Previous Chatham Courier Headlines

January 25th, 2012

A 'Giant' win!

My blog, I’ll admit, has been empty the last few weeks. I guess I was lacking inspiration. However, I feel rejuvenated after last night. Why?

Letter — Long-term solution versus interim alternative

Chatham Mayor Tom Curran must be congratulated for convening a Jan. 12 public hearing on proposed highway/railroad/crossing changes at Main Street and Hudson Avenue. Both NYSDOT and CSX Railroad stated they observed highway traffic backed up or obstructing the crossing when a freight train is approaching.

Letter — Contributors help food pantry meet increasing demand

The Ghent Food Pantry would like to take this opportunity to offer our thanks to everyone who made the holidays brighter for so many families. The Chatham-Ghent business community, churches, synagogues, civic organizations, schools and so many individuals contributed time, money and food to help us meet the ever increasing demand.

Letter — Allow due-process, functionality of Ethics Board

I am writing in response to the Jan. 18 article in the Chatham Courier newspaper regarding the New Lebanon Ethics Board. Wayne Martin was the one and only applicant to the Ethics Board at the time of the organizational and first regular meetings of the Town Board. Since there stood three vacancies at the time and Martin had filled a vacancy on that board for the final six weeks of 2011, he should have been immediately appointed to one of the five-year terms that stood vacant, thereby allowing the Ethics Board to have a quorum and address the pending complaint in a timely manner. This was not done, only because one of the councilman has a personal issue with Martin that resulted from an untrue “rumor.”

Letter — Columnist is wrong in placing blame on president

I read Sesame Campell’s latest column (Jan. 19) with much interest as I, too, am concerned about income inequality and the outrageous gaps between the income of top 1 percent and the rest of us. But to blame this situation — a trend that has actually been growing for decades — on a president who took office in 2009 is both ignorant and totally wrong.

Board tables support of town near Marcellus Shale

GHENT — Ghent Town Board members decided to take a slower approach to approving a friend of the court brief for the town of Ulysses, a bucolic community nestled within the state’s Finger Lakes that could be the site of underground natural gas exploration or extraction.

NL Planning Board discusses its own image

NEW LEBANON — Most of the Planning Board meeting Jan. 18 was routine. Tom Hanson’s plan for a four-lot subdivision of his property on Hill Road moved forward, as did the approval of RISA Management Corp. for an addition to store sheet metal and a site plan review for a country market/café. It got interesting after the board had adjourned and took up the topic of its image.

Town to hold Main Street Forum Feb. 1

NEW LEBANON — Why can’t New Lebanon attract a supermarket? The failed plans for the Hannaford Supermarket/Pharmacy to locate in town demonstrated that the town is caught in a Catch-22. Due to the speed limit on the so-called “miracle mile,” the convergence of Routes 20 and 22 through town, the state Department of Transportation mandated changes late in the process that made the project untenable, yet they have recently declined to lower the speed limit. So what about the town’s future?

A new chapter for Chatham Bookstore

CHATHAM — Once upon a time, there was a woman named Susannah Marks who bought a storefront on Main Street in the village of Chatham and opened a bookstore. In September 1977, she purchased what was once a cabinet shop and before that, a shoe repair shop. And from the day that bookstore opened, Muriel Faxon was there.

Stephentown ZBA declares positive declaration for motocross track

STEPHENTOWN — While the adults discussed the negative effects on the local area of building a motocross track, wistful pre-adolescent boys traced the path of the track on a map with their fingers, clearly riding dirt bikes in their minds.

MED third graders pen postcards from Venice at Spencertown Academy

SPENCERTOWN — The Mary E. Dardess Elementary School in Chatham is in the eighth year of a collaboration with the Spencertown Academy to give third graders a unique and multifaceted cross-cultural experience.

DPW employee will be back in court Feb. 15

CHATHAM — It remains to be seen if the Feb. 15 scheduled court date for former village employee Chris Sperl will provide more information behind the charges by police that led Sperl to resign from his post as working foreman for the Department of Public Works.

SIDEBAR: One building, 4 women, only one solid plan

NEW LEBANON — When Melanie Hunt’s boyfriend called her in December and told her that he had seen in the Courier that three women had appeared before the Planning Board with plans to open a market/café on the site of the former Judy’s Gifts, she was astounded. She had to agree that it was a good plan.

