Wednesday, November 30, 2022

News from the Planning Board

The Planning Board had to cancel its regular monthly meeting, scheduled for November 8, for want of a quorum. The meeting was rescheduled for last night, November 29. At last night's meeting, only four of the seven members were in attendance (a fifth member appeared on Zoom when the meeting was about to be adjourned), but four members constitute a quorum. The significant bit of business accomplished last night was the unanimous approval (by those present) of the site plan for the former Community Theatre at Columbia and Seventh streets, to be known in its new life as "Hudson Forum."

Although the project now has site plan approval from the Planning Board, it has yet to be granted a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission. On October 28, representatives from the Galvan Foundation came before the HPC seeking positive support for the proposed renovation, in advance of the Planning Board meeting scheduled for November 8. It received what was sought. HPC member John Schobel declared of the project, "It's going to be transformative." Architect member Chip Bohl expressed his approved of the glass curtain wall proposed for the portico, observing, "It is recessed and well behind the columns." 

In other news relating to this project, the Common Council, at its meeting on November 15, passed a resolution authorizing a settlement with Galvan Initiatives Foundation and Galvan Civic I which deems the "Hudson Forum" building and the house at 612 Columbia Street tax exempt. All members of the Council voted in support of the resolution except Margaret Morris (First Ward), who abstained.

Also of interest, August Abatecola, who is to be artistic director for Hudson Forum, now serves on the Advisory Board of the Galvan Foundation, which is now calling itself "Galvan Center for the Common Good."      
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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 12 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 3 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 9 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains at 0. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 28. 

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 61 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 6,107, and the number of active cases was 116. There were 203 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 10 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths in Columbia County attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

Last Night in Hudson, Continued

Gossips has already reported on the accident involving a Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy that occurred on South Third Street last night. A press release from the Hudson Police Department, which follows, explains why law enforcement agencies were rushing to Hudson and also reports that the deputy involved was treated and released from Albany Medical Center.

Photo: Lance Wheeler
On Tuesday, November 29, 2022, at about 8:54 p.m., the Hudson City Police Department responded to a 911 call at the Hudson Terrace Apartments, Building #1, for a report that several people broke into an apartment and physically assaulted a 16-year-old female. 
Patrol responded to the call immediately and requested backup from other agencies. Patrols reported numerous juveniles and adults in the area yelling, with an adult male wielding a machete. NYSP units responded to assist with crowd control and [the] Columbia County Sheriff also responded. While in route to the scene one CCSO unit was involved in an single car accident on South 3rd Street. The Deputy was treated and released from Albany Medical Center.
The HPD Detective Division responded to the scene to investigate further. Several subjects involved were interviewed and gave statements of their accounts.
HPD has documented that 2 adults and 1 juvenile have sustained physical injuries. All are Hudson residents. No arrests have been made at this point.
“What occurred was a rather large group of disorderly people. It appears to be a home invasion that spilled out into the streets. By some accounts there were more than 20, mostly juveniles, involved. We have a lot to sort through. I am very appreciative of all the law enforcement agencies that, as usual, responded to our city to assist our citizens and officers,” Chief [Moore commented].
This incident is currently under investigation. If anyone has any information regarding this matter, please contact our Detectives Division at 518-828-3388.

Last Night in Hudson

Last night, something happened that brought multiple law enforcement agencies racing to Hudson. Entering the city from the south on Third Street, a Columbia County Sheriff's Deputy lost control of his car, which left the road and rolled over. Lance Wheeler was first to report about it on Facebook, but his description of where the accident occurred, "just west of the former St. Mary's School in Hudson," was misleading. This morning, a reader provided the information and a photo identifying the exact location: Third Street south of Allen, directly behind 6 Willard Place.

Photo: Barb Ponkos-Merola
This morning, Wheeler posted a video on YouTube that also makes clear the location of the accident. 

Wheeler reported that the deputy driving the car was rushed to Albany Medical Center.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

News of the "Depot District"

Today, a reader alerted me to the presence of a "Work in Progress" sign on North Seventh Street, between two of the three houses to be demolished to make way for one of the two apartment buildings the Galvan Foundation proposes to build there, in the area of the city it has dubbed the "Depot District."

