The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Hudson church threat case adjourned until 2025

HUDSON — The case of a Hillsdale man accused of interrupting Mass at St. Mary’s/Holy Trinity Church in April was adjourned until next year in Hudson City Court, the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office said Monday.Cameron Jamieson, 47, was arrested April 15 and initially charged with one count of making a terroristic threat, a class D felony. The felony charge against Jamieson was later reduced to disrupting a religious service, a class A misdemeanor, in August.Jamieson was also charged wi...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Citizens' group wants changes to Hudson city government

HUDSON — A group of city residents are proposing an overhaul to the city government.Robert Rasner, a Hudson resident and former director on the Hudson Development Corporation Board of Directors, detailed proposed changes to the city charter during the Hudson Development Corporation's meeting Tuesday.Rasner is part of a citizen's' initiative to change the structure of city government through the creation of a city manager position.Rasner, along with other city residents, have been working on the...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Candlelight vigil to be held for Hillsdale man fatally shot by state police in Saratoga Springs

COPAKE — A candlelight vigil in honor of James Dellea, the Hillsdale who was shot and killed by an off-duty state trooper Sept. 11 in Saratoga Springs, will be held in Copake this weekend.The goal of the vigil, taking place at Copake Park at 6 p.m. Saturday, is to raise awareness for alternatives to calling 911 for help, such as Daniel’s Law for individuals experiencing a mental health crisis, said Dellea’s daughter Samantha Clark on Wednesday.“Also, for the community to understand that mental h...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Hudson Council OKs city's 2025 $19.7M budget

The budget passed by a 7-2 vote, with 1st Ward Councilmember Margaret Morris and 4th Ward Councilmember Rich Volo voting against the spending plan.Hudson 3rd Ward Councilmembers Shershah Mizan and Lola Roberts were absent from Tuesday’s meeting.The final budget represents a 3.4% increase, or $659,011, over the $19.1 million 2024 budget, and would increase the tax levy by 1.5%, with $5,748,498 to be raised through taxes.Personnel expenses were one of the biggest increases in the budget, with stat...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Saunas reopen at Oakdale Lake in Hudson

Big Towel Spa is in its second year at the lake, and reopened last month after spending roughly a month at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park in April.The company is continuing its community sweat fund to make visits to the saunas more affordable for Hudson residents, but this year the fund uses promotion codes for an easier experience, Big Towel Spa owner Kelly Crimmins said.“I think last year, people had to reach out to us directly to be able to book, but now it can be more self-guided, so it’s like...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 2nd December 2024

Columbia County lodging tax to take effect in January

HUDSON — A lodging tax on short-term rentals in Columbia County is set to take effect in January.The 4% tax applies to all hotels, motels and short-term rentals, such as Airbnb's in the county, and excludes short-term rentals in the city.This is the first time the county would have a lodging tax, and the tax will help the county by acting as an extra source of revenue, said Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell, R-Stockport.“It’s an extra source of revenue that we’re not tapping into or coll...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 26th November 2024

Pro-Palestine rally in Hudson marks ceasefire anniversary

HUDSON — Protesters gathered at 7th Street Park in the city Saturday for a protest to mark the anniversary of the first ceasefire in Gaza.The protest, hosted by Columbia County for Palestine, was held on the one-year anniversary of the first week long ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Nov. 24, 2023.“During that temporary truce, Israel’s killing and wounding of Palestinians in Gaza stopped,” Jim McCabe, an organizer for Columbia County for Palestine, said during Saturday's protest. “More than...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 26th November 2024

Greenport man sentenced to probation in drugs, guns case

HUDSON — Anthony Servider, the Greenport man accused of possessing drugs, was sentenced to five years probation in Columbia County Court on Monday.Servider, 50, entered a plea of guilty to one count of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, a class B felony, before Columbia County Court Judge Michael Howard in October as part of a plea deal.As part of his sentencing, Servider will also have to pay a $375 fine by June 1, 2025.Servider was sentenced based on an agreement betwe...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Stuyvesant bridge replacement plan to move forward

HUDSON — The county Public Works Committee voted down a proposal by the Stuyvesant Bridge Committee to increase public participation in the design process of the historic Stuyvesant Falls bridge.The bridge committee put forward the proposal on increased public participation during its meeting in October.The process proposed by the bridge committee asked for an additional consultant to be brought onto the project for community engagement, as well as a survey for community members to share their v...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Clean Slate Act takes effect in state

ALBANY — The Clean Slate Act, which seals criminal records of individuals with certain misdemeanor or felony convictions, took effect Saturday.Through the law, which was signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul in November 2023, the criminal records of individuals convicted of misdemeanors will be automatically sealed after three years.Individuals with felony convictions will have their records sealed after eight. Convictions related to sex crimes, sexually violent offenses, murder, and nondrug related class...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Columbia County to build 911 call center addition

HUDSON — Construction on an addition to the county’s 911 call center could begin next year after the Columbia County Board of Supervisors authorized a contract for its building during its meeting Wednesday.The county hopes to have the agreement with the general contractor for the project signed by the end of the year, with construction beginning in the spring.The contractors are also open to starting construction on the project before the end of the year Public Works Committee Chairman Ronald Kn...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Hudson's Ferry Street Bridge opening delayed until 2025

HUDSON — The opening of the rebuilt Ferry Street Bridge has been pushed back until 2025 due to delays in parts needed to reconstruct the bridge. The original reopening date was Thanksgiving.Demolition of the bridge to make space for the new span started in June, and the project to replace it is more than halfway completed, Hudson’s Department of Public Works Superintendent Robert Perry said Monday.The bridge's reopening is pushed back until the spring is due to a three-month delivery delay for b...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Catskill board adopts Good Cause Eviction law

