Apologies

I debated about whether I should attend the meeting of the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, which was scheduled to happen today at 6:00 p.m., in person or on Zoom. At the September meeting, which I attended on Zoom, the architects working on the project, Alexander Gorlin Architects, never showed the plans they were presenting to the Zoom camera, so in October, I attended the meeting in person. 

At the October meeting, the only one of the architects present assiduously avoided displaying the drawings she was sharing with the Board in a way that would allow me to see them. I got a better view of the materials from watching the video of the meeting the next day.

So tonight, I decided to save myself the bother, stay at home, and attend the meeting on Zoom. That was a mistake. I clicked on the link to the Zoom meeting at 5:55 p.m., and for the next 40 minutes I got nothing but these messages. (They appeared on the screen simultaneously, but to avoid reproducing a lot of white space, I captured each one separately.) 

After 40 minutes, I gave up hope that the host would ever start the meeting or let me in.

It is not clear what happened. I try not to be so paranoid as to think the host, whoever that may be, deliberately excluded me from the meeting. It's more likely that no one thought to turn on the Owl. Still, if a meeting is advertised as a hybrid, it should be a hybrid, and if you are planning a project that is going to have a significant impact on the character of a very small city, little more than two square miles, you should be more open about sharing what you are planning with the people who live in that city and are invested in that city. 

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Meetings of Interest in the Week Ahead

There's not much happening this week in the runup to Thanksgiving, but the meetings that will take place are of some importance.

• On Monday, November 20, the Hudson Housing Authority Board of Commissioners holds its monthly meeting at 6:00 p.m. As we know, HHA is planning a major redevelopment and significant expansion of its properties. They have renewed their option to buy three parcels now owned by Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA), but exactly what they, their development partner Mountco, and the architects from Alexander Gorlin Architects are proposing has so far been a well guarded secret. Perhaps at this meeting we will learn more about the current plan to transform Hudson, half a century after the last transformation. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person in the Community Room at Bliss Towers and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Tuesday, November 21, the Common Council holds a special meeting at 5:45 p.m. to approve the proposed budget for 2024. At the public hearing on the budget, which took place last Thursday and lasted all of five minutes, the only person to comment was Kristal Heinz, who said she wanted the City to find ways to address its SPDES (State Pollution Discharge Elimination System) issues in order to "keep all this development moving forward." The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• At 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, the Common Council holds its regular monthly meeting. The agenda for the meeting includes a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a sale tax agreement with Columbia County. The distribution of sales tax is based on ZIP code, and because the ZIP code 12534 includes Greenport and all its big box stores, the amount of sales tax that comes to Hudson is always a matter of negotiation. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.  

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Never Mind . . .

It turns out the attempted kidnapping reported yesterday wasn't that at all. The driver thought to be trying to lure a child into his van was only trying to tell the child he had dropped his jacket. Here is today's press release from the Hudson Police Department.

Following a thorough and intensive investigation, the Hudson Police Department has determined that the reported incident of attempted child kidnapping did not occur within our jurisdiction. The collaborative efforts of the Hudson Police Department, New York State Police, New York State Bridge Authority, Columbia County Sheriff’s Department, and the Hudson City School District were instrumental in resolving this matter.

Upon locating the vehicle and driver today, it was revealed that a language barrier led to a misinterpretation of the events. The driver had observed a child dropping a jacket on the walking/bicycle path. In an attempt to inform the child, the driver stopped and made a hand gesture pointing to the rear of the vehicle. The driver had a strong accent, and the child believed the driver was instructing him to "get into the back" of the van.

Police Commissioner Shane Bower expressed pride in the collaborative efforts of all involved agencies, stating, "I am proud of the work from the members of our Police Department and all the additional agencies that assisted in this investigation. No crimes were committed, and we are now able to close this case."

“I want to commend the quick and decisive actions taken by the children involved.  The ability to react appropriately in a potentially dangerous situation is commendable. Moreover, I am beyond proud of the hard work and dedication exhibited by our Officers throughout the course of this investigation to keep our community safe and informed.”- Chief Franklin

The Hudson Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community, and we appreciate the support and cooperation of the public throughout this investigation.