Photo: Bill Huston
The building to be constructed there, for households with incomes between 40 and 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), failed to get funding from NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) last summer. When Dan Kent, vice president of initiatives for the Galvan Foundation, told the Planning Board in July that the project had been "beat out" by other projects in the Capital Region, he said that Galvan intended to try again in the next round. That round is coming up. The deadline for submitting applications is December 6. 

The appearance of the sign on North Seventh Street may suggest that Galvan is confident about the outcome in this round of funding, or it may have no particular significance. After all, there's been a Galvan "Work in Progress" sign on 22-24 Warren Street for at least two years, and there's been no progress there.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 9 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 1 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 10 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains at 0. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since yesterday.  

A year ago today, which was Monday after Thanksgiving weekend, the CCDOH reported 46 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 6,046, and the number of active cases was 146. There were 161 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 11 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

In the Days After Thanksgiving

Things are quiet in Hudson in the days after Thanksgiving. The biggest news was reported by the Register-Star this morning, that jury selection for the trial of the four people accused of beating up Harold Handy III during a Fourth of July party in 2020 was halted yesterday by Judge Richard Koweek, with no explanation of why: "Rosenstrach jury selection halted." Roger Hannigan Gilson reported in the Times Union that jury selection was halted after a private discussion between Koweek and District Attorney Paul Czajka. 

As I sometimes do when there's not much to report about, I turned to old newspapers. Apparently, November 29, 1872, the Friday after Thanksgiving that year, was a pretty slow news day as well. But old newspapers never disappoint, and in the Hudson Evening Register for November 29, 1872, I discovered this news item, which reveals that 150 years ago life in Hudson was decidedly different.


According to the Hudson city directory for 1872, there were two men named Sullivan who lived on State Street. Dennis Sullivan, a laborer, lived at 175 State Street, and Thomas Sullivan, also a laborer, lived at 182 State Street. It is not known which of them was the owner of the hapless bovine, but both of their houses still stand.

After the change in house numbers that happened in 1888, 175 State Street became 321 State Street, so this is the house where Dennis Sullivan lived.


The number of Thomas Sullivan's house, 182 State Street, is now 330 State Street. 


My guess, supported by the 1873 Beers Atlas map, is that the cow belonged to Thomas Sullivan, because there was more open space around his house for keeping a cow.

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Monday, November 28, 2022

COVID-19 Update

After four days of not reporting COVID numbers, the Columbia County Department of Health has again reported its numbers today. Since Wednesday, November 23, there have been 2 deaths from COVID-19 and 31 new cases. The number of active cases being reported today is the same as on Wednesday, from which it can be inferred that, since Wednesday, 29 county residents have recovered from the virus. The number of county residents hospitalized is 2 fewer today than on Wednesday, and there are 2 fewer in the ICU.  

A year ago, November 28 was a Sunday, and the CCDOH did not report COVID numbers. On the previous Saturday, November 27, the CCDOH reported 61 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 6,000, and the number of active cases was 152. There were 192 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 8 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

The Next Step for Sharptown Ridge

At the end of October, the Town of Stuyvesant Zoning Board of Appeals rendered its decision on the proposal to create an agritourism facility at the Rudolph family farm in Stuyvesant.

The resolution passed by the ZBA states:
. . . the ZBA finds that that Applicant's plan to construct/create four (4) greenhouses, eight (8) berry and vegetable beds, two (2) flower beds, a horse barn, a distillery to process materials grown on the Premises, and accessory structures such as a riding ring, an equipment barn, and two (2) separate barn garages (one with an apartment above it) with 'farm stays' on the premises does fall within the definition of Agribusiness since clearly these proposed uses are agricultural in nature and is therefore a permitted use with site plan approval under the Zoning Law . . .
The resolution goes on to say: 
. . . however the ZBA finds that the level and density of the housing aspect of the plan is too great in magnitude to remain within the definition of agritourism since the proposal for 20 individual transient residential uses, plus 4 existing trailers, the main house, and the guest house create a situation where the residential rentals would become the primary use and exceed that of the agricultural use.
The project now returns to the Planning Board. Gossips has learned that the applicant has presented a supplemental submission that challenges the ZBA's ruling and asks the Planning Board to ignore the ZBA's determination and approve the plan that includes twenty "farm stay" rental units, along with 134 parking spaces.

