The Word on the Town Hall Meetings

Today's article in the Register-Star left some questions about the schedule of the town hall meetings being planned. Here's the word just received from City Hall.

Mayor Ferris' office is pleased to announce the dates and locations of the first round of town hall meetings:

• Ward 2--2/9 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Bliss Towers
• Ward 3--2/18 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Creative Legion
• Ward 5--2/19 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at FASNY
• Ward 4--2/26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Hudson Area Library
• Ward 1--3/2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Spark of Hudson

We look forward to updating everyone in the community on this year's activities, hearing your ideas, and answering any questions you may have!

An assurance to Gossips readers: The town halls will be included in the weekly post: "Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead."

They're Back

Remember Odds Against Tomorrow? It appears Harry Belafonte and Robert Ryan didn't perish after all in the explosive end of the movie but return to Hudson, unchanged by time, to encounter something new and disturbing in this short video created by Mark Allen and Tate Cozzo (a.k.a. The Rivertown Collective).

You can watch it here.

Ferris Schedules Town Halls

During the campaign, Mayor Joe Ferris said he intended as mayor to hold regular town hall meetings in each ward. The Register-Star reports today that Ferris has announced the first round of these meetings: "Hudson Mayor Ferris set to start holding town halls."

The following in quoted from the Register-Star article. For some reason, it appears Ferris plans to hold two meetings in the Fifth Ward.

The first town hall will be held in Ward 2 in the Bliss Towers community room at 41 N. 2nd St. on Feb. 9; the second in Ward 5 at the FASNY Firefighters Home at 125 Harry Howard Ave. on Feb. 17; the third in Ward 3 at the Creative Legion, 7 Fairview Ave., on Feb. 18; the fourth will be also at the Firefighters Home on Feb. 19; the fifth in Ward 4 in the Hudson Area Library community room Feb. 26; and the sixth in Ward 1 at The Spark of Hudson, 502 Union St., on March 2.

All of the meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. and are expected to last for ninety minutes.

Snow Removal Update

Tonight will be the last night of snow removal . . . until the next time. We're not even halfway through winter. 

Photo: Hudson Common Sense

The chart below shows the streets that will be visited by the snow removal crew tonight. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

More News from Bard

Yesterday, Gossips shared the link to some frequently asked questions (FAQs) and their answers about the transfer of ownership of about eighty properties in Hudson from the Galvan Foundation to Bard College. That set of FAQs was of particular interest to tenants in Galvan-owned properties. But there is another set of FAQs of interest to Hudson property owners and residents who do not live in Galvan properties. Those FAQs can be found here.

Among the questions answered is one having to do with community involvement in Bard's plans for "redevelopment and programmatic decisions related to these properties." This is the answer provided:

Beginning in July 2025, Bard College has engaged in a listening tour to learn about the needs and perspectives of the diverse people and communities of Hudson. As we move forward, we are continuing to engage with the public, elected officials, community leaders, business owners, residents, and local organizations to hear their recommendations and concerns.

Gossips has no knowledge of who has been involved in these "listening tours."

The FAQs make it clear that Bard does not intend to use the properties in Hudson to "expand its own campus footprint" or as dormitories. 

It's indicated that there are more than eighty properties in the portfolio being given to Bard, but only six are identified. They are:

• The Armory (51 North Fifth Street)
• The Foundry (724-726 Columbia Street)
• Hudson Depot Lofts (76 North Seventh Street)
• The Old Library (400 State Street)--a.k.a. the Hudson Almshouse
• The Tennis Courts (614-620 Columbia Street)--a.k.a. the Community Theater
• The Salvation Army (40 South Third Street)

The response to the oft-heard suggestion that Bard should give the Armory to the Hudson Area Library or to the City of Hudson is this:

Adhering to its fiduciary duties, the College is unable to give away properties. We are in discussions with the Hudson Area Library and city officials to ensure that there is a long-term and sustainable path forward for this building to remain as a center for civic life in Hudson and to continue housing the library and other important public services.

Responding to concerns about the impact this transfer of property will have on Hudson's property tax base, Bard has this to say:

By activating dormant commercial and residential properties, Bard expects to expand the current property tax based in the City of Hudson. The College would like to dispel the common misconception that any property owned or co-owned by not-profit organizations automatically results in tax exemption. Property tax exemptions are determined by usage for qualified organizations, not strictly ownership.

One wonders what these "dormant commercial and residential properties" are. Is Bard planning to carry on the restoration of the Community Theater building or 22-24 Warren Street or 352-354 Warren Street, the former Johnny's Ideal Printing? Presumably, time will tell.