Returning to an Earlier Time

Once upon a time in Hudson, large signs painted on the sides of buildings were a common sight. The ghosts of some of these signs survive today. 

This morning, the Historic Preservation Commission approved a sign, 18.5 feet by 10.5 feet, to be painted on the exposed east side of 449 Warren Street, the location of Olde Hudson.

In approving the sign, HPC member Miranda Barry commented, "It's in keeping with the way signs used to be done in Hudson." HPC member John Schobel observed, "It's not vintage brick," implying that fact made the decision to allow the painted sign easier. 

The building at 449 Warren was constructed by Galvan over a period of three years, from 2012 to 2015. The HPC's review of the design for the building was a grueling process and the subject of the commission's first ever workshop. For those curious about Hudson's recent history, Gossips account of that workshop makes interesting reading: "HPC Holds Its First Workshop."

449 Warren Street under construction in 2014

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It Happened in Hudson Today

Gossips received the following press release from the Hudson Police Department this afternoon.

On Thursday, November 16, 2023, the Hudson Police Department received a call around noon about a reported possible child kidnapping attempt of a 10-year-old child. The child was walking down Harry Howard Avenue in the area of the Crosswinds Apartments when he was approached by a white van driven by white male, reported be in his 30s, who spoke Spanish. The driver stopped near the child and told the child to to get in the van. 

The child ran to his 13-year-old sister for safety. The sister witnessed the van stop but was too far away to hear what the driver said. A picture of the suspect’s van was obtained through video surveillance in the area.

The child and family are currently safe. This is an ongoing active investigation.

Your cooperation is crucial, and we encourage anyone with information to contact the Hudson Police Department at 518-828-3388. Updates will follow as the investigation progresses.

"We understand the concern this incident has raised in our community. The safety of our residents, especially our children, is our top priority. Rest assured, we are working tirelessly on this investigation. Our commitment to ensuring the well-being of every individual remains unwavering. Updates will be shared as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.”--Chief Franklin

Suggesting the Unthinkable

At the informal Common Council meeting this past Monday, Councilmember Margaret Morris (First Ward) raised an issue relating to the Youth Department budget. Citing data that indicated one third of the children participating in programs at the Youth Center do not live in Hudson, she suggested that there should be a nonresident fee at the Youth Center for children who do not reside in Hudson. She noted that the Youth Department already charges a nonresident fee for its summer program at Oakdale Lake.

Mayor Kamal Johnson, attending the meeting on Zoom, urged the Council "to err on caution" when considering charging "kids who have been displaced." He spoke about kids who are going to the Youth Center "because their friends, who used to be their neighbors, are going there." He warned against making such a decision without public input and cautioned that such a meeting "could get out of hand" if people perceive that "services are being taken away from the youth." He made reference to a recent meeting of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, attended by a large group of people there to appeal to the supervisors not to evict the Hudson Youth Clubhouse from 11 Warren Street. (Johnson might also have cited a BEA workshop on the Youth Department budget back in November 2018, when a bag of dog feces was hurled at Mayor Rick Rector.)

Annette Perry appealing to the Board of Supervisors on behalf of the Youth Clubhouse

As Gossips has reported, Columbia County is buying 11 Warren Street, Hudson's failed, 1970s era strip mall, from the Galvan Foundation, which has owned the building since 2014. It is Galvan not the County that is evicting the Clubhouse, expecting the program to be out of the building by the end of this month. Jammel Cutler reported on the situation last month in the Register-Star: "D-Day near for Hudson Youth Clubhouse." 

It was revealed at the meeting that the sale of the building has not yet closed, and the Board of Supervisors plans to hold a public meeting sometime in December to determine what county agencies will be going into the building once the County has taken ownership.

