Brian Nearing reports for the Albany Times Union that officials from Rensselaer, Columbia and Dutchess counties, and local environmental leaders, will meet Dec. 15 in Germantown to talk about a proposal by Amtrak to block off seven pedestrian crossings to the Hudson River. Amtrak wants to fence off seven pedestrian crossings between Stuyvesant in Columbia County and Rhinecliff in Dutchess County at Stockport Creek, Anchorage Road in Germantown, Germantown Park, Chevoit, Tivoli, and Rhinebeck. "Increasing peoples' access to the Hudson River is central to formal goals of New York state and riverfront communities and is obviously a high priority for Scenic Hudson," said Jeffrey Anzevino, director of land use advocacy for the conservation group that is sponsoring the meeting. "Amtrak has proposed imposing, eight-foot tall impasse fencing and locked gates at several locations along its rail line. If constructed as proposed, people will no longer be able to fish, boat, swim and view the river at several of these locations," he said. The Scenic Hudson forum is at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 15 at the Kellner Community Activities Center, 50 Palatine Park Road, in Germantown. Kaare Christian, of the Germantown Waterfront Advisory Committee, is among the scheduled speakers. Read the full story in the Albany Times Union.