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Today's local headlines
Jun 24, 2009 5:56 am
Hudson and Baer continue squabble over DSS, homeless
The city of Hudson continues its battle with Columbia County Board of Supervisors chairman Art Baer. Last night, according to The Register-Star, the Hudson City Common Council voted unanimously to enact a new local law establishing a one year moratorium on the “expansion of existing, and the creation of new, transitional housing and homeless shelters, in excess of four units, within the city.” The vote was meant to trump a recent effort by county officials to convert the historic St. Charles Hotel, on Park Place in Hudson, into a transitional housing facility and Department of Social Services satellite station. The new law now faces a public hearing, and then a likely disapproval from the Columbia County Planning Board, that would then require a super majority vote of the Common Council. And Schoolhouse Rock would then have to turn the whole thing into a song. Members of the Common Council told The Register-Star they would scrap the whole thing if they get a good deal from Baer to use the Charles Williams school, on the corner of Robinson and Second streets, for the homeless shelter. Before he called such negotiations blackmail, but now Baer is chirping about this idea. “(Charles Williams) is a breakthrough, no question about it," Baer said in The Register-Star. "We are not interested in any solution, that in any way, would detract from the viability of the city of Hudson.” The day before, again in The Register-Star, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce officially opposed the hotel plan. And, also in The Register-Star, Columbia County building and facilities Chairman Roy Brown announced that an “Opinion of Cost” solicitation for a Department of Social Services center is being prepared for both the renovation of the former Ockawamick School building and a new, 40,000-square-foot office building and parking garage at Columbia Street and Fourth Street in Hudson. And Brown met with Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney met with Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera about a potential purchase of the One City Center property. Finally, The Register-Star is reporting that Baer is facing something of an insurrection in his home town of Hillsdale, where 85 residents signed a petition to put Baer's bid to buy the former Hillsdale library building for the town up to a vote.
State releases grad data; HCSD four-year rate up
http://educationinhudson.blogspot.com/2009/06/hcsd-grad-rate-up-still-below-statewide.html
Copake expects to become shining example
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/the-news/312-by-diane-valden
Live Tonight:
Black History Curriculum Guide Unveiled. "Been Laborin' Here All These Long Years and Fruits of Our Labor" will be introduced in the auditorium of Montgomery C. Smith Middle School at noon.
The city of Hudson continues its battle with Columbia County Board of Supervisors chairman Art Baer. Last night, according to The Register-Star, the Hudson City Common Council voted unanimously to enact a new local law establishing a one year moratorium on the “expansion of existing, and the creation of new, transitional housing and homeless shelters, in excess of four units, within the city.” The vote was meant to trump a recent effort by county officials to convert the historic St. Charles Hotel, on Park Place in Hudson, into a transitional housing facility and Department of Social Services satellite station. The new law now faces a public hearing, and then a likely disapproval from the Columbia County Planning Board, that would then require a super majority vote of the Common Council. And Schoolhouse Rock would then have to turn the whole thing into a song. Members of the Common Council told The Register-Star they would scrap the whole thing if they get a good deal from Baer to use the Charles Williams school, on the corner of Robinson and Second streets, for the homeless shelter. Before he called such negotiations blackmail, but now Baer is chirping about this idea. “(Charles Williams) is a breakthrough, no question about it," Baer said in The Register-Star. "We are not interested in any solution, that in any way, would detract from the viability of the city of Hudson.” The day before, again in The Register-Star, the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce officially opposed the hotel plan. And, also in The Register-Star, Columbia County building and facilities Chairman Roy Brown announced that an “Opinion of Cost” solicitation for a Department of Social Services center is being prepared for both the renovation of the former Ockawamick School building and a new, 40,000-square-foot office building and parking garage at Columbia Street and Fourth Street in Hudson. And Brown met with Kinderhook Town Supervisor Doug McGivney met with Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera about a potential purchase of the One City Center property. Finally, The Register-Star is reporting that Baer is facing something of an insurrection in his home town of Hillsdale, where 85 residents signed a petition to put Baer's bid to buy the former Hillsdale library building for the town up to a vote.
State releases grad data; HCSD four-year rate up
http://educationinhudson.blogspot.com/2009/06/hcsd-grad-rate-up-still-below-statewide.html
Unmuffled reports that the the Hudson City School District's graduation rate was 66 percent, up seven percent, but still lowest in Columbia County. Other rates: Chatham Central School District, 85 percent; Germantown Central School District, 92 percent; Ichabod Crane Central School District, 82 percent; New Lebanon Central School District, 87 percent; Taconic Hills Central School District, 81 percent. The statewide average was 70.9 percent, according to the New York State Education Department.
Copake expects to become shining example
http://www.columbiapaper.com/index.php/the-news/312-by-diane-valden
The Copake Town Board will install solar panels on the Town Hall roof offsetting 1,246,256 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions over 25 years. Planting 129 acres of trees would have the same effect.
Live Tonight:
Black History Curriculum Guide Unveiled. "Been Laborin' Here All These Long Years and Fruits of Our Labor" will be introduced in the auditorium of Montgomery C. Smith Middle School at noon.