Tiffany Greenwaldt-Simon

New Lebanon voters approve walkable downtown project

NEW LEBANON — Town residents voted Tuesday to move forward with a project to revitalize its downtown in a referendum.The project was approved by a 348-259 vote, allowing the town to proceed with the project.“I’m happy the people spoke loud and clear, there was a large margin," Town Supervisor Tistrya Houghtling said Thursday. "It wasn’t close. It was what I expected based on what I heard during the one-year public input process, where there were people opposed but still strong support.”According...

Citizens' group hosts meeting to present Hudson city government changes

HUDSON — The citizens' group proposing an overhaul of city government held a community meeting Wednesday night to answer questions about its plan.The meeting, held at the Hudson Area Library, was attended by over 50 Hudson residents seeking more information on the changes to the city charter the group is proposing.Elected officials, including Common Council members and members of the county Board of Supervisors, also attended the meeting.The proposed changes to the city charter include the creat...

HEAP benefits run out; Twin Counties ready for uptick in emergency requests

The Home Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program designed to help low-income people heat and cool their homes in the winter and summer stopped taking applications for the state administered assistance program. Kira Pospesel, commissioner of the Greene County Department of Social Services, said she received a message from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance [OTDA], which oversees the program, that the application process is closed for the remainder of the year.An...

Leeds, Hudson chefs nominated for James Beard Awards

Efren Hernández, executive chef at Casa Susanna in Leeds, and Shaina Loew-Banayan, chef and owner of Café Mutton in Hudson, were both announced Wednesday as semifinalists for the James Beard Awards under the Best Chef: New York State category for 2025.The awards, established in 1990, are considered one of the most highly regarded culinary honors, and recognizes leaders in the culinary industry dedicated to creating exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, according to the J...

Hudson Common Council reconsiders harassment law

The law was slated to be voted on during the council’s regular meeting Tuesday, but instead the measure was put back onto council members' desks for reconsideration.The law was first introduced at the Nov. 19 Common Council meeting, and a revised version was introduced at the council’s Dec. 9 informal meeting.According to the proposed law, all city officers included in the City Charter, and additionally their staff, are protected by the law. The City Charter includes members of the Common Counci...

HEAP funding restored by governor

The Home Energy Assistance Program, a federally funded program designed to help low-income people heat and cool their homes in the winter and cool in the summer, will reopen applications Saturday after Gov. Kathy Hochul reallocated state funds towards the program, a spokesperson said Friday.“Follow a shortfall in federal funding that resulted in the temporary closure of regular HEAP [Home Energy Assistance Program] applications, Governor Hochul stepped in to reallocate $35 million in funds and e...

Troopers: Claverack man turns self in in Philmont assault case

PHILMONT — A man suspected of being involved in a gang assault in the village was arrested, according to State Police.William M. Metz, 34, of Claverack, turned himself in to investigators at New York State Police headquarters in Livingston Saturday, State Police said in a press release.Metz was charged with first-degree gang assault, a class B felony, and second-degree assault, a class D felony. He was arraigned in Claverack Town Court and remanded to Columbia County Jail on $25,000 cash bail or...

Hundreds march in Hudson against Trump, Project 2025

HUDSON — Hundreds of people took to the city's streets Saturday as part of the national People’s March, two days before the inauguration of President Donald Trump.The march was held in conjunction with others taking place across the country, including Washington, D.C. and New York City.Hudson’s event began in 7th Street Park with a brief rally, before traveling down Warren Street to Promenade Hill Park. In 7th Street Park, marchers were joined by local elected officials and representatives from...

Service held to honor MLK Jr. at Hudson church

The service was attended by multiple state and local elected officials, and followed the 2025 theme for the holiday outlined by The King Center, the nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing King’s legacy, which focused on achieving change through nonviolent actions.Keynote speaker the Rev. Paulette Adams, of Payne African Methodist Episcopal Church in Chatham, spoke about King’s legacy during the service Sunday.“He had a message that could pull anybody together,” she said. “That made him da...

Police look for suspect in alleged Philmont assault

PHILMONT — Police are searching for a man who was allegedly involved in a gang assault in the village last week.State police issued an arrest warrant for William M. Metz, 34, of Claverack, on charges of first-degree gang assault, a class B felony, and second-degree assault, a class D felony.The warrant for Metz's arrest was issued after troopers responded to reports of an assault on Main Street in Philmont at about 2:40 a.m. on Jan. 10.A person found at the scene with multiple injuries reported...

Hudson KeyBank branch closing in April

HUDSON — The remaining KeyBank branch in the city will be closing in April to consolidate with the branch in Greenport, a representative from the company said.The KeyBank location at One Hudson City Centre will close April 11. The branch is scheduled to consolidate with the 160 Fairview Ave. branch, Regional Communications Manager Matthew Pitts said in an email.All employees at the Hudson City Centre location will be moved to positions at other KeyBank locations, Pitts said.“All of our teammates...

JOANN Fabric files for bankruptcy a second time

JOANN’s has over 800 stores across the country, including one in the Fairview Shopping Center in Greenport. The company has not announced any store closures, and said in a press release that stores and the company’s website will remain open to serve customers throughout the bankruptcy process.Employees will also continue to receive their pay and benefits.“On behalf of the board and leadership, I want to thank the thousands of JOANN team members across the nation for their dedication to our custo...