The project is on the agenda for tonight's Planning Board meeting, which takes place at 7:00 p.m. at Stuyvesant Town Hall, 5 Sunset Drive in Stuyvesant.
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Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

In this week that sees the end of November and the beginning of December, there are two meetings that merit attention.
  • On Tuesday, November 29, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. This is the meeting that was originally scheduled for November 8 but was canceled for want of a quorum. On the agenda for the meeting are, among other things, the continuation of public hearings on the plans to create a residential subdivision on Hudson Avenue and on the renovation and reuse of the former Community Theatre building at Columbia and Seventh streets and an amendment to the site plan for Return Brewing, 726 Columbia Street. The meeting will be a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 
  • On Thursday, December 1, the Common Council ad hoc Truck Route Committee meets at 6:00 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
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Sunday, November 27, 2022

Another Recommendation

There is a certain futility inherent in this post, since its intended audience is readers who are asking to be re-subscribed to The Gossips of Rivertown because posts are no longer being delivered by email to their inboxes. Still, there is hope the information may reach those who will find it useful.

A post published on August 8 explained what happened and why: "An Explanation and a Recommendation." Today's post offers an alternative way to get Gossips delivered to your inbox: Feedrabbit. Just go to http://feedrabbit.com and enter the URL for Gossips: https://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com. You can set things up to get each post delivered to your inbox as soon as it is published or to get all the posts published in a day delivered at one time. 

Gossips is not a newsletter; it's a blog. All of its most recent posts and a thirteen-year archive of posts are there all the time, accessible to everyone, with no paywall to impede your reading and exploration. 

My own recommendation is that once or twice a day you just go directly to gossipsofrivertown.com and check out what's new. If you do it often enough, the entire URL will appear as soon as you type g into your browser. Should you forget the URL, just type gossips (be certain it's plural) into your search engine. In all likelihood, The Gossips of Rivertown--this blog not the 1848 novel from which it takes its name--will be the first thing to pop up.  

As always, thank you all for your loyalty and interest in The Gossips of Rivertown.

Another Event for the Holidays

"It's fruitcake weather!" 

This year, the Park Theater, 723 Warren Street, initiates a new holiday tradition with The Whale Theatre's inaugural production of an American classic, Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory.

The production, featuring Marceline Hugot and Jeffrey Binder, opens on December 1 and runs through December 18, with evening performances on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, and an afternoon performance on Sundays. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

Friday, November 25, 2022

Happening Next Weekend

The event we eagerly anticipate, the event that kicks off the holiday season in Hudson, Winter Walk is happening next Saturday, December 3, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. This year is the 26th anniversary of the beloved event presented by Hudson Hall at the historic Hudson Opera House.

On the night before Winter Walk, excitement builds on Warren Street as Hudson's creative spirit shines through the stunning window displays unveiled for the Winter Walk Window Decorating Contest at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 2. 

Winter Walk 2022 officially kicks off at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 3, with the bells of the First Presbyterian Church ringing 26 times in honor of the 26th anniversary. Then the sound of sleigh bells and the clip-clop of horses' hooves announce the arrival of Santa Claus at City Hall in his horse-drawn carriage. The young choristers of Harmony Project Hudson welcome Santa with a song before children and families are invited to join Santa Claus inside to share their holiday wishes and receive a free gift-wrapped book. Meanwhile, Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) light the holiday tree, generously donated by Kody and Jo Pinkowski, in Seventh Street Park.

For the next three hours, the reveling continues along Warren Street and adjacent streets. For a complete list of all that's going on, click here.    

At 8:00 p.m., fireworks over Promenade Hill light up the sky and mark the official conclusion of Winter Walk, but the merriment continues long into the night, with many businesses open late for food, drink, and entertainment. Starting at 8:15 p.m., Hudson Hall welcomes new and old friends to enjoy a special Winter Walk "Chilly" Dinner fundraiser to honor Hudson Hall's first Directors Emeritae, Ellen Thurston and Elena Mosley.

