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JOB TRAINING FUNDS DRY UP
07-21-10- At a time when unemployment offices across New York State can expect a large influx of education workers looking for work, the amount of job training funds will be significantly less. |
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BRIDGES CONTINUE TO CRUMBLE
07-15-10- The latest evidence of the state’s crumbling infrastructure can be found in Hudson where the main entrance to the Hudson waterfront has been closed and reopened after temporary repairs. |
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FERRY ROAD CROSSING TO REMAIN OPEN... FOR NOW
07-10-10- Work will move ahead on the Ferry Road and Ice House Road railroad crossing upgrades in the Town of Stuyvesant, even while the state determines the ultimate fate of Ferry Road. |
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NEW VOTING SYSTEM BRINGS NEW COSTS TO COUNTY
07-11-10- Columbia County officials are finding it is expensive to comply with the state’s new voting mandates. |
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CRANDELL THEATRE SET TO REOPEN
07-02-10- After six months of darkness, the curtain is set to rise at the Crandell Theatre July 9. |
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STOCKPORT HOUSING PROJECT MOVES FORWARD
07-01-10- The county’s first large-scale residential development in some time cleared another hurdle recently and is moving toward completing the regulatory process. |
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JUNE 2010 |
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NEW AMBULANCE SERVICE TO BE CHOSEN SOON
06-28-10 - A new ambulance service for the northeastern portion of Columbia County could be chosen by the end of July, an official told ccSCOOP. |
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LAW CLEARS WAY FOR FARMLAND PROTECTION
06-19-10 - A new law will make it easier for farmers and land conservancies to preserve land, but the state’s dire financial straits have put any further farmland conservation efforts on hold. |
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FINDING LOCAL PRODUCE IN SUPERMARKETS
06-13-10 - You can buy local produce at farmers' markets and farm stands, but how about in the venues where most Columbia County residents do their shopping: supermarkets? |
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FLOWERS TO POWER THE PARK
06-10-10 - On Sunday, May 23, the Hillsdale Firehouse was transformed into a country garden for a benefit luncheon to raise money to bring electricity to Roeliff Jansen Park. |
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PROPOSED GHENT TRANSFER STATION RAISES CONCERN
06-09-10 - A proposal to construct a transfer station . . . in Ghent has raised concerns and triggered some to paper the town with flyers claiming that the transfer station will be actually be a dump. |
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HUDSON RIVER TRAIL CONSTRUCTION
06-08-10 - A trail connecting the Greenport Conservation Area with Harrier Hill Park in the Town of Stockport could be constructed later this year, Scenic Hudson officials say. |
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TRAFFIC ISSUES RAISE IRE IN GREENPORT
06-07-10 - Even as more businesses plan to open up in town, town officials are continuing to deal with concerns over traffic, especially that generated by the Greenport Commons shopping area. |
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"PARK DEAL WILL HURT COLUMBIA COUNTY"
06-01-10 - The deal that led to the Memorial Day opening of state parks and historic sites will have an adverse impact on county conservation programs, officials said. |
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RIVER ACCESS HEARING RECORD REMAINS OPEN
05-26-10 - No work will be undertaken on railroad crossing upgrades on Ice House or Ferry roads in Stuyvesant until an administrative law judge issues a recommendation on the future of Ferry Road. |
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ROE JAN LIBRARY WILL GROW WITH THE COMMUNITY
05-21-10 - The new Roeliff Jansen Library is going to have pizzazz—as well as LEED certification. Just beyond the inside entrance area, there is a domed rotunda that may be finished with Venetian plaster. |
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COUNTY CONSOLIDATION PLAN READY TO LEAVE THE GATE
05-21-10 - With consolidation the buzz word in state and national government and transportation services askew in Columbia County, the county’s transportation services should be consolidated. . . . |
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KOHL'S STORE NOT OFF THE TABLE YET
05-15-10 - A month after losing out on its second bid for a tax abatement for a Greenport store, the Kohl’s Department Store has still not pulled its building permit or sought a return of its $10,000. |
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DOT HEARING IN STUYVESANT
05-15-10 - No immediate closing of the Ferry Road CSX crossing in Stuyvesant will take place and there are no plans for the state to take ownership of the homes on that road. |
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CRANDELL THEATRE SALE IN WORKS
05-13-10 - The Chatham Film Club has apparently lost out on its bid to purchase the Crandell Theatre, but officials are still hopeful that the historic theater will remain home to the FilmColumbia Festival. |
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GREENPORT: NO DEADLY INTERSECTIONS WELCOME