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Meetings Tonight

Today at 5:30 p.m., there is a public hearing on the proposed city budget for 2024. The hearing is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to view the budget. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

Prior to the public hearing, at 5:15 p.m., there is a special meeting of the Common Council to consider a resolution authorizing the submission of a Building Decarbonization Grant application for $100,000. The purpose of the grant is to fund the installation of solar arrays on the DPW garage on Dock Street and at the water treatment plant at the top of Rossman Avenue. The special meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

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Who Else Got Funding

Earlier today, Gossips reported the good news that Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) had been awarded a $500,000 grant to finance Phase I of the rejuvenation of Seventh Street Park--new paving, new seating, new signage, new lighting, new landscaping. That was just one of the projects in Columbia that was funded in Round 13 of the state's Regional Economic Development Council CFA (Consolidated Funding Application) process. The total of $5.6 million went to projects in Columbia County. Here are the projects of greatest to Gossips readers.

• Hudson Hall received $70,650 in Market New York funds to produce and promote next year's Hudson Jazz Festival.
• Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society received a $500,000 EPF (Environmental Protection Fund) grant to repair and restore the underwater foundation of the lighthouse.    

• Union Street Brewing Co. received a $48,625 Craft Beverage Micro Grant to expand its operation.
• Montgomery Street Projects LLC received a $1,526,168 Carbon Neutral Community Economic Development Grant from NYSERDA to develop the former Kaz warehouse site as an arts and food hub.

• Art Omi received $2 million in Market New York funds for a major capital project that will include eighteen pavilions anchored by a visitors center.

For a complete list of all the Regional Economic Development Council awards throughout the state, click here.

Rejuvenating Seventh Street Park

Friends of the Public Square (FOPS) announced today that they have received a $500,000 EPF grant through the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to complete Phase I of the plan to rejuvenate Seventh Street Park, also known as the Public Square.

Phase I involves improvements to pavement, seating, signage, lighting, and landscaping. In October, FOPS received a grant of $100,000 from The Spark of Hudson for planting trees, shrubs, and other greenery in the park.

Pushing the Limits

Bill Huston has a reputation for his relentless criticism of city government and city management, which he expresses on his blog HUDseen, in regular emails to city officials, in frequent visits to City Hall, and at city meetings. Huston was previously banned from City Hall and consigned to participate in city meetings only on Zoom. Now that city meetings are taking place at the Central Fire Station because of the renovations to City Hall, Huston is back in person at meetings, arguing that the ban does not apply to the fire station. Last night, his persistent questioning during the informal meeting of the Common Council led to his being ejected from the meeting by Chief Mishanda Franklin.

The informal meeting is when department heads and/or commissioners make reports to the Common Council. Last night, Huston had a least one question for everyone making a report. Of Liz Yorck, youth director, he demanded to know why the Youth Department used Facebook to communicate information when using Facebook is considered by many to put children at risk. Of Shawn Hoffman, fire chief, Huston wanted to know why volunteer firefighters are allowed to exceed the speed limit getting to the fire station. When Councilmember Ryan Wallace (Third Ward) cited NYS code, clarifying that it was allowed by law, Huston persisted. It was then that Mayor Kamal Johnson, attending the meeting on Zoom, stated that he did not want his commissioners harassed by Huston. But Huston's questions didn't stop.

When Franklin had completed the monthly report for the Police Department, Huston wanted to know why there were not more foot patrols in Seventh Street Park. Franklin's response indicated that Huston had emailed her about this issue several times, and she had already provided the answer. After Rob Perry made his report on the Department of Public Works, Huston quizzed him about parking policy in the municipal lot behind City Hall. Why were the alternate side rules for overnight parking abandoned, making it impossible for the street sweeper to clean the lot? When Perry explained that is was a decision made years ago by the mayor, the police chief, and the Planning Board, prompted by requests from the community, Huston persisted, asking if Perry was content with the state of the parking lot, given that it could not be swept regularly. It was then that Franklin interceded and told Huston he had to leave the meeting. Apparently at Franklin's request, Wallace called the police station to request a car to take Huston away.

The incident inspired Councilmember Dominic Merante (Fifth Ward) to suggest that the Council needed to revisit the issue of decorum at its meetings. Council president Tom DePietro alluded to the rules of order that are adopted by the Council each year and commented, "The person in question continually abuses those limits." 