For more information about the Winter Walk "Chilly" Dinner and to purchase tickets, click here. Proceeds from the fundraiser dinner go toward the cost of producing Winter Walk each year.

This Weekend

If Thanksgiving has roused your desire to shop, you will welcome the news that Basilica Farm & Flea Holiday Market is happening this weekend.

This year the market, which is celebrating its 10th year, is being presented with LikeMindedObjects. The market is open tomorrow, Saturday, November 26, and Sunday, November 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Click here for all the details.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 10 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 4 fewer than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 14 county residents have recovered from the virus. There are 2 more county residents hospitalized today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 14.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 28 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,913, and the number of active cases was 184. There were 278 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 6 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

Oral History Collections Now Online

The Hudson Area Library has announced that two oral history collections are now accessible online: the Hudson Area Library Oral History Project, an open collection of interviews collected locally over the past decade, and the Black Legacy Association of Columbia County (BLACC) Oral History Project collection from the 1980s. The archiving of these collections and development of the digital archives, as well as related community programming offered over the past three years, was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services Accelerating Promising Practices for Small Libraries grant and in partnership with Oral History Summer School.

The Hudson Area Library Oral History Project includes oral histories produced by participants in a 2013 workshop at the library led by Suzanna Snider, with assistance from Melinda Braathen, as well as recordings collected by contract and volunteer community members on the library's behalf over the past decade. To learn more and explore the collection, visit oralhistory.hudsonarealibrary.org.

The BLACC collection was donated to the library by Columbia Opportunities, Inc., in 2018. All of the material in this collection was originally assembled by the Columbia County Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). Marcella Beigel, the RSVP Director, devoted much time and attention to the creation of this unique and inspirational project. To learn more and explore the BLACC collection, visit blacc.hudsonarealibrary.org. To view images from the collection, visit the History Room website at historyroom.hudsonarealibrary.org. To view the full archived collections, including research documents and images, email history@hudsonarealibrary.org to request an appointment.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 11 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 4 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 7 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized with COVID-19 today than yesterday, but the number in the ICU remains the same. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 14. 

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 52 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,885, and the number of active cases was 203. There were 300 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 8 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

An Early Holiday Gift

Now you see it . . . 

now you don't.

Photo: Katherine Kanaga




The kiosk that stood at the northeast corner of the Public Square was removed yesterday morning by the Department of Public Works. Its removal was something that has been discussed (and wished for by many) for several years . . . in Gossips memory, since 2008. It was originally placed there by Columbia County as a tourist kiosk, and occasionally it was staffed and stocked with brochures about tourist attractions throughout the county. Given its location, it was never clear how tourists were expected to find their way to it. 

At some point, Columbia County gave the kiosk to the City of Hudson, and ownership allowed the City to move it. Now, thanks to the efforts of Friends of the Public Square (FOPS), the kiosk is gone. Word is it's being stored behind the DPW garage on Dock Street, but Gossips has not confirmed that.
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Monday, November 21, 2022

COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since Friday, there have been 19 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 9 more than on Friday, from which it can be inferred that, since Friday, 10 county residents have recovered from the virus. The number of county residents hospitalized and in the ICU with COVID-19 today remains the same as on Friday. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 14.

A year ago, November 21 was a Sunday, and the CCDOH did not report COVID numbers. On the previous Saturday, November 20, the CCDOH reported 33 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,833, and the number of active cases was 139. There were 381 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 8 were hospitalized, and 0 were in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

News from FOPS

Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) recently received contributions from two important regional benefactors to support FOPS's long-term planning for improvements to Seventh Street Park.

Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation awarded FOPS a $4,000 grant, contingent on FOPS meeting a matching challenge. Herrington's, the lumber and building supply company, donated $2,500 to help underwrite the fees of Starr Whitehouse, the landscape design firm retained by FOPS for the historic redesign of the park.

Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

In the week leading up to Thanksgiving Day, there are two meetings scheduled.
  • On Monday, November 21, the Hudson Housing Authority meets at 6:00 p.m. HHA released an RFQ (request for qualifications) for the redevelopment of its properties on November 3, and responses are due on March 3. Chances are that won't be the subject of discussion at tonight's meeting, but it might be. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join remotely.
  • On Wednesday, November 23, the Common Council Technology Committee is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at City Hall and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
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Sunday, November 20, 2022

Bronson House Primer

Back in August 2021, Alan Neumann, president of Historic Hudson, made a presentation about the Dr. Oliver Bronson House, Hudson's own National Historic Landmark, and the proposal to make what was once the Bronson estate into a public park. The presentation, part of the Hudson Area Library's local history series, was the library's first in person only event after the worst of the pandemic.