05-05-10 - A disagreement between the NYS Department of Transportation and Town of Greenport over the need for traffic lights at a pair of proposed intersections harkens back to decades of battles. . . . |
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VISITORS TO PAY MORE AT LAKE TAGHKANIC
05-04-10 - Visitors to Lake Taghkanic State Park will have to dig a little deeper into their pockets this summer as a result of the latest state action impacting users and visitors to state parks. |
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HOME SALES INCREASE 43 PERCENT
05-04-10 - Home sellers in Columbia County have benefitted from the apparent turnaround in the economy and the first-time home buyers tax credit. |
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HIGHWAY PROBLEMS GO UNRESOLVED
04-26-10 - A combination of bureaucracy and Mother Nature spell a one-two punch for motorists and landowners along a . . . picturesque route to Albany. |
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THE FUTURE OF CLERMONT
04-25-10 - A plan to fund the operation of the Clermont State Historic Site with a “loan” from the state's Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) could result in the closure of the site. . . . |
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NEIGHBORHOOD OPPOSITION MOUNTS IN GREENPORT
04-22-10 - A report listing 911 calls reporting dozens of incidents ranging from sex abuse to drug possession at the Mental Health Association's Columbia Street Residence in Hudson. . . . |
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MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY DRAWS FIRE IN GREENPORT
04-16-10 - A proposal to locate two residential facilities for the mentally ill in the Town of Greenport has drawn the opposition of the Town Board and the outrage of residents. . . . |
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RIVER ACCESS BATTLE HEATS UP AGAIN IN STUYVESANT
04-10-10 - The nearly two-decade-old search for a solution to the question of how to bring high speed rail to New York State while assuring river access in the Nutten Hook . . . is about to begin anew. |
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PROPOSED O&G ROAD HITS A POTHOLE
03-07-10 - After the second consecutive month of discussions over traffic, speed, and sight distances at the intersections of the proposed O&G truck route. . . . |
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KOHL'S TO COME BEFORE THE IDA AGAIN
03-07-10- Despite being rejected by the County IDA last month, a PILOT agreement for the proposed Kohl’s store in Greenport is not off the table yet. |
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GREENPORT HOTEL PROJECT ADVANCES
03-07-10 - On March 23, the Greenport Town Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the hotel and entertainment complex proposed for the former V&O Press Building on Route 66 on Greenport. |
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STATE BUDGET WOES PAINT BLEAK PICTURE FOR OLANA
02-20-10 – Under a new plan announced by Governor David Paterson and the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the Olana State Historic Site would close two days a week. |
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TWO HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS PROPOSED
02-17-10 - Local enterprise is answering the call for alternative sources of energy with two hydroelectric plants proposed for the neighboring towns of Stockport and Stuyvesant. |
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SIXTH ANNUAL SNOW BALL
02-16-10 - The Sixth Annual Snow Ball, an event produced by the Columbia-Greene Hospital Foundation to benefit the Kaaterskill Care Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, was held Friday, February 5. . . . |
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MAJOR HOUSING PROJECT BACK AGAIN
02-08-10 - After another hiatus, the 112-unit housing development proposed for the hamlet of Stottville will once again go before the town Planning Board. |
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IDA REJECTS KOHL'S PILOT APPLICATION
02-05-10 - Despite a resolution unanimously passed by the Board of Supervisors . . . the Columbia County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) this morning rejected the Kohl’s application. |
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VILLAGE MUST REDUCE ITS WASTEWATER DISCHARGE
02-03-10 - The Village of Chatham will have to reduce its use of the wastewater system, regardless of whether or not any additional facilities or residences are attached to the system. |
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ECONOMY THROWS CURVEBALL TO BASEBALL CAMP
01-31-10 - Developers of a massive baseball-themed sports camp in Greenport and Livingston threw a changeup to the Greenport Planning Board . . . seeking to alter the already approved site plan. . . . |
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TAGHKANIC CELEBRATES
10-24-10 - On Saturday night, the jubilant residents of Taghkanic gathered at the Tin Ballroom over Vince Mulford's antiques shop in Hudson to celebrate two victories. . . . |
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IT ISN'T OVER UNTIL IT'S OVER
01-14-10 - It was a long day, alternating between court proceedings . . . and ballot counting . . . , but at the end of the day, the outcome for the Democratic candidates of Taghkanic was favorable. |
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IS THERE A KOHL'S IN OUR FUTURE?
