Town eyes more help to feed hungry

by DIANE VALDEN

ANCRAM—Signs that the pandemic is easing are all around, yet people are still hungry.

The Ancramdale Neighbors Helping Neighbors Association (ANHNA) has been around since 2003. It became a full-fledged not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation in 2009. One of the group’s initiatives is a food distribution program for local residents who find themselves unable to provide enough nourishment for their families.

At the April 15 Ancram Town Board meeting, Councilman David Boice said he recently spoke with ANHNA Co-chair Jack Lindsey about how the Town Board might help the group continue to help Ancram residents. Read more…

K’hook puts new solar plan on ice for now

by EMILIA TEASDALE

VALATIE—The Kinderhook Town Board tabled a motion to approve proposed zoning regulations on solar farms Monday night.

The board also voted to condemn the recent statements made on social media by a councilperson.

There were five public hearings on proposed local laws set for the May 3 meeting. The board held an in-person meeting in the gym at the Martin H. Glynn Municipal Building with just under 50 attendees. Everyone wore masks and there was a sign-in for Covid-19 contact tracing. Read more…

Ja, das ist gut

by DAVID LEE

Clermont State Historic Site, 1 Clermont Avenue, presented a Palatine Cooking Demonstration Saturday, April 24. The presenter was Katherine Weller (l) who is the director of education and visitor services for the New York State Museum. She brought books of 18th century German recipes, or ‘receipts’ as they were known, and created chocolate soup, good onion soup, codfish and apples folded in pastry dough, all but the latter cooked in cast iron kettles over open flames. According to Clermont Historic Site Manager Susan Boudreau, this was the first larger event the site has held since the beginning of the pandemic, and she foresees that they will be slowly opening back up. The annual Chancellor’s Sheep and Wool Festival will be held over the next three Saturdays, each with a smaller number of vendors and performers. Programs are at reduced or no cost in these reopening weeks. Photo by David Lee

Hudson’s summer school expands to meet the need

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON—Summer school and evolving requirements received attention at the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education meetings April 13 and 20.

The district is expanding summer school to serve kindergarten through 12th grade, Superintendent Maria L. Suttmeier and Assistant Superintendent of School Improvement April Prestipino announced. In recent years, it has served only 6th through 12th grade. But now, more students in all grades need to make up for the past year’s “learning loss” and get set for the next grade, Dr. Suttmeier said. With the increased summer enrollment, the district will provide buses to summer school.

Even in the regular school year, Business Administrator Jesse Boehme reported the need to increase bus runs, telling the board, “we’re bringing in more” junior and senior high school students. Eleventh and twelfth graders now have the option of coming to school in person twice a week. And Dr. Suttmeier has reported that about 50 junior high students who were judged insufficiently responsive have started coming in four days a week. Read more…

Taconic Hills opts for no hike in school levy

by LORNA CHEROT LITTLEWAY

CRARYVILLE—The Taconic Hills School District (THSD) Board of Education considered four budget plans this year, three of which called for various tax levy increases ranging from 0.62% to 1.92% and one plan with no levy increase at all. In the end, the board adopted a proposed budget of slightly more than $38.9 million with 0% tax levy increase for the 2021-2022 school year.

A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. and school district voters decide whether to approve the budget on Tuesday, May 18. Both the public hearing and election will be held at the THSD Performing Arts Center.

State aid to the district is up $281,777 or 2.26% compared to the current year. Also, THSD receives $512,037 in federal Cares Act Restoration funding. BOCES aid drops considerably by $87,703 or nearly 15.3% while spending on software, library and text books decreases by $5,292 or almost 5%. Read more…