Gossips learned recently that the event, although not accessible on Zoom at the time, was videotaped and can be viewed on YouTube: "Bronson Park Vision." It is recommended for anyone interested in the history of the Bronson House and Historic Hudson's vision for its future.

Of Interest

The Albany Business Review reported today on recent real estate sales in the Capital Region: "Inside the region's most expensive October home sales." Featured were houses in Saratoga Springs, Queensbury, and Niskayuna, but heading the list was this modern house on Mount Merino Road in Greenport, which sold for $2,510,000.

Photo: Gavin Preuss

Photo: Gavin Preuss


Friday, November 18, 2022

News of the Hudson Farmers' Market

Tomorrow, Saturday, November 19, is the final day of the season for the Hudson Farmers' Market. The market is open at the corner of Sixth and Columbia streets from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. It's your chance to acquire all the things you need for your Thanksgiving table.

After taking Thanksgiving Day weekend off, the market returns as the Holiday Market at the Elks Lodge, 201 Harry Howard Avenue, for three Saturdays in December. The Holiday Market is open from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. on December 3, 10, and 17.  

Dog Control Officer Needed

The City of Hudson is looking to hire a dog control officer for 2023. Among the duties of the dog control officer are these:
  • On call, on a 24-hour basis, for the seizure of stray, abandoned, or loose dogs found on the streets and other public places.
  • Respond to calls by the Hudson Police Department for assistance when needed.
  • Issue appearance tickets to owners of unlicensed dogs.
  • Patrol the streets of Hudson at least twice a week.
  • Make random visits to the Hudson Dog Park at least twice a week to confirm any dogs present have current valid licenses.
The job has an annual stipend of $7,200. Click here for more information about the job and how to apply for it. The deadline for applying is Monday, December 12.

The picture below shows a dog named Aleric, who was starved and abandoned, tied to a fence at the waterfront in 2013. He was discovered by Hudson police, rescued by the dog control officer at the time, and managed to survive the terrible abuse he had suffered.

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COVID-19 Update

The Columbia County Department of Health has released its numbers for today. Since yesterday, there have been 17 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 1 more than yesterday, from which it can be inferred that, since yesterday, 16 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 more county resident hospitalized today than yesterday, and 1 more is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 14.

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported 27 new cases of COVID-19. The total number of cases was 5,750, and the number of active cases was 132. There were 304 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 5 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

The Saga of a Roof

On October 14, a contractor representing the owner of the little Gothic Revival cottage at 611 Union Street came before the Historic Preservation Commission seeking a certificate of appropriateness to replace the roof, now cedar shakes, with an asphalt roof. The applicant argued that replacing the roof in kind would be too costly, and an asphalt shingle could be chosen that would look like the cedar that is there now.

The proposal to put asphalt shingles on this house was not well received by the HPC. Architect member Chip Bohl opined that "a wood shingle roof is an integral part of the building." HPC member Miranda Barry added, "It would be a shame to put asphalt shingles on this house." The applicant insisted, "The lifespan of a cedar roof isn't worth it."

Bohl asked if they had explored cementitious materials that look like cedar. HPC member Hugh Biber offered, "It would be pretty quick to find out cost and availability [of synthetic cedar shingles]." He suggested that price would be comparable to asphalt. The applicant maintained that no roofing contractor had recommended fake cedar.

In the end, HPC chair Phil Forman offered these alternatives: "You can stand pat on asphalt, or you can check out synthetic cedar and come back in two weeks." Since it was pretty clear that the HPC was likely to deny a certificate of appropriateness to asphalt shingles, the applicant withdrew the application.

