News

Dirt alert: Where the green things grow matters. The annual Hudson Black Arts and Culture Festival was held over three days, August 9 through 11. Saturday’s events included a parade down Warren Street and programs at the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. The Arm of the Sea Theater (pictured) presented a puppet show titled “Dirt,” which informed the audience in a creative way on the complex nature and importance of soil to life on the planet. Some rain showers fell as the festival parade proceeded down Warren Street, but not enough to dampen spirits or attendance. Photo by David Lee

The great fish count of ‘19 was held in Germantown

by DAVID LEE

 

The 8th annual Great Hudson River Estuary Fish Count was held Saturday, August 10 at multiple sites along the Hudson River from the Capital Region to New York City. It is conducted by the state Department of Environmental Conservation both as a means of providing a rough census of the creatures that spawn and live in the river and also to teach residents about the river and its inhabitants. Read more…

Hudson grad recalls injury, recovery, athletic success

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–A Hudson High School graduate summarized his trajectory from a near-fatal accident to professional football, two masters degrees, and book writing, at the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education meeting August 6.

The meeting also included possibilities for athletic facilities on the grounds of Montgomery C. Smith Elementary School (MCS).

Leroy Collins, Jr., author of “Running Back: True Story from a Wheel Chair to the NFL,” was born in Hudson and when he was six, a truck hit him. During his long recuperation, when he watched football games, even before he could walk normally again, he decided, “I want to play that!” Play football he did: for Hudson High School–he graduated in 1995, for the University of Louisville, and professionally for four teams from 1999 to 2003. He got a master’s degree in sports management from California University of Pennsylvania, got a master’s degree in sports administration from the same university, and in 2015 stared his own amateur football team. Now 43, he lives in Fulton near Syracuse, works as a personal trainer and a motivational speaker, has written a book, and owns the football team he started: Syracuse Strong. Read more…

K’hook hears plans for new public lands

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK–The Town Board heard proposals for two projects in and around Volunteer Park at the regular monthly town meeting August 5. One was from the Northern Columbia Little League (NCLL) to rebuild the snack bar and storage area at the town park and the other was from the town’s Trail Committee about building lean-tos on property next to the park that the town took ownership of last year.

Last August Town Supervisor Pat Grattan announced at a board meeting that Town Attorney Andrew Howard had presented the board with the final paperwork for the town to take ownership of 77.9 acres owned by the state next to Volunteer Park. He said at another meeting that the state was granting the land to the town at no cost, though the town had to pay some closing costs. At the August 6, 2018 meeting, Mr. Grattan said of uses for the land, “We’ll get the Rec Department on it.”

At that time, Mr. Grattan also pointed out that the new property now gives the town about 100 acres of land at the park, which has baseball and softball fields, as well as basketball courts, soccer fields, a dog park and a playground. Read more…

Robertson named interim NL supervisor

by PETER FLIERL

Former New Lebanon town Supervisor Meg Robertson has been appointed interim supervisor following the resignation of Colleen Teal. Photo by Peter Flierl

NEW LEBANON–“Been there, done that” is an apt description for Interim Town Supervisor Margaret “Meg” Robertson.

In a recent interview at her upstairs office, she was already at work with Town Clerk and supervisor candidate Tistrya Houghtling on Ms. Robertson’s first day as appointed interim supervisor for the Town of New Lebanon. The position also means she will serve as an interim member of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors. Both positions run through December 31, 2019.

Ms. Robertson served two terms as a member of the Town Board from 2000 to 2008 and following that was elected to two terms as town supervisor from 2008 through 2012. Her return to office was brought about by the unexpected resignation of former Supervisor Colleen Teal, who is moving to Virginia to be near her family. The board appointed Ms. Robertson August 12 after Ms. Teal announced her departure. Read more…

New store review gets down to nitty-gritty

by DIANE VALDEN

COPAKE—Despite the unrelenting opposition, the site plan review of a controversial proposed gas station/convenience store in the Craryville hamlet appears to be gaining ground.

GRJH, Inc., a privately-held wholesale gasoline and oil company in Millerton, Dutchess County, proposes to build a new gas station/convenience store on the northwest corner of the state Route 23, County Route 7, Craryville Road intersection.

The 1.7-acre site at the four-way intersection is where the former Craryville supermarket once stood, between the Craryville Post Office to the west and the Craryville United Methodist Church to the east. Read more…