01-12-10 - Late Monday afternoon, the Planning and Economic Development Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors gathered for a special meeting to hear Marco Marzocchi. . . . |
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KIDS IN THE KITCHEN NO MORE
01-10-10 - We have all heard about inner-city kids who think that food comes from the supermarket and whose experience of food is limited to fast food and processed food. |
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JUDGE RULES AGAINST WILZIG "SPORTING COURSE"
01-08-10 - A New York State Supreme Court Justice has issued an injunction barring the construction, completion, and use of the controversial Wilzig racetrack/sporting course in the Town of Taghkanic. |
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HELP WITH THE HEATING BILL
01-04-10 -
Some are emergency calls to fill an empty fuel oil tank. Others are requests to replace a broken furnace which is the only defense against the biting cold. |
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NEVER ASSUME
12-30-09 - Those who gathered in Judge Jonathan Nichols’ courtroom to follow the saga of the challenged absentee ballots from Taghkanic learned the truth of that maxim today. |
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THE RIGHT TO VOTE IN TAGHKANIC
12-29-09 - It was their end-of-year meeting, but before the Taghkanic Town Board got down to year-end business . . . there were two resolutions to consider—both . . . having to do with the right to vote. |
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CONUNDRUM FOR GREENPORT HOTEL PROJECT
12-27-09 - The developer doesn’t want to proceed without the blessing of the Planning Board; the Planning Board doesn’t want to sanction the project without a complete environmental study. |
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DSS CLAIMS SKYROCKET
12-23-09 - The number of people seeking public assistance in Columbia County increased dramatically this year, causing the county's largest department to overspend its budget. |
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JUSTICES RULE IN CHALLENGED BALLOT CASE
12-18-09 - As anticipated, the panel of five Appellate Division justices ruled today in the case of the challenged absentee ballots from the Town of Taghkanic. |
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GHENT PLANNERS LOOK AT PRICE CHOPPER PROPOSAL
12-18-09 - “Increase traffic on Route 66 as little as possible.” That's the message delivered by the Ghent Planning Board to the developers of the proposed new Price Chopper store. . . . |
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CHALLENGED BALLOT CASE HEARD IN APPELLATE COURT
12-17-09 -
In a setting very different from the makeshift courtroom at the Hudson Elks Club, the case of the challenged absentee ballots . . . was taken up on Wednesday, December 16. . . . |
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ANCRAM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BACK ON THE MOVE
12-16-09 - With Art Bassin as Ancram Town Supervisor come January, one of the first items the Town Board is expected to take up is the comprehensive plan he helped shepherd through. . . . |
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WILZIG COURT RULING STILL PENDING
12-13-09 - A decision on the fate of Alan Wilzig’s proposed sporting course/racetrack in Taghkanic is still in the offing, months after legal challenges were filed with the courts. |
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YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE
12-13-09 - On November 24, a proposal to revive a disused gravel path from the Holcim quarry in Greenport to the deep-water dock on the Hudson was presented to the Greenport Planning Board. |
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NINE MORE VOTES COUNTED FOR TAGHKANIC
12-09-09 - On Monday afternoon and again on Tuesday afternoon, absentee and affidavit ballots from Taghkanic that were challenged for reasons other than residency were considered. . . . |
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READER'S VIEW: NOT MY IDEA OF DEMOCRACY
12-07-09 - My name is Adolf Meier. Everyone calls me “Red.” I am an 86-year-old, life-long registered Republican, and I have the misfortune of living in the Town of Taghkanic, Columbia County, NY. |
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THE BALLOT BATTLE CONTINUES
12-05-09 - On Friday, December 4, Judge Jonathan A. Nichols rendered a decision in the case of the challenged absentee ballots from Taghkanic. |
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AND THE WINNERS ARE . . .
12-03-09 - This morning the absentee ballots for Ancram, Austerlitz, Claverack, and Stuyvesant were counted. |
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THE ISSUE IS RESIDENCY
12-02-09 – Observers crowded into a small courtroom on the first floor of the Columbia County Courthouse on Wednesday afternoon. . . . |
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NEXT STEP TAKEN FOR GREENPORT HOTEL PROJECT
12-02-09 - After months of inching forward, a proposal to construct a hotel, entertainment, and retail complex on Route 66 in Greenport turned a corner in the review process. |
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CHALLENGED BALLOTS GO TO COURT
11-30-09 – It had been announced that starting at 10 a.m. Judge Jonathan Nichols would hear the case of the challenged absentee ballots from the Town of Taghkanic. |
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COUNTY BRIDGES FALLING DOWN?
11-30-09 - A dozen Columbia County bridges have been classified as significantly deficient by New York State Department of Transportation standards, according to a report discovered by ccSCOOP. |
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DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN
11-28-09 - On Monday, November 30, starting at 10 a.m., a judge will be asked to decide the fate of 86 challenged ballots from the Town of Taghkanic. |
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THE COUNTING IS OVER . . . FOR NOW
11-20-09 - The counting—and challenging—of absentee ballots in Columbia County ended this afternoon with the paper ballots from Claverack. |
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ABSENTEE COUNT: DAY 3
11-20-09 - Counting of the absentee ballots resumed on Thursday, November 19. By late afternoon, all the ballots from all the "uncontested" towns had been counted, leaving only the "big table" at work. . |
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ABSENTEE COUNT: DAY 2
11-19-09 - After working into the small hours of Wednesday morning counting the absentee ballots from the Town of Taghkanic, election inspectors . . . were back later on Wednesday. . . . |
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A LONG DAY AT THE BOE
11-18-09 - The notice went out on Tuesday, November 10, that the count of absentee ballots would commence at 9 a.m. sharp on Tuesday, November 17, and continue on November 18 and . . . 19. |
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VALATIE PROJECT ON HOLD
11-16-09 - A major development project in Columbia County remains on hold, but for how long is in dispute. |
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ART IN THE BARN AT OLANA
10-27-09 - First Niagara's Art in the Barn program at Olana's Wagon House Education Center . . . allows children from the ages of 3 through 5 to make the connection between nature and art. |
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POWERING FOR THE FUTURE
10-26-09 - Everything old is new again. With the country focusing on alternatuve energy sources, the residents of Stuyvesant will soon benefit from one of those sources: water power. |
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DOG GONE . . . FOR GOOD?