CATSKILL — The Catskill Village Board of Trustees approved the Good Cause Eviction law, which prevents tenants from being evicted from rentals without a good reason, during its meeting Wednesday night.The law prevents tenants from being evicted without a cause, and prevents them from being displaced due to unreasonable rent increases or other scenarios in which tenants are not at fault.The village had held two public hearings on the law, with the last one being held Wednesday night prior to the...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Fire damages home in Valatie

Firefighters responded at around 2 p.m. at 1401 Albany Ave. for a reported structure fire.The fire broke out in a storage area underneath the back porch of the house, Loeffler said.The building where the fire started contained apartments, and both of the apartments were occupied at the time of the blaze, but none of the living areas in the building were damaged, Loeffler said.“We were able to contain it to that area [the back porch], which allowed them to still live in the apartments above,” he...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Hochul urges Amtrak to reconsider service changes

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul has urged Amtrak to reconsider its decision to reduce train services between New York City and the Hudson Valley during rehabilitation of the East River tunnels in Penn Station.The service changes went into effect Nov. 11, with three trains on Amtrak’s New York City to Albany Empire Service line being cut.The Adirondack line, which runs between Toronto, Canada and New York City, and Maple Leaf line, which runs between Montreal, Canada and New York City, will combine in...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

GOP's Molinaro concedes NY-19 Congressional race to Riley

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-Catskill, conceded to his Democratic opponent Josh Riley in the race for the state’s hotly contested 19th Congressional District.Molinaro posted a video on social media platform X officially conceding the race Tuesday night. Riley was declared the winner of the election for the seat at around 1:24 a.m. on Nov. 6.Riley’s lead the afternoon of Nov. 6 was less than 4,000 votes, with his total at around 180,528 votes, or 48.99%, versus Molinaro with 176,850 votes...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Hudson school district's' financial chief resigns

“Tabatha Biggane has resigned as chief financial officer of the Hudson City School District,” the district said in a statement Tuesday. “We wish her the best in her future endeavors and are launching a recruitment campaign to fill this position.”The district would not comment on the circumstances surrounding Biggane’s resignation, or how long the process would take to replace her.The Hudson City School District Board of Education approved an employment agreement with Biggane during its regular m...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Hochul announces statewide burn ban as wildfires spread

A statewide burn ban was put in place Tuesday through Nov. 30 as New York continues to experience drought conditions, increased fire risks and 11 wildfires, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday.The ban was put in effect as fire crews from throughout the state continue to battle wildfires in Ulster, Sullivan and Orange counties.“It’s absolutely critical that New Yorkers avoid any outdoor burning at this time,” Hochul said Tuesday during a press conference in Orange County. “We have announced, we’re ann...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Vets honored at ceremony at Columbia-Greene Community College

GREENPORT — Veterans were honored for their service during a ceremony at Columbia-Greene Community College Monday afternoon.The event was attended by students and staff of Columbia-Greene Community College, as well as members of the public and active-duty military personnel and veterans.Columbia-Greene Community College President Carlee Drummer reflected on the life of her father-in-law, Roy Drummer, who served as a mission corporal in the U.S. Army during the invasion of French North Africa dur...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Veterans honored at Hudson parade and ceremony

HUDSON — Hundreds of community members gathered in Hudson on Monday to honor and pay tribute to veterans during the annual Veterans Day Parade and ceremony.The parade began with a wreath-laying ceremony in 7th Street Park, and continued down Warren Street before turning down 4th Street and ending at the Columbia County Courthouse.Spectators gathered around the courthouse to pay respect to the veterans who protected the country throughout several wars.Hudson American Legion Post 184 Commander Eri...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Incumbents Barrett, Bendett hold onto seats in Assembly

Incumbent Democratic Assembly member Didi Barrett defeated Republican opponent Stephan Krakower in the race for the 106th state Assembly seat.Barrett was reelected with 38,734 votes, or 54.21% of the total, while Krakower pulled in 29,378 votes, or 41%, as of Wednesday afternoon, according to unofficial results from the state Board of Elections.“I want to thank the voters of the 106th Assembly District for this solid victory,” Barrett said in a statement. “I love this beautiful district and it r...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Fire damages historic building in New Lebanon

Firefighters responded at about 10:50 a.m. Monday to a fire at 8 Cherry Lane for a reported structure fire.Officials believe the fire started on the second floor of the building, and following an investigation, its cause was undetermined, Lebanon Valley Protective Association Chief Steve Houghtling said Friday.Roughly a dozen fire companies responded to the blaze, and it took five to six hours to extinguish it.After the fire, the building was deemed uninhabitable due to damage to its roof, Hough...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Mayor proposes $19.7M Hudson budget with 1.5% tax hike

The budget represents a 3.4% increase, or $659,011, over the $19.1 million 2024 budget, and would increase the tax levy by 1.5%, with $5,748,498 to be raised through taxes.A public hearing on the proposed budget will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 21.To keep the city's tax levy below its 2.3% cap, roughly $800,000 was borrowed from the fund balance, Johnson said during the meeting.“We know that every dollar matters, and by making these adjustments, we’re ensuring that our residents feel the smallest pos...

The Daily Gazette Family of Newspapers • 25th November 2024

Hinchey wins reelection to Senate 41st District seat

Both from Ulster County, Hinchey took 56.59% of the vote, with 98,186 votes. Sheehan pulled in 69,953 votes and 40.32% of the electorate, according to the state Board of Election.“We built a campaign focused on opportunity, on the future we deserve in the Hudson Valley, on our record of fighting for what matters to our communities and our work to consistently get things done that make life better for all of us,” Hinchey said in a statement. “We also built a campaign that decisively fought back a...