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The Amnesty Period Has Begun

Gossips has been reporting about this since August, when the idea of creating an amnesty program for people with long delinquent parking tickets was first presented to the Common Council by Mayor Kamal Johnson. Today, a press release from the mayor's office announces that the amnesty program has begun. 

The City of Hudson and Mayor Kamal Johnson are pleased to announce a temporary amnesty program for significantly delinquent parking tickets. Effective until December 31, 2023, individuals may apply for amnesty on unpaid parking tickets issued prior to January 1, 2020, to pay only the original ticket amount, with late fees and other penalties waived.

"We established this program to give folks with old parking tickets the chance to start 2024 off with a clean slate," said Mayor Kamal Johnson. "Temporarily waiving late fees--which in many cases now far exceeds the original cost of the ticket--is one tool we have to help make that happen."

Those who wish to participate in the amnesty program must submit an application (form link) to the City of Hudson Parking Bureau via email, postal mail, or by dropping off at the office's temporary location:

• Email: parkingbureau@cityofhudson.org (include "Parking Ticket Amnesty Program Application" in subject line)
• Mail: City Hall, attn: Parking Bureau, 520 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534
• Drop-off: Central Fire Station, 77 N. 7th Street, Hudson, NY 12534

Registered owners that have multiple vehicles must provide all license plates for their vehicles in their amnesty application. Once the application is received, the Parking Bureau will research all applicable outstanding tickets eligible for amnesty and contact the applicant with further instructions for payment.

Question regarding the amnesty program may be directed to the Parking Bureau at 518-828-0218 or parkingbureau@cityofhudson.org.

Fire on Warren Street

Late this afternoon, there was a fire at 407 Warren Street, former home of The Cascades, everyone's favorite and sorely missed breakfast and lunch spot.

Photo: Hudsonwail | Instagram

Photo: Mark Allen

Hudson fire chief, Shawn Hoffman, who, because of the fire, arrived late to the informal Common Council meeting tonight, reported, "Another building saved." He went on to say that the fire was limited to the second floor, there was minimal damage, and reiterated that the building had been saved.

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Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

This week, we reach the midpoint of November. As the days grow shorter and colder, and we move inexorably toward winter, there is a lot happening this week.

• On Monday, November 13, at 3:30 p.m., there is a "Rally to Take Back CD19 & Oppose Rep. Marc Molinaro & His Extremist GOP." The rally takes place in Seventh Street Park, a.k.a. the Public Square.

• Also on Monday, November 13, the Common Council holds a special meeting at 5:45 p.m. to consider a resolution "identifying the City of Hudson as the responsible local official authorized to access NYDOT's EBO system." The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• At 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 13, the Common Council holds its informal meeting. The Council will likely be discussing the proposed budget for 2024. In addition to that, the only thing on the agenda so far is a resolution authorizing a vendor contract with Columbia County Recovery Kitchen to provide after-school meals at the Youth Center. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• On Tuesday, November 14, the Planning Board meets at 6:00 p.m. Among other things, the Colarusso application for site plan approval to expand its haul road through South Bay in on the agenda. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Wednesday, November 15, the Zoning Board of Appeals meets at 6:00 p.m. No agenda is available for the meeting, which takes place in person only at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street.
• On Thursday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m., there is a public hearing on the proposed budget for 2024. The hearing is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• On Friday, November 17, the Historic Preservation Commission meets at 10:00 a.m. This will be the HPC's only meeting in November. On the agenda for the meeting is a public hearing on the proposed alternations to 122 Union Street to bring the 21st-century addition more in character with the original house and the surrounding neighborhood. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely. 

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In Case You Missed It

Jamie Larsen had an article last month in Rural Intelligence about the Park Theater and Shanan Magee, the man who brought it back to life: "Hudson's Park Theater: A 1921 Movie House Is Now a Vibrant Performance Space."  

Photo: David McIntyre

Living Up to Its Name

Ever since its founding in 1959, the library in Hudson has been called the Hudson Area Library. It was chartered to serve the City of Hudson and the towns of Greenport and Stockport, but when it came to financial support, the City of Hudson was the principal contributor. With the most recent election, that situation changed slightly.