10-18-09 - Some felt the exhibition of artist-painted fiberglass animals on the streets was an idea whose time had come (and gone) long before it found its way to Hudson last year. |
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HAWTHORNE VALLEY FARM FALL FESTIVAL
10-14-09 - On Saturday, October 10, Hawthorne Valley Farm held its annual Fall Festival, and Bill Parker was there to record the sights and capture the spirit of this favorite family event. |
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THE PACE OF GROWTH by James Sheldon
With land use regulations under review in dozens of Hudson Valley towns, citizens and local officials find themselves grappling with one of the major shortcomings of traditional zoning codes. . . . |
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HOTEL PROJECT SEEKS IDA INCENTIVES
09-30-09 - The Greenport Planning Board will seek lead agency status in the review of the hotel and entertainment complex proposed for the old V&O Press building on Route 66. |
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HARVEST DAY AT LINDENWALD
09-28-09 - Columbia County offers wonderful events that help us connect with our agrarian past. . . . In the fall, there’s Harvest Day at Lindenwald. |
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NAVASKY AND FISH "TALK OF THE NATION"
09-19-09 – Two Sundays ago, Victor Navasky . . . and Hamilton Fish . . . got to together at Spencertown Academy to talk about their experience at The Nation. . . . |
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HUDSON-TO-STOCKPORT TRAIL BEING PLANNED
09-19-09 – The proposed trail system connecting Greenport and Stockport could include more views of the river thanks to a plan being pursued by the Columbia Land Conservancy. |
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CROWDS FLOCK TO FAIR
09-09-09 – Great weather—after a summer of weather that could easily be confused with that found in a rainforest—buoyed what officials and vendors are calling a “great” Columbia County Fair. |
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COUNTY SALES TAX REVENUES DECLINE ONLY SLIGHTLY
09-07-09 – Columbia County and its municipalities are receiving less in sales tax revenue this year, but the decrease is not nearly as great as one might expect during the “Great Recession.” |
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VIGIL FOR HEALTH CARE IN HUDSON
09-05-09 – At 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, when I responded to the invitation to attend the MoveOn vigil outside Scott Murphy’s headquarters, 1,700 people had already done so. |
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DAILY DISPATCHES FROM THE FAIR
09-02-09 – To help showcase the achievements of Columbia County's 4-H members, ccSCOOP has invited educators for Cornell Cooperative Extension, to send us reports from the fair. |
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COUNTY FAIR SPRINGS TO LIFE ON WEDNESDAY
09-01-09 – The smell of fried dough, the cries of carnival barkers, and the drone of ride motors punctuated by the screams and shouts of the riders will soon fill the air beside Route 66 in Chatham.…
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DEVELOPER MOVES FORWARD WITH HOTEL PROJECT
08-26-09 – Details about a 100-room hotel, with a 52,000-square-foot entertainment center and a separate retail facility, were presented to the Greenport Town Planning Board on Tuesday.
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KINDERHOOK ENERGIZED BY BEDFORD LEGISLATION
08-19-09 –
The Town of Kinderhook’s plans to create its own energy district did not clear the state legislature this year, but that hasn’t stopped town officials from moving ahead with their efforts.
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"CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER" AT GOLDEN HARVEST
08-09-09 – The invitation that went out from the Columbia County Democratic Committee . . . urged Democrats to “come out and support your Congressman as he fights for the Public Option. . . ."
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FROM ICE TO FLOODING
08-07-09 - Only hours after completing the cleanup from last December’s ice storm, Columbia County Highway Department crews were dealt another storm to clean up after.
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MAIN STREET PROJECT IN FINAL STAGES
08-03-09 - Despite the nonstop rain and attendant work delays, Chatham’s Main Street project is on schedule to be finished by the end of the year.
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AUSTERLITZ BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
07-29-09 -
The Austerlitz Historical Society’s 10th Annual Blueberry Festival held on Sunday, July 26, came off without the predicted hail and rainstorms. |
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WEATHER RENEWS RISK FOR DEADLY VIRUS
07-28-09 - The monsoon-like summer the area is experiencing is increasing the risk of West Nile virus. Soggy backyards, puddles of water dotting the landscape, and standing water. . . . |
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ANOTHER PLAN FOR DSS
07-21-09 - In the "spirit of cooperation," Board of Supervisors Chair Art Baer (R-Hillsdale) and Hudson Mayor Richard Scalera annnounced a plan to keep the Department of Social Services in Hudson. |
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STATE LEGISLATION FINALLY ENACTED
07-20-09 – After more than a month of being held hostage by the State Senate squabble, legislation critical to the future of the county and a project in Austerlitz has finally been approved. |
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GRANT FUNDS SHARED SERVICES
07-20-09 – Why buy four when you can buy one? That’s the tack town officials in Hillsdale, Copake, and Ancram and the Taconic Hills Central School District took when seeking funding for landscaping. . . . |
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PCBs IN THE HUDSON
07-16-09 –The
long-awaited PCB cleanup farther upriver, which began two months ago, has had no negative impact on the pollution levels along the Columbia County stretch of the Hudson River.
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FIVE CHURCHES BECOME TWO
07-15-09 – 10:30 a.m. - In the latest Roman Catholic Church downsizing, five parishes in Columbia County became two earlier this month.
