The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Wreaths Across America Stops By HVCC

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Article submitted by HVCC and Wreaths Across America

Known as the longest veterans’ parade in the country, Wreaths Across America made a stop at Hudson Valley Community College on Tuesday, December 14, for a special ceremony honoring veterans and service members of the United States Armed Forces and their families. 

Wreaths Across America is a national organization with a mission to remember our fallen U.S. service members, honor those who serve and teach children

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Developer Withdraws Glamping Application from Petersburgh

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by Alex Brooks

At a special meeting of the Petersburgh Planning Board held on Monday, December 13, Chairperson Janet Spitz said the application for approval of a high-end camping resort on East Hollow Road has been withdrawn by the developer. The communication from the developer’s attorney confirming withdrawal of the application did not state the reason for it, but it appears to be about additional permits that may be required and the possibility that it would be be declared a Type 1 action under SEQRA, which would require an extensive (and expensive) environmental review. The Eastwick Press contacted said attorney, John Hartzell, who said

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Stephentown House Heavily Damaged By Fire

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by Doug La Rocque

Stephentown Firefighters were called out in the early morning hours on Tuesday, December 14, to battle a structure fire at 116 Knapps Road, just east of the NYS Routes 43 and 22 intersection. According to Rensselaer County Director of Public Safety Jay Wilson, the Knapps awoke to find a fire in the wall near a wood stove. They managed to escape safely, but

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A Glimmer of Hope for Route 7 Traffic

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by Doug La Rocque

If you have ever traveled NYS Route 7 (Hoosick Road) during rush hour or on weekends, you have probably had a few not so pleasant words about the traffic situation. It is often backed up so it takes many turns of a traffic light to proceed, exiting and entering the road can be quite the challenge and is sometimes a nightmare for emergency vehicles. Traffic was a major topic of discussion for the Brunswick Planning Board when they deliberated the new Aldi, Hannaford and

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Hoosick Falls Municipal Parking Lot Changes Have Unintended Consequences

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by Doug La Rocque

The Hoosick Falls Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, December 14 opened with a public hearing on Local Law #3, which restricted parking on Elm Street near the Village Pizzeria to 15 minutes. The change involved a 60-foot section of the road. There were no speakers, and the Board later passed the law unanimously. What did spark debate, however, was an October change that limited the number of all night parking spaces in municipal lots, particularly the one off

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SVMC Restricts Visitors

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Submitted by SVMC

In response to a sustained surge in cases of COVID-19 throughout Vermont and to mitigate the spread of the virus, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will suspend in-person visits for hospital patients starting Monday, December 13. Visitor restrictions also include the health system’s practices and off-campus offices. Visitation at SVMC and other hospital systems has been restricted during times of increased transmission throughout the pandemic.

The policy has some exceptions:

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Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Restricts Visitors

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In response to a sustained surge in cases of COVID-19 throughout Vermont and to mitigate the spread of the virus, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), part of Southwestern Vermont Health Care (SVHC), will suspend in-person visits for hospital patients starting Monday, December 13. Visitor restrictions also include the health system’s practices and off-campus offices. Visitation at SVMC and other hospital systems has been restricted during times of increased transmission throughout the pandemic. Regional hospitals, including Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and University of Vermont Medical Center, have also initiated visitor restrictions this week.    [Read more…] about Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Restricts Visitors

New Mask Mandate Will Not be Enforced

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by Doug La Rocque

On Friday, December 10, Governor Kathy Hochul announced that mask will be required in all indoor public spaces in New York State, unless a business or venue has a proof of vaccine requirement before entering. The mandate begins on Monday, December 13 and runs through January 15, when it will be reviewed. When issuing the new mandate, Governor Hochul said “ we are entering a time of uncertainty and we could either plateau here or our cases could get out of control. The Governors office issued a statement that says the mandate is aimed at addressing a winter surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, claiming  the number of positive cases since Thanksgiving is up 43% and hospitalizations up 29% over the same time period. Violators could face fines and civil penalties up to a maximum  of $1,000. Under the mandate, local health departments will be in charge of enforcing the requirements.

In Rensselaer County, don’t look for the county health Department to take on the added chore. County Executive Steve McLaughlin’s office has issued the following statement; “This is the wrong direction for the state to be taking, especially given the innumerable orders, policy changes and directives already made during the past two years. This is an overreach and it comes at a time when residents and businesses are already struggling.”

“Residents are already taking common-sense precautions and businesses, organizations and other establishments have been going above and beyond to keep the public and customers safe. Over 80 percent of state residents have already been fully vaccinated.”

“The county Health Department has been providing a seven-day-a-week, round-the-clock response to the pandemic for nearly two years. They are working on contact tracing, immunization clinics and many other duties and do not have the time or resources to deal with yet another state mandate.”

“Rensselaer County will not utilize resources to enforce this new state mandate. If the state wants to enforce the mandate, the state will need to utilize state resources for those actions.”

The County’s Public Health Director Mary Fran Wachusas issued a response to the new regulations as well;

“We are impressed that many residents have already gotten fully vaccinated and are taking reasonable and common-sense steps to deal with the pandemic. Businesses and organizations are also working to keep the public safe and we appreciate the patience and cooperation of the public as we are dealing with the expected and seasonal increase in cases.”

“Our Health Department is already dealing with an increase in contact tracing of cases, conducting three vaccination clinics each week and also handling the many other duties and responsibilities for our department. We simply do not have the staff to deal with the latest mandate by the state or enforcement of the mandate. We will remain focused on our current duties.”

New Lebanon Board Responds To Veteran Tax Exemption

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by Chris Tergliafera

At the December 8 regular meeting of the New Lebanon Central School Board of Education, the board read a prepared statement answering the over 140 district residents who wrote letters asking them to reconsider the their stance and adopt the exemption. The Board stated that while they have the upmost respect for those who have served, they would not discuss the matter further citing the funds for such an exemption would come out of the pockets of others in the community. Read the full story on this and other matters discussed at the meeting in next week’s Eastwick Press.