Pictured at a special assembly at Hudson High School on June 7 are (l to r) C-GCC Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management Matthew Green, Hudson Superintendent Lisamarie Spindler, C-GCC President Carlee Drummer, C-GCC Provost George Timmons and Hudson High School Principal Derek Reardon. At the assembly it was announced that the entire HHS Class of 2023 was receiving instant admission to C-GCC for the fall of 2023. Photo by Lance Wheeler

HUDSON—Automatic college acceptances, school shootings and a canceled Regents exam received attention at the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education meeting June 7. At the same meeting, Derek Reardon was designated principal of Hudson High School (See “Hudson taps Reardon…” June 9, Page 3)article). June 7 was the first meeting as Board members for new members Kjirsten Gustavson and Calvin Lewis.

Superintendent Lisamarie Spindler announced that all Hudson High School juniors have been accepted into Columbia-Greene Community College, starting September 2023, provided they graduate from high school. Though they can opt to go to a different college or follow a different path, at least one college has accepted them. Therefore, all students in Hudson’s Class of 2023—“whether their diploma is Regents, local or CDOS (Career Development and Occupational Studies)—will have an opportunity to go to college,” Dr. Spindler said.

Earlier in the day Dr. Spindler announced this to juniors at an assembly with C-GCC President Carlee Drummer and Provost George Timmons. Read more…

COPAKE—The Town Board is considering adopting a local law that would allow board, committee and commission members to participate in meetings via videoconference “under extraordinary circumstances.”

The new Local Law #2 for 2022 was introduced at the board’s June 9 meeting.

The 2022-23 New York State budget bill included “an amendment to the Open Meetings Law (OML) to make permanent (until July 1, 2024) the expanded use of videoconferencing by public bodies to conduct open meetings, under extraordinary circumstances, regardless of a declaration of emergency,” according to a question and answer document on Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022 prepared by the New York State Committee on Open Government (opengovernment.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2022/05/chapter-56-of-the-laws-of-2022-guidance-document-05-20-22.pdf.)

Copake Town Attorney Jonathan Tingley told the board that in-person board meetings must continue to be held and a quorum of board members must be physically present, but if one or two members cannot attend in person due to extraordinary circumstances, the local law would authorize them to do so remotely. The public can also attend any virtual public meeting. Read more…

Pride takes day in stride. On Saturday, June 4 the Hudson Pride Parade was back for its 13th annual celebration. It stepped off from the 7th Street Park at 2 p.m., marched down Warren Street and concluded at Front Street where the Brasskill Brass Band performed an impromptu recital. Grand marshals of the parade were Out Hudson Executive Director Osun Zotique (l) and Hudson Mayor Kamal Johnson. The theme this year was “Out of this World.” Photo by David Lee

In the bucket of a city truck, Mayor’s Aide Michael Hoffmann attached the flag to the pole above the door at Hudson City Hall. Photo by David Lee

HUDSON – A rainbow flag was installed over the door of Hudson City Hall on Friday evening June 3, to acknowledge the commencement of Pride Weekend in Hudson and the newly proclaimed Pride month in the state.

Welcoming the gathering was Common Council President Tom DePietro who introduced Matthew McMorrow, deputy director of Constituency Affairs for Governor Kathy Hochul, who presented Mr. DiPietro with with a proclamation listing advances in the 53 years since the Stonewall riot in New York City and declaring June to be LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Nathaniel Gray, executive director of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, encompassing nine counties, said “We’re 10% of everybody, nobody is trying to dupe you, we’ve always been here, and queer visibility saves lives.” Read more…