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THE PRICE OF DISCORD
07-01-09 –
Columbia County and its municipalities are likely to lose more than $7.5 million in sales tax collections if the State Senate cannot resolve its leadership squabble. |
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HISTORIC HUDSON LECTURE BY J. WINTHROP ALDRICH
07-01-09 –
“Endangered Hudson Valley Architecture" was the topic of a lecture presented on Sunday, June 28, by J. Winthrop Aldrich, Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation. . . . |
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FEDERAL FUNDS AWARDED TO SCENIC TRAIL PROJECT
06-30-09 –
Hikers and recreational walkers will soon be able to traverse a scenic trail through former farm fields and wooded areas along the Hudson River in the towns of Greenport and Stockport. |
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SENATE SQUABBLE JEOPARDIZES AUSTERLITZ LAND SALE
06-25-09 – The State Assembly approved the sale of two acres of park land in the Town of Austerlitz to the Austerlitz Fire Company, but the state Senate’s leaderhip struggle has put the issue on hold. |
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ON JUNE GARDENS: The Garden Conservancy Open Day
06-17-09 -
June means weddings, graduations, and, in this region, gardens. The Garden Conservancy’s June Columbia County Day offered the full range of garden types within less than two dozen miles. |
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ANOTHER COUNTY PLAN RAISES IRE IN HUDSON
06-16-09 - First it was Ockawamick; then Pine Haven. Now a new plan being pursued by Columbia County government has the people of Hudson angry and frustrated. . . . |
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SCOTT MURPHY OPENS OFFICE IN HUDSON
06-07-09 – His predecessor Kirsten Gillibrand may have invented the tradition of “Congress on Your Corner,” but Scott Murphy did Gillibrand one better. . . .
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06-01-09 -
New York State Supreme Court Justice Patrick J. McGrath today issued an injunction blocking further activity on the controversial sporting complex in Taghkanic proposed by Alan Wilzig. |
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| COLUMBIANS GATHER FOR A COUNTRY BARBECUE
06-01-09 - Everyone should know the pleasure of attending a country barbecue on a perfect spring day. All the better when it's for a terrific organization like the Columbia Land Conservancy. |
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SPRING GARDEN NEWS
05-27-09 - With the threat of freezing weather hopefully over, it’s time to think about your garden.
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YOUTH PROGRAMS HURT BY STATE BUDGET WOES
05-26-09 - State budget cuts will have an impact on county youth programs this summer, but concerns over the complete elimination of state funds for the initiatives have been put to rest. . . .
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THE 153rd ANNUAL INSPECTION DAY PARADE
05-11-09 – 2:00 p.m. - This weekend the fire companies of the City of Hudson held their 153rd Inspection Day on Friday, followed by the Inspection Day Parade on Saturday.
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DO YOU TWITTER?
04-25-09 - 6:50 p.m. - At 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 22, small business owners and entrepreneurs gathered at Space 360 in Hudson for what was billed as a Social Media Breakfast Seminar.
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SHARE YOUR CHALLENGED BALLOT STORY
04-25-09 - After twenty-four days, there is finally a winner in the special election, and after three months, 20th District will once again have a representative in Congress.
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ELECTION UPDATE: MURPHY LEADS BY 365 VOTES
UPDATE 04-22-09 - 5:25 p.m. - Although no more paper ballots are scheduled to be counted until tomorrow in Albany, the New York State Board of Elections updated its tally this afternoon. . . . |
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GREENERY TO COST TAXPAYERS SOME "GREEN"
04-18-09 - 1:02 p.m. - Columbia County Solid Waste employees are working overtime to address the ever-growing pile of tree limbs and shrubs brought to the county’s Solid Waste Station in Greenport. |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MURPHY AHEAD BY 273
UPDATE 04-17-09 - 4:30 p.m. - With the paper ballots counted in all ten counties, the New York State Board of Elections reported at 3:30 this afternoon that Scott Murphy is leading by 273 votes. |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MURPHY'S LEAD SLIPS TO 25
04-13-09 - 12:45 p.m. - At 10:30 this morning, the New York State Board of Elections reported new totals: Murphy 77,907; Tedisco 77,882. The margin, which still favors Murphy, has narrowed to 25. |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MARGIN NARROWS TO 35
04-13-09 7:45 a.m. -
Although the count of paper ballots was suspended on Friday because of the holiday, the numbers reported to the State Board of Elections changed throughout the day. |
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HAIL, COLUMBIA—COUNTY THAT COUNTS
04-11-09 -
Columbia County took center stage on Thursday . . . when a Republican advisor to candidate James Tedisco declared that the county’s votes were “make or break.” |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MURPHY'S MARGIN INCREASES TO 46
04-10-09 -
Since 4:30 yesterday afternoon, more results from the paper ballot count have been recorded at the New York State Board of Elections, and as a result Murphy's margin has increased to 46. |
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BUDGET WOES TO HIT HOME FOR STATE PARK GOERS
04-09-09 - Those who turn to the state recreational and historic sites in the county for exercise, learning, or some fun in the sun will be directly impacted by the state’s fiscal crisis. |
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JOBS LARGELY GONE AND HOPES WANING AT KAZ
04-09-09 - Most of the jobs are already gone, and with the economy dragging, hopes are waning that a manufacturer will step in and create new manufacturing jobs any time soon. |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MACHINE RECANVASS COMPLETE
04-09-09 - This morning, with the machine recanvass completed and some of the results of the absentee ballot count in, the margin between the two candidates is shrinking but still favors Tedisco. |
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ELECTION UPDATE: MARGIN NARROWS TO 17
04-07-09 - As the recanvass of the voting machines continues, the still unofficial numbers reported by the New York State Board of Elections keep changing. |
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SWEENEY AGONISTES
ccSCOOP PERSPECTIVE - 04-07-09 - While many of us are still focused on the outcome of the special election to choose the new congressman for the 20th District, one of our former congressmen. . . .