On the subject of Hudson and Bard, the irrepressible Hudson Wail posted this meme on Instagram today.   

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Snow Removal Continues

Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reports that, as of 1:00 p.m. today, snow has been removed from both sides of the following streets:

• Worth Avenue
• Warren Street
• Columbia Street
• Green Street
• State Street
• Union Street below Fourth
• Allen Street
• McKinstry Place
• Eighth Street
• City Hall Place
• West Court Street
• Park Place
• Robinson Street

Photo: Hudson Common Sense

Below is the schedule for Day Three of snow removal, starting at midnight tonight and continuing into Friday, January 30. (Click on the image to enlarge.)

For those of us living (and parking overnight) on streets from which the snow has already been removed, the usual alternate side of the street parking rules apply, tonight and until our next snow emergency.

News of the Lighthouse

Roger Hannigan Gilson reported today in the Times Union some distressing news about the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse: "Barge strike on historic lighthouse caused more damage than initially thought." 

The following is quoted from the article:

A report commissioned by the owners of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, which was struck by a barge in a hit-and-run last April, shows that the blow "significantly" exacerbated structural issues at the 19th-century beacon.

The examination was completed by Troy-based Proper & O'Leary Engineering. It found far greater damage to the base than previously known and estimates the necessary repairs could cost between $1.9 million and $3.6 million. The report also says that a tugboat pushing barges down the river slowed down and moved to the side to make way for another ship--a detail discovered by the U.S. Coast Guard that has not been previously reported and offers greater insight into why the crash occurred. 

At this point, how the damage to the lighthouse will be remedied is not clear. The article explains:

After the crash, Carver Companies said it was suspending the Erin Elizabeth [the tugboat that collided with the lighthouse] pending an investigation. Calls to the company were not returned.

"We are still hopeful that Carver will be good partners by living up to their early commitment to repair all the damage done," Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Restoration Committee Chair Van Calhoun said in a statement. In a later interview, Calhoun said the preservation society has communicated with Carver since the report was finished, but they have not yet met.

Change on the Waterfront

We have known for months that the removal of the abandoned cement silo was part of Colarusso's plan for screening and landscaping its dock operations. Its removal was meant to improve the view of the mountains from Henry Hudson Riverfront Park. We just didn't know when it would happen.

Today, without warning or ceremony, the silo came down. Richard Wallace alerted Gossips to the silo's demise and took this picture.

Photo: Richard Wallace

For years, peregrine falcons, an endangered species in New York State, have nested atop the sil0. In October, Colarusso attorney T. J. Ruane told the Planning Board there were only two months in the year when the nest is not in use and the silo could be removed. It seems January is one of those months. According to information found online, the nesting season for peregrine falcons begins in February. In February and March, adults return to nesting sites. In the next few weeks, when the peregrine falcons return to this nesting site, they will find it gone.

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Addendum: Ben Fain provided this picture of the downed silo from a different vantage point.

Snow Update

City Hall has not yet issued its list of parking directives for tonight's snow removal, but the disappearance of snowbanks and the relocation of the orange "No Parking" signs should provide adequate direction for those parking their cars on the street tonight.

Rob Perry, superintendent of Public Works, reports that the amount of snow and size of the snowbanks resulted in DPW being able to clear only about 50 percent of what they usually accomplish. That being said, as of 1:00 p.m. today, the snow on one side of the following streets has been removed:

• Worth Avenue
• Warren Street
• Columbia Street
• Green Street
• State Street
• Union Street
• Allen Street
• Sixth Street
• West Court Street

The snowbanks on both sides of the street have been removed on these streets:

• McKinstry Place
• Eighth Street
• Park Place
• Robinson Street

Snow removal will continue tonight into tomorrow. 

Perry also reported that only two cars had to be towed last night to make way for the snow removal crew and concluded, "It appears we have nearly 100 percent compliance" with the snow removal parking directives.

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News from Bard

When representatives from Bard College did a roundtable with business owners at the Park Theater in December, there was some indication they might hold a similar meeting about the residential properties gifted to them by the Galvan Foundation. It seems, however, that instead of another public meeting, Bard has chosen to communicate with tenants in former Galvan properties in a different way: with on online statement that answers some frequently asked questions. That statement can be found here.

Most of the information provided is of greatest interest to people living in former Galvan-owned properties. There is some, however, that is of more general interest. For example, many of us in Hudson have been curious to know how many and which properties have been given to Bard. Here is Bard's answer to that question:

To protect tenant privacy, Bard College will not publicly disclose a full list of every property included. All tenants will be notified of any changes impacting them or the property they live in.