Photo: Times Union

In Tuesday's election, the ballot in Greenport included the following proposition: "Shall the annual contribution of the Town of Greenport for the operating budget of the Hudson Area Association Library be $85,000 annually?" The proposition passed, with 647 yes votes and 409 no votes.  

Of course, last year the voters of Hudson agreed to increase Hudson's annual contribution to the library's operating budget by $100,000, raising it from $250,000 to $350,000.

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Hudson's Proposed Budget for 2024

At a special meeting of the Common Council tonight, Mayor Kamal Johnson presented the proposed budget for 2024. Most notable was a tax increase of 03.875 percent, which Johnson characterized as small, below the state tax cap, and the first tax increase since 2020. 

In his comments about the budget, Johnson spoke of the City being committed to paying its workers wages and salaries that were competitive. He also made reference to anticipated increased or new revenue streams: a new parking system and a 4 percent local tax on cannabis sales.

The proposed 2024 budget can be found here. It is expected that the Common Council will be discussing the budget at its informal meeting on Monday, November 13. A public hearing on the budget will take place on Thursday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m. The public hearing will be a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the hearing remotely.

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Hitting the Ground Running

Even though they will not take office until January 1, Jennifer Belton and Rich Volo, newly elected councilmembers who will be representing the Fourth Ward, are hosting a Fourth Ward Town Hall on Monday, November 13, at 6:00 p.m., in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, conveniently located  in the Fourth Ward at 51 North Fifth Street. The purpose of the town hall is to listen to Fourth Ward residents' ideas and concerns to help set an agenda for the coming year.

The Results from Last Night

The unofficial results of yesterday's election can be found on the Columbia County Board of Elections website. Here are the highlights.

In the race for Columbia County district attorney, Democrat Chris Liberati-Conant won with 9,983 votes. His opponent, Ryan Carty received a total of 9,274 votes--7,628 on the Republican line and 1,646 on the Conservative line.

Photo: Lance Wheeler

Democrats also won the two county judge positions: Michael Howard, with a total of 10,397 votes (9,065 on the Democratic line and 1,332 on the Working Families line), and Brian Herman with a total of 9,172 votes (8,122 on the Democratic line and 1,050 on the Working Families line). Their Republican opponents--Joyce Crawford and Robert Gibson--had totals of 7,934 and 8,802 respectively. Both Crawford and Gibson appeared on the Republican and the Conservative lines.

In Hudson, where there were only Democrats running and no contested races, except in the Third Ward, it is interesting to note how many voters went to the polls and chose not to vote for the candidates on the ballot. A total of 1,409 ballots were cast in Hudson. Kamal Johnson, seeking his third term as mayor, received 951 votes; Heather Campbell, who has been city treasurer since 2014, received 1,045 votes; and Tom DePietro, seeking his fourth term as Common Council president, received 916 votes. About a third of the voters who went to the polls chose not to vote for Johnson and DePietro, and about a quarter of those who voted did not vote for Campbell. 

In the First Ward, a total of 341 ballots were cast. Claire Cousin, running for a second term as supervisor, received 265 votes; Gary Purnhagen and Margaret Morris, running for seats on the Common Council, received 230 and 278 votes respectively.

In the Second Ward, a total of 190 ballots were cast. Abdus Miah, running for supervisor, received 144 votes; Mohammed Rony and Dewan Sarowar, running for seats on the Common Council, received totals of 110 and 130 votes respectively.

In the Third Ward, a total of 295 ballots were cast. Michael Chameides, running for reelection as supervisor, received a total of 245 votes; Shershah Mizan and Lola Roberts, running for seats on the Common Council, received 201 and 212 votes respectively. Bill Huston, running for the Council on his own "Fiscal Responsibility" line, received 42 votes.

In the Fourth Ward, a total of 228 ballots were cast. Linda Mussmann, seeking reelection as supervisor, received 161 votes. Jennifer Belton and Rich Volo, running for seats on the Common Council, received 148 and 140 votes respectively.

