaer County Health Department announced today.

The Mountain View Park public water system has a level of 10.75 parts per trillion at well 1 and a level of 12.5 ppt at well 2. The state maximum contaminant level as outlined in state Sanitary Code is 10 parts per trillion.

Located on State Route 22, the Mountain View Park includes approximately 80 mobile homes.

A written notification has been sent to residents in all mobile homes in the large park regarding the discovery of the elevated PFOA level, said county health officials.

“We have taken the necessary action to inform residents of the situation and to provide owners of Mountain View Park with steps to improve the situation,” said Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachunas.

“The town has been informed of the situation at Mountain View, and is working with the county and other parties to protect public health. We will work jointly with the county to provide more information to the public when it becomes available,” said Town Supervisor PJ Roder.

The steps required of Mountain View Park, as detailed in state Sanitary Code, include a public notice to all customers of the park’s water district, hiring a consulting engineer within 30 days to perform a feasibility study, and submission of the feasibility study within 90 days to the Health Department.

Stephentown Annual Easter Party

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The Easter Party is back on Saturday, April 16 at 1 pm at the Stephentown Memorial Library. Join the festivities for games, candy crafts and a visit with the Easter Bunny, who will be escorted to the Library by the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department.

Monday Fires Destroy Two Buildings

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by Doug La Rocque

Stephentown firefighters were called out on Monday evening, April 4, to battle flames at an unoccupied structure at 345 West Road. The first units on the scene reported the building to be fully engulfed in flames and called for mutual aid from Berlin and Lebanon Valley, while the Hancock Fire Department was placed on standby. According to Sidewinder Photography on the scene, firefighters had to lay a significant amount of hose from the water source to battle the flames. 

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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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Joseph N. Haneke – Obituary

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Stephentown – Hello neighbors in Stephentown. I would like to inform you of the passing of my wonderful husband, Joseph Haneke, who died at home on April 1, 2022.

In the short time that we have been here we have been so blessed by living in this beautiful Stephentown, the only Stephentown in the whole world. I would like to give many thanks to the wonderful Stephentown EMTs, who came to our home to assist my disabled husband. [Read more…] about Joseph N. Haneke – Obituary

Hasselwander Indicted on Murder and Strangulation Charges

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Remanded Back to Jail Without Bail

by Doug La Rocque
22-year-old Ian Hasselwander was arraigned Tuesday afternoon, March 15, in Rensselaer County Court before Judge Jennifer Sober on one count of Murder in the 2nd Degree and one count of Strangulation in the 1st Degree. Hasselwander pled not guilty to both counts. Judge Sober set April 29 as the tentative date for further proceedings and remanded Hasselwander back to the Rensselaer County Jail without bail until such time. Hasselwander was arrested by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on March 4 in connection with the disappearance and subsequent death of 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge.

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Arrest Made in Bates Murder

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by Doug La Rocque

The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office on Friday evening, March 4, announced the arrest of 22-year-old Ian J. Hasselwander of Petersburgh for the disappearance and death of 20-year-old Morgan Bates of Eagle Bridge. Bates was reported missing on Tuesday, February 22, with sightings reported early that morning in both Eagle Bridge and Petersburgh. Her body was subsequently located on Sunday, February 27 in a remote area of the Cherry Plain State Park near Black River Road.

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