Early on, it seemed Bard intended to sell many if not most of the properties received from Galvan. On the question of selling properties, this is the answer now provided:

Yes. Bard plans to sell some of the properties. The College will prioritize beneficial impacts on the community of Hudson's economic, social, and cultural development when considering the sale of these properties. All tenants will be notified of any pending sale impacting the property they live in.

Contact information is provided for people interested in buying the building they currently live in.

Even more information about the Galvan gift to Bard College and Bard's intentions regarding the properties it has acquired can be found in the FAQs here.

The Naming of Buildings

Jeffrey Dodson, executive director of the Hudson Housing Authority, has been soliciting suggestions for a name for the HHA development being proposed. At the meeting of the HHA Board of Commissioners last week, Dodson shared the suggestions that have been received thus far: 

• Bliss Gardens
• Harbor of Hope Homes
• Hudson Housing Community
• Legacy Commons
• New Horizons
• New Roots Community Homes
• Riverview Apartments
• The High End
• The Hudson Collective
• The Pearl Collective
• The Pearl of Hudson Unity Project

Dodson explained that the two suggestions that included "Pearl" were a tribute to Ida Pearl, someone he admitted he did not know. Gossips has confirmed that the reference is to Ida Pearl Cross, a matriarch of Hudson's black community and the wife of former Second Ward supervisor Rev. Ed Cross. 

The process of naming the proposed new HHA development is an occasion to recall why Bliss Towers has the name it does. It was named for Dr. Roger Courtnaye Bliss (1903-1996), who practiced medicine in Hudson for four decades. The first picture below shows Bliss in 1932, around the time he completed his medical education at Syracuse University. It was while in medical school that Bliss met and married his wife, Elah Harriet Cook, who also became a doctor. The second picture shows Elah and Roger Bliss. 

The following is quoted from a biography of Bliss found on WikiTree.

Roger Bliss served in the military during World War II as a Captain in the Medical Corps with the Eleventh Airborne Division campaigns of Leyte and Luzon. He received a Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and attained the rank of Major. He left the military in 1946 to continue his medical practice in Hudson, New York, which had been maintained by his wife, Elah, who was also carrying on her own medical practice while Roger was in the service. They both practiced medicine from October 1933 to June 1971 in Hudson where he was Attending Obstetrician at Columbia Memorial Hospital for 25 years and she practiced Pediatrics. Roger also was Police Commissioner of the City of Hudson from 1950 to 1960, and for 2½ years prior to his retirement in 1971 he was Chairman of the City of Hudson Housing Authority. He was instrumental in having low income housing constructed there and one of the buildings was named "Bliss Tower" in his honor. In 1972, a plaque was placed in the reference room of the Hudson Area Library honoring both Drs. Roger and Elah Bliss for their contributions and efforts in founding the library.

The plaque mentioned above is currently on display in the History Room at the library.

Brenda Shufelt, History Room coordinator at the Hudson Area Library, provided the photograph of the plaque honoring Roger and Elah Bliss. She also provided this picture of the official dedication of the History Room, then called the Reference Room, in 1972, when the library was located at 400 State Street. 

The people in the picture are, from left to right, Gerard Hart, John Weinman, Elah Bliss, Roger Bliss, and Lawrence Andrews. 

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Snow Removal Begins Tonight

The Hudson Police Department has shared the following information about snow removal and overnight parking for Day One of snow removal. The middle column on the chart below indicates where your car should not be parked tonight. Click on the image to enlarge.

Update on Shepherd's Run

There is a public hearing tomorrow on the proposal for the Shepherd's Run solar facility. You can register to attend the hearing virtually here. 

Photo: Deb Hall

The following press release provides an update on the current status of the project.

The New York State Office of Renewable Energy Siting and Electric Transmission (ORES) will hold its final hearing on its Draft Permit for the controversial 42 MW, 215-acre Hecate Shepherd's Run solar facility on Tuesday, January 27. The public hearing, with sessions starting at 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., will be virtual, with access by computer and phone.

Several hundred people turned out in bitter cold last week to attend ORES' in-person hearings on January 21 and January 22 in rural Copake, NY, where the project is proposed. State Senator Michelle Hinchey, Assemblymember Didi Barrett, Copake Town Supervisor Richard Wolf, the Chair of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors Matt Murell, Columbia County Clerk Holly Tanner, and ten Town Supervisors from all parts of the County voiced opposition. All together more than 100 people made statements, the vast majority against the project, including many farmers opposed to loss of prime farmland.

Speakers disagreed about whether fire drills could protect students at the adjacent Taconic Hills Central School in the event of a brush or equipment fire in the Shepherd's Run solar panels.

