Volunteers participated in a project to decorate 25 holiday trees in the hamlet of Copake Saturday, November 28. The Adopt-A-Tree project was sponsored by a non-profit group called Copake Community Service, Inc. People who wanted to support it contributed $30 towards the lighting of one tree. Many, though not all, of the volunteers gathered for the group photo, above. Photo by David Lee
HUDSON – Hudson Hall, Mayor Kamal Johnson and Columbia County Department of Health DirectorJack Mabb announced Thursday, December 3 that fireworks planned for Saturday, December 5, have been postponed until 2021.
All other activities for Winter Walk: The Hudson Safe Edition will proceed as scheduled.
“Fireworks at Winter Walk have always been something that draws people to city streets. The combination of the shops and restaurants being open coupled with the fireworks made us concerned about the prospects of large gatherings of people and the possible spread of Covid-19 in our community,” Director Mabb said in a press release. “Our department has already seen a bump up in positives as a result of Thanksgiving.” Read more…
HUDSON—Jack Mabb, director of the Columbia County Department of Health said Tuesday that the county has been told to begin preparations for administering a Covid-19 vaccine under Tier 1 of the planned roll-out of the vaccine.
Tier 1 is intended to immunize healthcare workers and other essential personnel, among others. Senior citizens in nursing homes, who are also at high risk of contracting the illness, are supposed to receive their Tier 1 vaccine doses from CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, he said.
Mr. Mabb said the county has recruited nursing students from Columbia-Greene Community College in the effort. Read more…
The Roe Jan Food Pantry Thanksgiving food distribution was Saturday, November 21 at the Hillsdale firehouse. This year recipients had to pack their own boxes, wear masks and have their temperatures taken. Elwin Moore said 144 families signed up—a total of 692 individuals—about the same as in the previous few years. Stewart’s donated milk, Big Y provided bread and baked goods. Groceries were purchased from IGA. Above, Betty White (r) arranged canned goods for pick up. Photo by David Lee
Earth-moving is going on at the site of a new gas station/convenience store in Craryville. Photo by David Lee
CRARYVILLE—Work has begun at the northwest corner of the four-way intersection of state Route 23, county Route 7 and Craryville Road in Craryville, for a 3,240 square-foot convenience store and six-fueling-nozzle gas station on a 1.7-acre parcel between the Craryville Post Office and the Craryville United Methodist Church.
GRJH, the site owner and project applicant had to first clean up an old kerosene spill at the site before construction of the gas station/convenience store could go forward. The project was under review by the Copake Planning Board for two and a half years before it was approved. An Article 78 lawsuit to overturn the board’s approval, filed by Save Craryville, a community coalition opposed to the project, was dismissed.
On the site last week, Island Pump and Tank of Wappingers Falls dug holes for the underground fuel tanks. According to Island Pump and Tank Project Manager Robert Nedwick, their part of the work should be finished in about eight weeks. The station will be operated by Gulf. On site and representing the owner GRJH, Inc., Alicia Metz said that a schedule is entirely weather dependent, but work will continue through the winter.
HUDSON—Ongoing adjustments to the changed world dominated the Hudson City School District Board of Education meeting November 17.
The meeting began with a curriculum workshop for the Junior High School, which has grades 6-8. Teachers Thomas Super and Susan Voellm demonstrated a video math lesson. Principal Derek Reardon presented the results of a survey of 7th graders, in which 48% of respondents said they were learning about the same “during remote lessons compared to regular school”; 34% said they were learning less; and 18% said they were learning more.
Mr. Reardon, who is also district athletic director, announced that the only winter sports that can start practice December 14 are bowling and swimming. The state allows “low to moderate risk sports.” Read more…