Alfred M. Dunham

Alfred M. Dunham, 79, a lifelong resident of Chatham, died Friday at his residence. Mr. Dunham born September 19,1932 in Hudson, New York is the son of the late Franklin and Hazel (Manning) Dunham. He graduated Chatham High School class of 1950. Mr. Dunham attended a 4-year technical course for laboratory assistant within General Electric, as well as obtaining a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Union College 1955. He continued his employment with General Electric for 42 years retiring in 1992. A memorial service was held Wednesday evening 7:00pm from the Maranatha Christian Church, 1965 Rt. 203, Chatham. Interment was in the Chatham Rural Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Morris Memorial, Park Row, Chatham, N.Y. 12037 or Patrick J. Curry Foundation, 1 Hoffman St., Chatham, N.Y. 12037. For online condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com.

Mary Scripter Whittemore

Mary Scripter Whittemore, 97.

Marjorie M. Csajko

Marjorie M. Csajko, 94, of County Rt. 24, Red Rock, died Saturday at her residence. Mr. Csajko born April 29, 1917 in New York City is the daughter of the late John and Erna (Franke) Schneider. She was employed as secretary for Prudential Ins. Co. in Bethpage, N.Y. before moving to Red Rock with her husband, the late Ernest William Csajko (1992) in 1977 from Wantagh, N.Y. Mrs. Csajko gave many years with the Columbia Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary, a member of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church in Spencertown, N.Y. having served on many committees. She was a member of the Ghent and Tri-Village Senior Citizens and was an avid European traveler. She is survived by her sons John E. Csajko of Red Rock, Roger A. Csajko of Wantagh, N.Y.; 2 grandsons and 1 great-grandson. She was predeceased by a sister Virginia Schneider. A memorial service will be held Friday 11:00am from the St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, Spencertown. Inurnment will be in the Calverton National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church, Spencertown, N.Y. 12165. For online condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com.

Editorial — Get involved, be heard in your community

Since the towns of Austerlitz, Canaan, Chatham, Ghent and New Lebanon and the village of Chatham have all organized for the new year, it’s important to remind community members to get involved, if you aren’t already.

January 24th, 2012

Alfred M. Dunham

Alfred M. Dunham, 79, a lifelong resident of Chatham, died Friday at his residence. Mr. Dunham born September 19,1932 in Hudson, New York is the son of the late Franklin and Hazel (Manning) Dunham. He graduated Chatham High School class of 1950. Mr. Dunham attended a 4-year technical course for laboratory assistant within General Electric, as well as obtaining a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Union College 1955. He continued his employment with General Electric for 42 years retiring in 1992. A memorial service will be held Wednesday evening 7:00pm from the Maranatha Christian Church, 1965 Rt. 203, Chatham. Interment will be in the Chatham Rural Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Morris Memorial, Park Row, Chatham, N.Y. 12037 or Patrick J. Curry Foundation, 1 Hoffman St., Chatham, N.Y. 12037. For online condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com.

January 23rd, 2012

New: Alfred M. Dunham

Alfred M. Dunham, 79, a lifelong resident of Chatham, died Friday at his residence. Mr. Dunham born September 19,1932 in Hudson, New York is the son of the late Franklin and Hazel (Manning) Dunham. He graduated Chatham High School class of 1950. Mr. Dunham attended a 4-year technical course for laboratory assistant within General Electric, as well as obtaining a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Union College 1955. He continued his employment with General Electric for 42 years retiring in 1992. A memorial service will be held Wednesday evening 7:00pm from the Maranatha Christian Church, 1965 Rt. 203, Chatham. Interment will be in the Chatham Rural Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Morris Memorial, Park Row, Chatham, N.Y. 12037 or Patrick J. Curry Foundation, 1 Hoffman St., Chatham, N.Y. 12037. For online condolences, visit wenkfuneralhome.com.

A 'Giant' win!

My blog, I’ll admit, has been empty the last few weeks. I guess I was lacking inspiration. However, I feel rejuvenated after last night. Why?

January 20th, 2012

Bauer, beloved musician, mourned by those he left

The body of Walter Bauer, a Chatham resident and a man who was beloved by many in the Columbia County community, was found by authorities in a creek downstream from the Normans Kill Bridge on Route 9W in Delmar at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.