In the Fifth Ward, a total of 355 ballots were cast. Rick Scalera, seeking reelection as supervisor, received 253 votes. Dominic Merante and Vicky Daskaloudi, both seeking reelection to the Common Council, received 224 and 217 votes respectively.

All the unofficial election night results can be found here.

Update: The election results were updated on Wednesday, November 8. The most recent numbers can be found here.

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Today Is Election Day

Today, November 7, 2023, is Election Day. The polls opened at 6:00 a.m. this morning and will remain open until 9:00 p.m. tonight.

The polling places in Hudson are:

• Wards 1, 2, and 3: St. Mary's Academy, 301 Allen Street
• Ward 4: County Office Building, 401 State Street
• Ward 5: Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street

If you are uncertain about which ward you are in, here is the current ward map for your reference.

Although all of the races in Hudson are uncontested, with the exception of the race for councilmember in the Third Ward, where critic and blogger Bill Huston, running on his own line, is challenging the two Democratic candidates, former councilmember Shershah Mizan and political newcomer Lola Roberts, there are still important races to vote in: state supreme court justices, county district attorney, county judges, and two statewide propositions on the back of the ballot.   

Tree Planting in Hudson

The annual fall tree planting, orchestrated by the Conservation Advisory Council and carried out this year not by volunteers but by a professional landscaping company, is happening today.

The tree planting began this morning on North Fifth Street and will continue on Union Street and finally on lower Allen Street. 

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

It's the first full week of November, and we're back in dismal standard time. Meanwhile, here's what is happening in the afternoons and evenings when it gets dark far too soon.

• On Monday, November 6, the Conservation Advisory Council meets at 6:00 p.m. No agenda for the meeting is as yet available, but they may take up the concerns raised by the Common Council Legal Committee regarding the proposed tree ordinance. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• Tuesday, November 7, is Election Day. If you haven't voting early, this is the day! Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. The polling places in Hudson are:
• First, Second, and Third Wards: St. Mary's Academy, 301 Allen Street
• Fourth Ward: County Office Building, 4o1 State Street
• Fifth Ward: Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street

• At 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7, Hudson Community Development and Planning Agency (HCDPA) holds its monthly meeting. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Community Room at Bliss Towers, 41 North Second Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.
• On Thursday, November 9, at 6:00 p.m., there is a special meeting of the Common Council to receive and consider the proposed city budget for 2024. The meeting is a hybrid, taking place in person at the Central Fire Station, 77 North Seventh Street, and on Zoom. Click here to join the meeting remotely.

• Also at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 9, Carl Whitbeck presents a talk about the volunteer regiment from Columbia and Dutchess counties which was mustered here in Hudson in September 1862 to serve in the Union Army. The event takes place in the Community Room at the Hudson Area Library, 51 North Fifth Street.

• On Saturday, November 11, the observance of Veterans' Day begins at 9:30 a.m. in the Public Square, a.k.a. Seventh Street Park. Following a ceremony at the war memorial in the Public Square, a parade will proceed down Warren Street to the Columbia County courthouse, where there will be further ceremonies. 

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The Current Status of Shepherd's Run

Last week, the Register-Star reported that the NYS Office of Renewable Energy Siting had granted a draft permit to Hecate Energy to build and operate the controversial 255-acre, 60-megawatt Shepherd's Run solar farm at Routes 23 and 7 in the Town of Copake: "Shepherd's Run draft permit approved."

Yesterday, Dave Lucas did a story about the project on WAMC: "Shepherd's Run solar farm moving ahead in Copake." It's worth listening to (or reading), if you haven't already done so.

Site of the Shepherd's Run solar farm     Photo: Deb Hall, Copake

Groundbreaking on North Seventh Street

Although, as Gossips reported, the actual groundbreaking happened a couple of weeks ago, the ceremonial groundbreaking for 76 North Seventh Street took place this afternoon, in front of a giant, partially waterfilled pit. In addition to some ground floor commercial space, the building to be constructed on the site will have 63 residential units, 12 of which will be affordable for moderate income households (80 percent of the area median income) and 51 of which will be affordable for middle income households (130 percent of the area median income).

