Write-ins fill empty seats on Hudson school board

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–City of Hudson resident Justin Elliott was elected by write-in to join the Board of Education in the May 21 school vote. He will take his seat on the board effective July 1.

Mr. Elliott’s most recent involvement in the Hudson City School District (HCSD) has been coaching the football team and volunteering at his son’s pre-kindergarten class. But, he said at the Board’s election night meeting, he has lived in Hudson all his life, received his education in the HCSD, and graduated from Hudson High School in 2006. He works as a dispatcher for the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. On the Board, he hopes to work to “create a better environment for the kids, to show the kids that the community supports them,” and to encourage “more community involvement.” This includes more people at sports games. As a coach, he has seen “kids react differently when nobody shows up than when the bleachers are full.” Read more…

Veteran to receive medal delayed half a century

by DAVID LEE

Private First Class Ronald K. Jablanski in his Marine uniform in 1969. Photo contributed

HUDSON–A special event will be conducted on Saturday at the Elks Lodge in Hudson to present a long overdue award to a Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran former Private First Class Ronald K. Jablanski. The award is a Bronze Star with Valor device for his leadership and courage during combat operations in 1969.

The citation, which is signed on behalf of the President of the United States by Marine Corps Commandant General Robert Neller, will be read by Command Sergeant Major Gary Flaherty of Canaan, and the award will be presented by Army Colonel Todd Traver, who is from Chatham and is currently stationed in Atlanta, GA.

Mr. Jablanski was a rifleman in Company L of the Third Battalion, Third Marines, Third Marine Division. The regiment was deployed to Quang Tri Province just south of the Demilitarized Zone for an action called Operation Idaho Canyon. The citation gives an account of the events of September 17, 1969. Company L was establishing a perimeter and the lead platoon came under fire from a concealed North Vietnamese Army force, pinning down the point men. Read more…

Which way lies Hudson’s future?

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–The Future Hudson gathering in the Hudson Area Library community room May 18 featured five guest speakers, each with a different angle on “economic development.” Future Hudson describes itself as a series of events to “inspire conversations with forward-thinking people.” Common threads at this meeting included the importance of funds and the failure of many opportunities to reach the people they were intended to help.

Speakers included Michelle Hughes of Rolling Grocer 19, Kendra Home of the community development organization RUPCO, Kevin Irby an investor, Maureen Boutin of Workforce New York, and Linda Kelly of Pittsfield’s Westside Neighborhood Initiative. Todd Erling, executive director of the Hudson Valley Agribusiness Development Corp., moderated the event.

“We feel everyone deserves to eat the best food,” said Ms. Hughes. Rolling Grocer 19 sells fresh and organic groceries, priced based on the customer’s economic status, from its store on Second Street in Hudson. Seeking “fair food for Columbia County,” it started last fall in a traveling trailer and settled later into the brick-and-mortar store. This summer, in addition to keeping the store, it plans to send the trailer to other parts of the county, possibly including New Lebanon. “We’re looking to be here for the long haul,” said Ms. Hughes. Read more…

In Ancram projection plan meets objections

by DIANE VALDEN

ANCRAM—Could Ancram be greener?

Hard to imagine this Climate Smart Community could get any smarter, but Steve Olyha thinks he knows how.

Mr. Olyha, a member of the town’s Finance Committee and chair of the Zoning Board of Appeals, came before the Town Board at its May 16 meeting to pitch his idea to equip the conference and meeting rooms at Town Hall with wireless projectors. Read more…

Chatham voices mixed messages on rentals

by EMILIA TEASDALE

OLD CHATHAM–The Town Board hosted a public hearing on the proposed new zoning law May 23 at the Tri-Village Fire House. This is the fourth public hearing on the proposed law dating back to August 2018 and one of many meetings where the proposal was discussed.

Though most of the comments at last week’s meeting regarded short-term rental (STR) regulations, some people were there to discuss other parts of the proposed law, especially the section on enforcement.

Five people urged the board to pass the proposed new law, pointing out that STRs, like the ones offered online by Airbnb, are currently illegal in the town since there are no zoning laws governing them. They pointed out that changes could be made once the law is passed. Read more…