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GILLIBRAND'S VOTE NOT YET COUNTED
04-02-09 - With difference between the votes for Murphy and Tedisco down to a margin of just 25 and a reported 10,000 or so absentee ballots issued in the district and still to be received and counted. . . . |
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THE FUTURE OF PINE HAVEN
03-30-09 - As the Columbia County Board of Supervisors pondered the multiple options available to close and relocate Pine Haven, county residents mobilized in opposition. |
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SPRING CLEANING—COUNTYWIDE
03-25-09 - As the temperatures warm, county residents are starting the long-delayed process of removing trees and brush felled during the December ice storm. |
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SUPERVISORS APPROVE MOVE TO OCKAWAMiCK
03-12-09 - As a full gallery of protesters looked on and TV cameras rolled, the Columbia County Board of Supervisors approved its plan to move the Department of Social Services. . . . |
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WILZIG PROPOSAL MAY BE DECIDED ON NEXT MONTH
03-12-09 - During a three-hour meeting on Monday night, members of the Taghkanic Planning Board concluded that they would decide next month if they would require Wilzig to complete a DElS. |
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HARD TIMES HIT FIREMEN'S HOME
03-10-09 - The economic hard times that have rocked the country are causing concerns over the fate of one of the jewels of Columbia County. |
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WILL DSS RELOCATE TO OCKAWAMICK?
03-07-09 - On Wednesday at 7 p.m., the Columbia County Board of Supervisors is slated to affirm its intention to move the Department of Social Services from Hudson to Claverack. . . . |
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MARCH NEW FACES AT COLUMBIA-GREENE HUMANE SOCIETY
03-07-09 - ccSCOOP will be providing regular updates on the Columbia-Greene Humane Society and the "new faces" available for adoption there. Be sure to check back to meet some new potential friends.
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GROWING A CROP OF NEW FARMERS
Ever wish you had a herd of cattle grazing outside your window? How about pristine rows of corn daily inching closer to the summer sky? |
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BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE?
It’s rusted and some contend dangerous, yet it seems nobody has the funds necessary to make the repairs to a critical link between the City of Hudson and its waterfront. |
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WILZIG PAVING PROPOSAL REVS UP OPPOSITION
Delivering dire messages of decreased home values, destroyed community, and deafness-inducing ear damage, resident after resident stood before the Taghkanic Town Planning Board on Monday. . . .
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RICH CONATY - HOST OF "THE BIG BROADCAST"
Rich Conaty is one New York's legendary DJs. At a time when WNEW-FM was pioneering free-form album-oriented radio, Rich was at WNEW-AM mining the rich history of early Pop and Jazz.
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VOLUNTEERS DESPERATELY NEEDED
The Red Cross likes to bill itself as “neighbors helping neighbors,” but all too often in Columbia and Greene counties, the term neighbor assumes a fairly broad meaning.
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INAUGURATION DAY IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
January 20, 2009, marked a historic day for the nation and Columbia County as everyone witnessed Barack Obama become the 44th President of the United States.
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COUNTY RESPONDS TO RECORD NUMBER OF SUICIDES
Columbia County officials are exploring a record number of suicides that plagued the county in 2008. Twenty people took their lives in the county last year, well in excess of the previous average. . . .
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COLUMBIA-GREENE HUMANE SOCIETY
Be sure to check back in a few weeks. ccSCOOP will be providing regular updates on the
Columbia-Greene Human Society and the "new faces' available for adoption there.
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ONLY THE SKIING IS DOWNHILL
While many contend that the economy is in a downhill spiral, Columbia County’s lone ski resort is finding attendance on the rise.
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LOWE'S GREENPORT SURVIVES THE CUT
While the corporate giant plans to slash the number of new U.S. stores it will open in 2009 to fewer than 80 stores, the home improvement company is moving ahead with . . . its Greenport store.
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NEW YEAR'S DAY COPAKE AUCTION PREVIEW
On Thursday, January 1, Copake Auction will hold its 29th annual New Year’s Day auction. In the days leading up to the event, the items in the auction can be previewed at Copake Auction and online.
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SHARING THE BOUNTY IN OUR COUNTY
Even before the economic downturn that put a blight on Christmas had reached historic proportions . . . the problem of food security was a serious issue in America.
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RICHARD E. LINDMARK: DOCUMENTING DISASTER
Leave it to a longtime firefighter who has dabbled in photo-journalism to take that axiom to its next logical level in the 21st century—a photo website for the area fire service.