The house as it appears in the perimeter of an 1871 map of Hudson.
Two weeks later, the owner of the house appeared before the HPC saying that he wanted to rescind the withdrawal of the application. He argued that he shouldn't be required to put a wood shingle roof on the house, which he maintained would cost twice as much as an asphalt roof. His appeal was interrupted by Victoria Polidoro, legal counsel to the HPC, who pointed out that the commission was not requiring that he do a wood shingle roof. The representative who had appeared before maintained that they had, and the minutes from the October 14 meeting were read to prove otherwise. The HPC reiterated that wood shingles were an integral part of the appeal of the house and they were recommending the use of a synthetic material that would have the same appearance, texture, and pattern as cedar shingles.

Today, the owner of the house was again before the HPC. He was now proposing a faux wood shake that the HPC deemed appropriate because it replicated the cedar shingles now on the house. The HPC was satisfied, and the owner thanked the commission "for insisting we look at something else"--something other than asphalt. Happy ending . . . for everyone.
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2023 Budget Approved

At a special meeting last night, the Common Council voted unanimously to approve the budget proposed for 2023. Before the vote has taken, there was some discussion that merits attention.

Councilmember Margaret Morris (First Ward) suggested that, given the mayor and mayoral aide are now both full-time positions with salaries totaling $130,000, it might be time to consider restructuring city government and think about having a city manager instead of a mayor. Councilmember Vicky Daskaloudi (Fifth Ward) similarly suggested that a committee be created to explore other ways of structuring city government. In the past, Daskaloudi has suggested reducing the number of councilmembers to five--one from each ward instead of two from each ward.

Council president Tom DePietro said he had always thought a charter commission was needed to think about other structures, but he warned, "A city manager is not quite the silver bullet that people think it is." He went on, "It has definite, in my opinion, anti-democratic implications. You don't trust the election process to bring in someone who can competently do the things a city manager does. Do you think a city manager somehow has some kind of magic sense of how to manage things? It doesn't really work like that. But that's my opinion now. I could be convinced otherwise. In any case, it would also take a referendum."  

The videorecording of the meeting can be viewed here.
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Thursday, November 17, 2022

COVID-19 Update

It turns out the Columbia County Department of Health has not stopped reporting daily COVID numbers. They only skipped a day. They released the numbers again today. Since Tuesday, there have been 9 new cases of COVID-19. The number of active cases being reported today is 1 fewer than on Tuesday, from which it can be inferred that, since Tuesday, 10 county residents have recovered from the virus. There is 1 fewer county resident hospitalized today than on Tuesday, and 1 fewer is in the ICU. There has not been a death from COVID-19 reported in Columbia County since Monday, November 14.  

A year ago today, the CCDOH reported a death from COVID-19 and 38 new cases. The total number of cases was 5,723, and the number of active cases was 169. There were 278 county residents in mandatory quarantine, 5 were hospitalized, and 1 was in the ICU. The total number of deaths attributed to COVID-19 at this time last year was 106.

The State of COVID-19 in Columbia County

It appears the Columbia County Department of Health may have stopped its daily report of COVID numbers. There hasn't been such a report since Tuesday. Although there has been no report from the CCDOH as yet today, there was this press release from Matt Murell, chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors.
COVID-19 positive cases took a significant tumble this week, falling to their lowest weekly level this year, Columbia County Department of Health Director Jack Mabb said today. There were 36 positive cases in the first four days of this week, nearly half of the positive cases reported last week. 
"I think it’s good news ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, but people should still stay aware of those around them,” said Director Mabb. He is encouraging people to be aware of symptoms in themselves and family members who are gathering next Thursday, and to utilize home tests to determine if those ill individuals are positive for COVID-19. 
The good news on the virus’s effect on the community is also reflected in hospitalizations, with just six people hospitalized and one in the ICU. The department reported its 159th COVID-19 related death last week, this with an elderly gentleman who lived at home. 
Interest in the COVID-19 booster remains, with 54 vaccinated at last Thursday's clinic. The department also administered 21 flu vaccinations that day. Interest in the Monkeypox vaccine is a different story, as only four received the vaccine. “I think those county residents who wanted the two-shot series have gotten it,” said Director Mabb. However, the DOH will continue to offer the vaccine at its weekly clinic at 325 Columbia.

Of Interest

The Albany Business Review has an article today about real estate in Hudson: "How Hudson's real estate market is shifting after buying 'frenzy.'" 