Hudson Common Council appoints new Columbia County supervisor

HUDSON — The Common Council appointed Randall Martin, a member of the city’s Planning Board, to fill the vacant 1st Ward supervisor position on the county Board of Supervisors during a special meeting Friday night.Martin was appointed to the board by a 7-3 vote, with 4th Ward Councilmembers Jennifer Belton and Rich Volo voting against the resolution to appoint Martin.First Ward Councilmember Margaret Morris also voted against the resolution, and 1st Ward Councilmember Gary Purnhagen abstained fr...

Hudson's water replenishing after line freezes, breaks

HUDSON — The city's water tank is being replenished after water line breaks and leaks led to the water plant losing water over the past week, Department of Public Works Superintendent Rob Perry said Friday.The city asked residents to conserve water at the end of December due to the water plant losing water at a high rate, signifying a break in a water line somewhere in Hudson.Since then, multiple buildings and one street line were found to have leaking or burst water lines. The city identified 1...

Ichabod Crane starts process for capital project, first in seven years

VALATIE — The Ichabod Crane Central School District is in the early stages of the design phase of its first proposed capital project since 2018.The school district will host a referendum on the proposed project in December of this year, and started gathering community input on the project through a survey conducted by the district last year in support of its Rider Goals 2027.“This helped us articulate an instructional vision to drive the early stages of this work,” Superintendent of Schools Mari...

Hudson 7th Street Park rehab project to go out to bid

HUDSON — The nonprofit organization behind the rehabilitation of the city’s 7th Street Park is beginning the process of renovating the park.Friends of the Public Square announced Tuesday a contract for the renovations to the park will be going out to bid. The bidding process is expected to last 30 days.The bid documents were produced by Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects, and included collaboration between Friends of the Public Square, Mayor Kamal Johnson, and the city’s Department of Public...

Firefighter saves dog as blaze destroys home in Hudson

No injuries were reported during the fire, A.B. Shaw Fire Company Chief Brennen Keeler said Monday..“He [a firefighter] entered the building while it was still on fire and grabbed the dog,” he said. “As of a little while ago [Monday morning], the dog is doing good.”Firefighters responded at about 4:47 p.m. Sunday to a reported structure fire at 101 Route 217.“The fire had a good start,” Keeler said. “There was a heavy fire load on the A, B and C sides of the house.”Firefighters decided to tackle...

State denies Copake's motion to stop Shepherd's Run

COPAKE — The state Office of Renewable Energy Siting rejected the town’s attempt to have Hecate's application for the Shepherd’s Run Solar Project denied.The town filed its motion urging the rejection of the solar project in December, and the Office of Renewable Energy Siting’s decision on the motion was handed down last week.Copake was seeking to have the project rejected over issues related to the amount of time Hecate gave in its second notice to reapply for the project.The town’s motion, sen...

Galvan challenges city property assessments

HUDSON — The Galvan Initiatives Foundation is contesting the assessments of some of its properties in the city.The foundation filed an Article 7 tax proceeding in July 2024 against the city, the city’s Board of Assessment Review, and the tax assessor. The tax proceedings cover 10 properties in Hudson and amounts to a combined $1.6 million decrease in the assessed values of the properties.The foundation is seeking a lower the assessed value for the properties, alleging the 2024 final assessments...

Planned roadwork concerns Hillsdale residents

The two roads, Texas Hill Road and Appletree Lane, have gravel surfaces, which the town plans to chip seal in August as one of a number of projects by the town Highway Department. Chip sealing a road refers to placing an adherent on the surface of an unpaved road and reapplying pieces of gravel to the adherent. As the road is driven on, the gravel is pushed into the surface, creating a layer of protection.Initially, the board voted to approve the funding for all of the Highway Department's proje...

Columbia County undersheriff running for sheriff's seat

HUDSON — Columbia County Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore has announced her bid for the county sheriff’s position following Sheriff Donald Krapf's decision to not seek reelection.Salvatore, who was appointed to the undersheriff position by Krapf in 2022, announced her candidacy for the position Thursday morning.Salvatore’s first priority, if elected, will be to continue protecting public safety in Columbia County, she said in a statement.“As your sheriff, I will work tirelessly to keep our comm...

March against Project 2025 set for Saturday

HUDSON — A group of activists will take to Warren Street on Saturday to rally against proposed policies outlined in Project 2025 as part of the national People’s March.The march will step off from 7th Street Park on Saturday at noon and continue down Warren Street to Promenade Hill Park.Warren Street will be partially closed as the rally proceeds down the street, organizer and member of Third Act Upstate New York Michael Richardson said Thursday.“We’ll stop the cross traffic two blocks in advanc...

Stuyvesant man gets plea deal in burglary case

HUDSON — A Stuyvesant man arrested last July in connection with burglaries in the town of Kinderhook pleaded guilty to burglary as part of a plea deal offered by the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office.Corey Hinz, 35, appeared in Columbia County Court on Wednesday to enter his guilty plea before Judge Brian Herman.As part of the deal, Hinz pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree burglary, a class C felony. Through the plea deal, Hinz could serve up to six years in state prison with t...
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