News

Hudson Pride march draws big crowd. This year’s Hudson Pride Parade theme, June 16, was “Superheroes.” The parade down Warren Street from 7th Street Park was part of related events organized by OutHudson that ran from Thursday through Sunday. The organization’s mission is to improve the quality of life and advance the visibility of LGBTQ people in Columbia County. The grand marshal this year was Sarah McBride, the National Press Secretary at the Human Rights Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization. Marchers in the parade included Trixie Starr (a/k/a Rich Volo), the director of OutHudson; several of the candidates for the Democratic nomination for the 19th Congressional District; Zephyr Teachout, running for the Democratic nomination for the state attorney general, as well as local businesses and trucks from the Hudson Fire Department. Photo by David Lee

You’ll get a bang out of this

by DIANE VALDEN

United Way sells fireworks, banned here, at river’s edge

HUDSON—It is illegal to buy, sell or possess fireworks in Columbia County.

A Local Law dated June 14, passed by the Columbia County Board of Supervisors declares that fireworks “pose a significant risk to public safety.” For those convicted, fines of $100 to $750 will be imposed depending on the level of the offense.

But will this stop people from buying and setting off firecrackers in the backyard?

United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties Executive Director Brad Poster is betting—even hoping—the Fourth of July tradition wins out. Read more…

G’town has a PD but no cops right now

by DEBBY MAYER

GERMANTOWN—Last month the Town Board approved the hiring of Superintendent Harry J. Corbitt, retired New York State Police superintendent, as a consultant to “conduct a management and feasibility study of the Germantown Police Department.” But the department has already changed.

Supt. Corbitt’s report is expected later this month or in early July, town Supervisor Robert Beaury said after the June 12 Town Board meeting. A discussion of the study is scheduled for the board’s July 10 meeting.

Officer-in-charge of the two-person GPD, Brian DuBois, is on paid administrative leave. Mr. Beaury wrote in a June 19 email: “no further comment.” Read more…

Hudson Flag Day parade photos

by DAVID LEE

Ralph and Dot Avery rode on the back of a classic Buick GS in the Flag Day Parade in Hudson on June 9. Mr. Avery was the Flag Day Parade Grand Marshal. He is a veteran of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944. Photo by David Lee

Read more…

Chatham installs electric vehicle charging station

by STAFF

CHATHAM – Visitors to the Village of Chatham can now charge their electrical vehicles for free at a new charging station. The station is located at the rear of the parking lot at 77 Main Street, adjacent to Chatham Brewing. By installing the charging station among other action items, Chatham earns the designation of a Clean Energy Community by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Maria Lull, Chatham Town Supervisor said, in a press release,“The Town of Chatham’s installation of the Electric Vehicle Charging station provides a spark of creative innovation for the business district of the Town of Chatham and Main Street. By providing this service for visitors and shoppers who are in the area in electric cars, it is anticipated that they will shop and congregate in local eateries while their vehicles are charging. This is a great resource for the Town and Village of Chatham. We have a dedicated Climate Smart Committee that has worked tirelessly to bring economic change to our communities”.

Funding for the vehicle charging station was made possible through a grant from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) Office of Climate Change. Charging will be free for the next two years with a ChargePoint card under this grant. Read more…

This Grange changes with the times

by DIANE VALDEN

Facade of the 116-year-old Copake Grange building at 628 Empire Road. Photos contributed

COPAKE—Copake Grange #935 is back from the brink of extinction.

After years of declining membership and inactivity, people are joining in droves and the group’s upcoming event calendar is bursting with entertainment, sales, food and a festival.

What is going on? Did the Grange suddenly become hip? Read more…