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HOLIDAY SHOPPING GUIDE
ccSCOOP offers this shopping guide—to help you find the gifts you need right here in Columbia County and resist the urge to head for the malls in desperation.
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ICE STORM UPDATE
PRESS RELEASE - Columbia County Board of Supendsors Chairman Arthur Baer reports that a teleconference was held with Columbia County School District Superintendents 5:00pm this afternoon.
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REST IN PIECES
The usual silence of the Hudson cemetery was broken by the sound of chain saws and wood chippers on Monday afternoon as Hudson DPW crews . . . cleared the debris created by last week’s ice storm.
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CELEBRATING MARTIN VAN BUREN'S BIRTHDAY
Each year on December 5, at his gravesite in the Kinderhook Reformed Church Cemetery, the birthday of Kinderhook Village resident and eighth President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, is celebrated with speeches and laying of wreaths. But this year was special.
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THE ICE STORM OF 2008 - The Aftermath Continues
Emergency personnel from across the whole spectrum of agencies continue to respond dozens of calls for help on Saturday, after a 48-hour period that saw hundreds of emergency calls resulting from a devastating ice storm.
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THE NIGHT OF THE ICE
If I had one of those Weather Channel jackets, right now I could stand in the yard and narrate this essay.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY STORM DAMAGE
PRESS RELEASE - Full recovery from Thursday night’s devastating ice storm will take multiple days, according to Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Art Baer, who said downed power lines and trees have left thousands of residents in the dark and cold, and local roads impassable.
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SHOPPING LOCAL THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
Holiday shoppers can find a win-win situation this holiday season across Columbia County as local shops offer a selection gifts for all budgets and many products that were made right in the county.
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WILZIG ASPHALT TRACK RESURFACES
A controversial proposal to build a paved track in Taghkanic has zoomed back into the forefront after a hiatus of a "couple of years."
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KATZMAN: SOME KAZ OPERATIONS WILL STAY
There are no plans to do away with the 50 to 75 management and support jobs that will be left at Kaz Inc. in Greenport after next June’s planned transfer of manufacturing jobs to Mexico.
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FINDING GREEN IN AN EARLY BLANKET OF WHITE
For outdoor enthusiasts, the traditional way of working off the overindulgence of Thanksgiving is to pound the pavement with some hard jogs and runs in the days that follow. This year, however, brought an uncommon option for area residents—skiing.
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COUNTY UNVEILS "REALISTIC" BUDGET
PRESS RELEASE - The Columbia County Board of Supervisors has unveiled a tentative 2009 budget of $140,393,839—a spending package reflecting a modest 2.07 percent increase in appropriations with a 4.6 percent raise in the tax levy.
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GHENT TAXES DECREASE
While their neighbors to the north are facing a dramatic 29 percent tax increase, Ghent taxpayers will see their taxes decrease slightly this year.
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CHATHAM: 2010 BUDGET PREPARATION BEGINS NOW
The Town of Chatham will begin work on its 2010 budget next month
Supervisor Jesse DeGroodt said on Friday, less than twenty-four hours after the Town Board adopted the 2009 budget and the 29 percent tax rate increase
it carried. |
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VETERANS DAY
Exactly ninety years ago, at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the fighting stopped between the Allied nations and Germany, and “the war to end all wars” was finally over.
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COULD HUDSON'S WARD TWO REALLY NOT BE BLUE?
An Election Day Puzzlement - While getting the results from last Tuesday’s election ready to post on ccSCOOP, I was struck by the fact that the preliminary numbers recorded by the Board of Elections for...
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LAFARGE RAVENA: PAST AND FUTURE
When it was built almost fifty years ago by the Atlantic Cement Company, the plant in Ravena very likely used the newest technology for cement manufacture. It brought jobs, tax revenues, and...
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TOWN OF CHATHAM BUDGET HEARING
The Chatham Town Board will meet on November 20 starting at 7 p.m. to consider a $3.17 million budget that would carry with it a 29 percent property tax rate increase.
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PONDERING THE FATE OF THE POND
The Old Chatham Pond--once the heart of the hamlet-- has nearly dried up and that is raising concerns for some who question what will happen in the event of a fire in the hamlet.
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ELECTION NIGHT CELEBRATION
With the polls closing in New York, local voters faced the wait before learning who out next president would be. ccSCOOP headed to Warren Street in the city of Hudson where three local...
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COLUMBIA COUNTY VOTES FOR OBAMA AND GILLIBRAND
Voters turned out in record numbers in many polling places for this historic election. Columbia County voted with the majority of Americans to elect Barrack Obama our nation's 44th President.
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THE PRESIDENCY: WHAT KIND OF LEADER WORKS BEST?
On a Sunday afternoon, October 26, a week and two days before the long-anticipated 2008 presidential election, a panel of three historians and a journalist came together at the Spencertown Academy...
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GHOSTLY GALLOP BENEFITS HUDSON AREA LIBRARY
From Saturday to Sunday, it rained through the night, but when the sun rose on Sunday morning, it promised to be a perfect day for the Ghostly Gallop, the 5K run through the streets of Hudson to..
