The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Robust Discussions at East Nassau Budget Workshop 

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by Denise Wright

The East Nassau Board of Trustees held their Budget Workshop on February 24 to review the draft budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The plan will reduce the property tax rate from $1.75 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $1.66 to avoid exceeding the state-mandated tax cap. Mayor Adam Acquario reported that the Village’s total assessed valuation went up this year following a year where it decreased. 

A 3% stipend/salary increase for the Clerk, Treasurer, DPW Superintendent and Building Inspector was included in the budget. No elected Village official has received a stipend increase since 1998. 

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An Unidentified Female Body has been Found

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The Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office confirms the body of an unidentified female has been located in the area of Cherry Plain State Park, under suspicious circumstances, on Sunday, February 27, 2022.

The victim’s identity will be released following an autopsy, which will be scheduled for later this week.

There are no further details at this time. Updates on this investigation will be provided as information becomes available.

“It’s a Mortal Blow”

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by Doug La Rocque

That is how Brunswick Town Supervisor and co-owner of Herrington Farms in Brunswick describes the recent decision by the NY Farm Laborers Wage Board to reduce the overtime threshold for farm laborers from 60 to 40 hours per week. The decision has yet to gain the approval of NYS Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. Mr. Herrington was joined on Thursday, February 24 by Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who noted she and six of her colleagues have sent a letter to Governor Kathy Hochul urging her to reject the Wage Board’s decision. [Read more…] about “It’s a Mortal Blow”

“A Weak and Ineffective Leader”

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by Doug La Rocque

Those were the words used by 21st Congressional Representative Elise Stefanik to describe President Joe Biden, as she made her first visit to Rensselaer County on Thursday afternoon, February 24. Ms. Stefanik was visiting Herrington Farms in Brunswick to critique the pending lowering of farm worker overtime threshold from 60 to 40 hours. The talk, however, quickly turned toward the Russian invasion of Ukraine, her thoughts on it and what she would like to see done.

She pointed out she does not think the United States should be putting “boots on the ground” in Ukraine at this time but called for the immediate imposition of new sanctions that “will cripple the Russian economy.” She also called upon European countries, whether members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) or not, to follow suit.

The Congresswoman stated that Republican members of Congress, only a month ago, called for the imposition of sanctions on Russia, only to be shot down by the Democratic House and Senate members and President Biden. Ms. Stefanik also said Europe needs free and open democracies which is something Russian President Vladimir Putin does not want to see.

Congresswoman Stefanik is the House Republican Conference Chair, the third highest ranking Republican in Congress.

Brunswick Planning Board Meeting

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Verizon Cellphone Tower Announcement Turns Heads

by Doug La Rocque

It wasn’t until the very end of the Brunswick Planning Board meeting on Thursday, February 17, that the item drawing the most interest from Board members came forth. Building Inspector Chuck Golden announced he had received an application from Verizon Wireless to extend the cell tower under construction on land at the corner of Creek Road and Menemsha Lane. It was the original tower application that was before the Planning Board for nearly a year, with the visual impact being the largest sticking point. Verizon originally requested a 105-foot high tower that met with

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4-H Fashionistas

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The Fashionistas 4-H Club recently met to whip up a creative Valentine’s Day project: paper quilling. The girls found this project to be really enjoyable. For context, quilling is a bit of a time-consuming activity, but does create an adorable result in the end. It consists of folding and curling paper to make miniature pictures and decor. Coming up next, the 4-Hers will

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I-90 Corridor Plan Reviewed – Schodack

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by Denise Wright

The Rensselaer County Industry Development Agency (IDA) held a public scoping meeting on February 15 at the Schodack Town Hall. All Schodack officials and public members could ask questions and comment on the draft generic environmental impact statement (GEIS) created for approximately 6,000 acres along the I-90 Corridor between exits 11 and 12 on Route 9. 

With the new Amazon complexes being developed in this area, the County realized that the site is increasingly attractive to development. With that in mind,

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Hoosick Falls School Board Meeting

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Budget Season Begins

by Chris Tergliafera

At the February 17 regular meeting of the Hoosick Falls Central School District Board of Education, the first draft of the 2022-2023 budget was presented. The proposed budget would see a spending increase of $1,133,950, up 4.7% over last year. Numerous things factor into this number, such as increases in staff and support service, state and federal mandates, contractual expenses and more. As of now the estimate on the school tax levy increase is

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NL-B Swimmers Finish Strong

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Submitted by Coach Tim Christiansen

Top 8 finishes were achieved and school records broken for the New Lebanon-Berlin Varsity Swim Team who competed in NYS Sectionals this past weekend at Shenendehowa High School. Junior Alex Sotek, Sophomore Alison Slater and eighth grader Lance Schroder competed in individual events while Carol Kirsimagi, Riley Schwartz and Jordan Sotek rounded out the relay teams. Alex Sotek led the way with an outstanding meet finishing with two school records and two top 8 finishes, which hasn’t been done by a New Lebanon-Berlin swimmer in over 14 years. Alex finished 7th in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 58.78 and 5th place in the 100 Backstroke with a time of 1:01.50. Alison set a new school record while

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