CCSD superintendent recommends moving 5th grade to MED

CHATHAM — Chatham Central School District Superintendent Cheryl A. Nuciforo is recommending that next year’s fifth-grade students attend classes at the Mary E. Dardess Elementary School, establishing the K–5 setting as the best place to meet the academic and social needs of the district’s fifth graders.

Traffic proposal yields no decision

CHATHAM — Sometimes taking the path of least resistance proves beneficial in the end. In this case, if it takes more signage, blinking red lights and a campaign to alert motorists and pedestrians of freight trains coursing through the village, maybe $1 million in state-garnered money could be saved.

January 18th, 2012

Local author pens bio of legendary Giants coach Bill Parcells

Editor’s Note: The New York Giants face off against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California for the NFC championship game this Sunday (6:30 p.m. on Fox).

NL supervisor establishes ‘process’ for Ethics Board

NEW LEBANON — Ghosts of past meetings haunted the Town Board at its Jan. 10 meeting. Aside from the routine reporting of committees, awarding of bids and paying of bills, the status of the Ethics Board caused most of the comment — sometimes impassioned from Kevin Smith, one of its three members; from Joanna Johnson Smith, wife of member Robert Smith; and from former Supervisor Margaret Robertson.

CCSD superintendent recommends moving 5th grade to MED

Traffic proposal yields no decision

Austerlitz organizes for 2012

AUSTERLITZ — The Austerlitz Town Board met Jan. 12 for their yearly organizational meeting. Supervisor Jeffery Braley, Town Board members Bryan Geel, Carol Pinto and Matt Verenazi, new board member Jon Mesick, Town Clerk Susan Haag and Highway Superintendent Robert Meehan were in attendance.

Alan Devoe Bird Club to sponsor DEC campers

CHATHAM — The Alan Devoe Bird Club of Chatham is sponsoring campers to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Environmental Education Summer Camps. All applications will be accepted by DEC starting with a postmark date of Jan. 28.

Commentary — Mayor's Cup of Coffee: At a crossroads

By Tom Curran

Letter — New prescription law ‘a win’ for buyer, pharmacy

Recently, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a law that would require prescriptions filled by pharmacies to cost no more than mail order prescriptions. This is prohibiting to some health insurers because they can’t require that people purchase prescription drugs through the mail. This is considered “a win” for local drugstores.

Letter — Success and happiness for Valatie Santa Claus Club

The Valatie Santa Claus Club has completed another successful year. This is due in part to the public support of the club and its activities.

Editorial — Consider the impact of changing the traffic flow

A meeting of the minds — those of village, state Department of Transportation and CSX officials, as well as Chatham Village residents and business owners — convened during a public hearing last Thursday night regarding the possible change of traffic flow in the village. What came out of the meeting? Not a decision, but perhaps a chance to consider further the options on the table.

Franklin Arthur Gearing

Franklin Arthur Gearing, lifelong resident of Canaan, NY passed away January 11, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. Franklin was born May 23, 1918 in Canaan and was the son of the late Arthur Franklin and Elsie Graser Gearing.

January 16th, 2012

O-Positive, one of the best bands to come out of Boston in the '80s

It is absolutely worth it to check out O-Positive's music online. Check out "up, uP, UP." Do the same for Mission of Burma, also from Boston. Listen to two of the band's best, "That's when I reach for my revolver" and "Academy Fight Song." One of MoB's founders attended college at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

January 15th, 2012

Don't touch that dial, er, remote!

"Mad Men" may be making its return to cable TV on March 25.

"up, uP, UP"

It is absolutely worth it to check out this band's music online. Check out "up, uP, UP." Do the same for Mission of Burma. Listen to two of the band's best, "That's when I reach for my revolver" and "Academy Fight Song." One of MoB's founders attended college at the Rochester Institute of Technology.

January 13th, 2012

NEW: Five charged with attempted burglary of Chatham home

LIVINGSTON — Following an armed home invasion on County Route 17 in Chatham early Thursday morning, five defendants appeared with shackles on their wrists and ankles in the Livingston Town Court before Judge Robert Q. Moore that evening.

January 12th, 2012

NEW: Franklin Arthur Gearing

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