In his remarks, Dan Kent of the Galvan Foundation spoke of the building as the beginning of the Depot District and credited Mayor Kamal Johnson with being its inspiration. He also acknowledged the role played in the Depot District project by Rick Scalera, Fifth Ward supervisor, former longtime mayor, and special adviser to the Galvan Foundation. 

In his remarks, Johnson spoke of Hudson's housing crisis and attributed the cancellation, for the second year, of Hudson High School's varsity football season and also staff shortages at Columbia Memorial Health to the lack of affordable housing in Hudson. 

Then Kent and Johnson, along with Mike Tucker, president and CEO of Columbia Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), donned hard hats and took hold of the ceremonial shovels to carry out the groundbreaking. (Tucker, Kent, and Johnson appear from left to right in the photos below.)

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Cannabis on the Hudson

At its meeting in October, the Common Council passed a resolution in support of an application for a cannabis dispensary license submitted by Blaze NY LLC. One of the founders of Blaze NY is former Fourth Ward supervisor Bill Hughes, and it was Hughes who requested a resolution of support from the Common Council. From the discussion that preceded the introduction and vote on the resolution, Gossips gathered there were two other applicants seeking licenses to dispense cannabis in Hudson, and that no licenses had yet been issued in Hudson.

There has been no news on the success of Blaze NY or the other applicants in getting licensed, but earlier this week, a cannabis dispensary called Gotham opened in The Caboose, the newly reconstructed red barn at 60 South Front Street.

A week ago, the photo above and the following announcement appeared on Instagram:

Today is the day! Gotham lands in Hudson, right across from the Amtrak station. Open every Thursday thru Sunday, from 11 am to 7 pm. We can't wait to see you.

Yesterday, the following message appeared on Instagram, posted by @visithudsony.

It's the second week of @gotham.ny's legal cannabis pop-up, conveniently located at the brand new @thecaboosehudsonny right across from the Hudson AMTRAK station.

There you'll find a large selection of flower, edibles, apparel, products for the home, and skin/body care products, with an emphasis on locally produced and sustainable products. Whether you're a longtime budficionado or just trying your first toke, the friendly and approachable folks from Gotham will set you on the right path.

Gotham has a shop in New York City, at East 3rd Street and the Bowery. The shop here in Hudson is a pop-up, a temporary installation which will be in place until the end of the year. 

For more information about Gotham, visit their website: gotham.nyc.

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Parking Reassurance

As the weather grows colder (there was sleet yesterday!), and we approach the first weekend in November, it is natural to wonder about the summertime suspension on weekends of alternate side of the street overnight parking. When will it end?

In years past, the suspension was sometimes over at the end of October and sometimes over at the end of September, so for those of us who've been around for a while, whether it still applies this weekend is a reasonable question. 

Gossips got the answer today from Michael Hofmann, aide to Mayor Kamal Johnson. The suspension of alternate side of the street overnight parking will continue through November. Alternate side rules for weekend overnight parking will resume on the first weekend of December, which is also the weekend of Winter Walk.

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Next Week at Hudson Hall

On Friday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m., the Camphill Hudson Players, an integrated theater group, present an encore performance of their original multimedia theatrical production, Happiness in the Spotlight, at Hudson Hall. The play debuted this past spring at Hudson Hall and is returning for one night only. The performance will be filmed, to be included in a documentary exploring the impact the group has on Hudson and the surrounding world.

The show, written and directed by Jody Brookes, centers on an award ceremony and explores topics of belonging, individuality, and finding contentment in a polarizing world. At one point in the show, actor Matthew Harrington exits the theater, and pre-filmed scenes show Harrington asking Hudson citizens, including Mayor Kamal Johnson and Hudson police officers, how they find their way to happiness in their lives. 

The filming of the play and subsequent editing are funded in large part by a generous grant from The Spark of Hudson.

Admission to the play is offered free of charge. To reserve tickets, go to http://www.camphillhudson.org/events.html.

Camphill Hudson's mission is to build healthy social relationships in an environment dedicated to personal and social healing and caring for the earth and to build community with people to all abilities through living, learning, working, and playing with people of all ages, races, and creeds.