Photo: Albany Business Review

Exhibition at Olana Opening on Sunday

The Olana Partnership, in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, presents Chasing Icebergs: Art and a Disappearing Landscape, the first winter exhibition at Olana State Historic Site. 

The exhibition, shown primarily in the Sharp Family Gallery at Olana, highlights Frederic Church’s iceberg sketches from his 1859 intrepid voyage to the Arctic. Risking his life, Church chartered a ship to the treacherous waters surrounding Newfoundland and Labrador—an area known as Iceberg Alley—on a mission that made him the first American artist to explore the region for the purpose of painting icebergs, a landmark event in the history of art. The exhibit includes photographs and historic texts which Church collected about icebergs and Arctic exploration, as well as the work of four contemporary artists who contemplate the wonder and fragility of Earth’s polar environments. Just as Church used his major work The Icebergs to reflect on the major crisis of his time—the Civil War—many contemporary artists reflect on the sublime power of Arctic ice and use it to uncover the global crisis of our time—climate change and the immediate danger it poses to our future and that of these imperiled wonders of nature. 

Joining Frederic Church’s works in this exhibition are artworks and writings by his companions and fellow explorers Dr. Isaac Israel Hayes and Louis L. Noble, as well as photographs from William Bradford’s Greenland expedition in 1869. Many of the historic works come from Church’s collection at Olana and illuminate Church’s long fascination with the Arctic region. The exhibition delves into the history of exploration, artistic representation of the Arctic, and the Indigenous peoples of Newfoundland and Labrador—such as the Mi’kmaq, Innu, and Inuit. Contemporary artists include Lynn Davis, Zaria Forman, Mark Igloliorte, and Kambui Olujimi. 

Lynn Davis is a world-traveling photographer who in large format photography over five expeditions to Greenland captured icebergs, much the way Frederic Church did with vast oil on canvas paintings. Zaria Forman circumnavigated an iceberg in a similar way to Frederic Church, capturing details and sound through an immersive film. Mark Igloliorte draws from his heritage from Nunatsiavut, Labrador, and Inuktitut language in his interdisciplinary works of paint, performance, and installation. Alluding to the consequences of inaction, Kambui Olujimi challenges the concept of inevitability through installations of glass sculpture and water. 

The exhibition, which opens on Sunday, November 20, and continues through March 26, 2023, was the subject of a conversation this morning on WAMC's The Roundtable with Lynn Davis and Eleanor Jones Harvey, Senior Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. That conversation can be heard here.

In conjunction with the exhibition, and in collaboration with Black Dome Press, The Olana Partnership has reproduced a new edition of Louis L. Noble’s 1861 book After Icebergs with a Painter, an engaging glimpse into the expedition he took alongside Frederic Church in 1859 to the waters of Newfoundland and Labrador. This important book, long out of print, features a new introductory essay and colored reproductions of most of Church’s iceberg sketches and paintings, as well as the first detailed map of his journey. The book is available online and at the Olana Museum Store. 

Chasing Icebergs: Art and a Disappearing Landscape was curated by William L. Coleman, Ph.D., Former Director of Collections & Exhibitions, with support from Allegra Davis, Associate Curator, and Ida Brier, Archivist/Librarian, all of The Olana Partnership, in collaboration with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation. 

For more information and to secure tickets to the exhibition for opening day, Sunday, November 20, click here.

It Happened Here on Warren Street

Yesterday, Stair Galleries held an auction called An American Icon: Property from the Collection of Joan Didion. About a half hour into the auction, word spread on Facebook that a rather spectacular pair of faux tortoiseshell sunglasses had sold for $27,000. 


The auction was the subject of reports on NPR before and after the auction occurred: "Writer Joan Didon's possessions sell for eye-popping prices at auction." All together, the auction netted nearly $2 million. The prices fetched for all the items in the auction can be found here

Proceeds from the sale will go to Parkinson's research and care at Columbia University and Columbia/Presbyterian Hospital (Didion suffered from Parkinson's disease) and to the Sacramento Historical Society for the benefit of a scholarship fund for women writers at Sacramento City College (Didion attended SCC for a brief time in the 1950s).