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2008 BUY LOCAL BUSINESS EXPO
All summer and into the fall, when the farm stands are laden with the bounty from local farms and orchards, consumers are encouraged to “Buy local.”
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AUTUMN IN AUSTERLITZ
The Austerlitz Historical Society had a beautiful day for their Twelfth Annual Autumn in Austerlitz Day on Sunday, October 12.
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BERKSHIRES WEST?
Sam Pratt - ccSCOOP Guest Writer
A new study looks at Berkshire County's success as a possible model for growing the Columbia economy
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OCKAWAMICK APPROVED
It's official—the county Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday night to issue a negative declaration in the State Environmental Quality Review for the renovation and redevelopment of the Ockawamick...
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CLAVERACK COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND OCKAWAMICK
The question about town in Claverack is: “Does the county’s proposed use for the old Ockawamick School on Route 217 fit in with the residents’ vision as outlined in the town’s Comprehensive Plan?”
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BLESSING THE ANIMALS
Saturday was the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, and Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson observed the day by holding its annual Blessing of the Animals.
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“OLD TIME DAYS” IN GREENPORT
On Saturday and Sunday, the Hudson Valley Old Time Power Association held its 32nd Annual Old Time Days at the association’s show grounds on Fingar Road in Greenport.
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FORUM DISCUSSES "BRAIN DRAIN"
The headline on the Register-Star editorial was “Ideas wanted to help stop brain drain.”
And the fifty people who gathered at Columbia-Greene Community College on the first of October...
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COMMISSIONER FOR PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
With a number of countywide economic development and planning activities currently underway, the county Board of Supervisors recently created a management position that would provide oversight of both areas and consolidate them into one department.
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STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE FOR COUNTY
With a struggling national eonomy and, closer to home, with LB Furniture closing in Hudson and Kaz in Greenport announcing that, starting at the end of the year, it will be outsourcing all its manufacturing, economic development is uppermost in many people’s minds.
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NATIONAL ALPACA FARM DAYS
What makes alpacas such wonderful animals? You can find out for yourself at the alpaca farms of Columbia County this weekend—September 27 and 28--during National Alpaca Farm Days.
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HARVEST DAY AT LINDENWALD
The Annual Lindenwald Harvest Day was held this past Saturday afternoon, September 20, on the spacious grounds of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, just south of Kinderhook.
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MY TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL
The people who subtitled the first annual Garden of Eating Tour must have assumed no one remembered the movie The Trip to Bountiful.
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SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMS
Supporting our local farms has recently become even more critical. Keeping our business within our borders has always been a reason to buy local, but the rising price of oil provides another compelling...
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CLAVERACK TOWN BOARD DISCUSSES OCKAWAMICK
At its regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 8, the Claverack Town Board voted to send two letters to county government regarding the proposed purchase of Ockawamick School and the reuse...
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CLAVERACK TOWN BOARD MEETS TO CONSIDER OCKAWAMICK
Last Tuesday night, August 27, the Claverack Town Board held a special meeting to consider Columbia County’s request for immunity from town zoning as they move forward with their plan to convert....
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HOW-TO : SETTING UP A Wi-Fi NETWORK
Wi-Fi is something that most of us can't live without. Wi-Fi is short for Wireless Fidelity, and it is the most widely used wireless technology in the world. It’s found in libraries, hospitals, coffee shops,...
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IS iPHONE 2.0 WORTH THE HASSLE?
It's been hailed as the holy grail of cell phones and one of the hottest electronics this year. You guessed it. It’s the iPhone 2.0, also known as iPhone 3G. It's been debuted for a little over a month now, and...
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BID OPENED FOR $1.4 MILLION BRYARCLIFFE PROJECT
Five bids ranging from $1.2 million to $1.5 million to upgrade four miles of private road in Bryarcliffe Estates on West Hill Road were received by the Town of Austerlitz on Thursday, August 28.
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2008 COLUMBIA COUNTY FAIR
Complete day-by-day coverage of the fair including video interviews, photo galleries, vintage fair images, and stories from the events.
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AN ERA AUCTIONED
It was the painful end of an era for area residents when LB Industries went on the auction block on August 21.
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TOWN TO VOTE ON ZONING IN NOVEMBER
The town's first zoning law may be enacted this November, Austerlitz Supervisor George Jahn said this week. Austerlitz is the one of only two towns in Columbia County that has no zoning.
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BLUES BARBECUE SIZZLES
Promoted as “one of the summer’s best parties,” the Spencertown Academy’s Blues Barbecue did not disappoint. More than a hundred people turned out for the event held at the home of ...
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ANOTHER MEETING ABOUT OCKAWAMICK
On July 30, the County Board of Supervisors held a public hearing at the Hudson Middle School to present their plan to acquire the former Ockawamick School in the Town of Claverack.
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COMFORT US WITH APPLES
Columbia County farmers have had a lot to contend with this year—a late frost, a dry spell early in the growing season, then excessive rain, multiple storms, high winds, and hail that damaged budding...
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THE 5th ANNUAL SUMMER PAW PICNIC
On Saturday, August 2, 2008, the new Omi International Arts Center in Ghent was the scene of the 5th Annual Summer Paw Picnic to benefit the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA.
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