County hears details of under-wire walkway

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK – Representatives from the Hudson River Valley Greenway hosted a public hearing on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Albany-Hudson Electric Trail (AHET) at Ichabod Crane High School on Wednesday, March 28.

Greenway representative Andy Beers presented the audience with a quick overview of the state funded plan to construct a 35-mile bicycling and pedestrian trail running from Rensselaer County to just outside of Hudson mostly along National Grid rights-of-way. The plan is to complete the trail, which goes through several Columbia County municipalities, in 2020.

“This is a chance for you to give us your comments,” Mr. Beers said of the hearing. Copies of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) were on a table at the meeting and several Greenway staff members and representatives from the engineering firms working on the trail design were there to answer questions before the meeting started. Read more…

A place to turn for help

by DIANE VALDEN

HUDSON—Survivors of abuse have someone on their side.

The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) and the REACH Center (Referrals, Education, Advocacy, Crisis intervention—counseling, Hotline), both programs of the Mental Health Association of Columbia-Greene Counties, are where those who have been abused can find help and support.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Prevention Month and the week of April 8 through 14 is Crime Victims Rights Week, so now is a good time to get acquainted.

The Child Advocacy Center, 946 Columbia Street, was instrumental in the recent successful prosecution of the case of David T. Agan, Jr., who was convicted on all charges in a 136-count indictment January 26. The charges included first degree murder, 15 counts of third degree rape, 92 counts of third degree incest and 28 counts of third degree criminal sex act. Read more…

District asks: Does more kindergarten help some students?

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–How many years of schooling does a child need before first grade in order to master the requirements for entering first grade? Does the answer depend on the child?

These questions are currently relevant to the Hudson City School District (HCSD) because the Middletown Enlarged City School District in Orange County has a two-year kindergarten (2YK) program considered so successful that HCSD officials are studying it to determine whether something similar could benefit HCSD students.

“Hudson is not looking to replicate [Middletown’s] system—just [to] provide more supports for students who are not demonstrating the ability to successfully master the kindergarten program,” Hudson schools Superintendent Maria L. Suttmeier said. And any new program would not come to the district this September because of the need to study its implications thoroughly. Read more…

Hudson students win high praise for gun safety walkout

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–Student voices, the budget, sports, and access to buildings dominated the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education meeting Monday, March 26.

At the meeting were four high school students who led local participation in the March 14 national Walkout for School Safety: Siddique Ahmed, Pierre Jeune, Nadia Miah, and Tahrima Siha.

“I was so proud of them,” said district Superintendent Maria L Suttmeier. “They were respectful of the school. They were not disruptive. They cooperated with the administration. And their voices were elegant. You can hear how thoughtful they are. They have done a great job. They represent the best of the HCSD.” Read more…

ICC says ‘Single Bus’ plan will save quarter-million dollars

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK–The Ichabod Crane School District held a special meeting this week to present the new Single Bus Run Proposal to the community. The proposal would mean that the district’s three school buildings would be on the same bus schedule and kindergarten through 12th grade students would ride the same buses.

The Board of Education would have approve the plan at a board meeting this spring for it to go into effect next year.

All nine board members attended the March 27 along with administrators from all three school buildings and about 30 members of the public. Read more…