Sensible Solar for Rural New York (SSRNY), which has long opposed the project, questioned Hecate's financial stability given its default on an $82 million loan and the rejection of a co-development proposal to the New York Power Authority. SSRNY maintains that the project's minuscule real world power production (four hundredths of a percent of NYS electric output) does not justify the risks and negative impact.

"We are asking ORES whether once, just once, they can deny a permit based on the overwhelming evidence that it creates unacceptable safety risks and environmental losses," states Sara Traberman of SSRNY. ORES, whose decisions supersede all state and town laws and regulations, has so far never denied a permit to a renewable energy developer.

Fire and Smoke Risk to Taconic School

Among the most controversial topics at the hearings is the risk that a brush and equipment fire at the Shepherd's Run project poses to the 1,000 plus students at the adjoining K-12 Taconic Hills Central School. The school serves much of southern Columbia and parts of Dutchess counties. William Murphy, retired FDNY Battalion Chief and 9-11 veteran, called the ORES draft permit "reckless."

Supporters of Shepherd's Run stated that fire drills, required by law, will protect the Taconic Hills schoolchildren from any fire and smoke hazard.

Murphy disagrees. "Fire drills won't solve the problem. Fire drills are designed to get kids rapidly outside when there is a fire inside a school building. However, faced with a fire outside at the adjoining Shepherd's Run solar arrays, sending kids outside could make matters worse, putting them in the thick of the smoke."

Murphy says, "I am concerned that the local 15-person volunteer fire department lacks the equipment and manpower needed to fight a solar facility fire, where panels will remain live as long as the sun is out. There are no fire hydrants. In my view, evacuating 1,000 kids and teachers from the school quickly enough to avoid toxic smoke is not possible. I know firsthand how damaging toxic smoke can be to health decades later. It is reckless for NYS ORES to consider approving a large area of solar arrays directly adjacent to the school. The permit should be denied."

Hecate's Financial Situation

Sara Traberman of SSRNY, as retired banker, expressed concern to ORES about whether Hecate, the Shepherd's Run developer, is financially stable. She pointed out that one of Hecate's lenders, NEC, has gone to court in Delaware alleging that Hecate is in default on an $82 million loan and refuses to turn over promised collateral. Another lender, LCM, has first rights to the collateral NEC is seeking. "ORES should not grant a permit to a company experiencing this kind of financial difficulty," Traberman says.

Hecate recently sought financial assistance from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) but that has been denied. Both Senator Hinchey and Assemblymember Barrett indicated that NYPA, which in December was considering codeveloping Shepherd's Run with Hecate, has decided to withdraw from the project. NYPA stated in an email, "The New York Power Authority . . . will not be participating in the Shepherd's Run project and that will be reflected in the new biennial Renewables Strategic Plan later this year."

Hecate, in a press release last week, said it plans to merge with NASDAQ-listed EGH Acquisitions Corp., which could allow it to sell stock. Hecate's target date for closing the deal is third quarter 2026. However, the merger is subject to review by the Securities and Exchange Commission which typically takes many months and has no certain outcome.

Town Supervisors Oppose

Ten Town Supervisors from Columbia County, both Democrat and Republican, in a rare show of bipartisanship, opposed the Draft Permit at the in-person hearings. All had concerns about the loss of home rule, which empowers towns to create zoning laws, maintain roads, and collect taxes. The ORES Draft Permit for Shepherd's Run overrules 16 local Town of Copake laws on the grounds that they will be "unduly burdensome" to the developer. Town Supervisors from New Lebanon and elsewhere say the Copake permit would set a precedent that renders existing land use planning meaningless, and makes comprehensive planning for their towns, in some cases funded by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, pointless.

Shepherd's Run Output Is Minuscule

Paul Parzuchowski, Copake resident, at the in-person public hearing, pointed out that the real world output from the very small Shepherd's Run project will be even smaller than the stated 42 MW and a "drop in the bucket" compared to NYS energy needs.

New York, unlike sunnier states, is not a great location for solar energy. According to the NY Independent System Operator, which operates the NY power grid, NYS industrial solar facilities, taking into account nighttime, cloudy days, snow cover, and other difficulties, on average generate just 18 percent of nameplate capacity. Thus the 42 MW Shepherd's Run facility in reality can be expected to contribute just 7.5 MW to the New York power grid. "This comes out to four hundredths of one percent of NY's electrical output," Parzuchowski says. "It is barely producing anything. The negative impact on Copake cannot be justified."

Snow News Going Forward

City Hall just issued the following statement about the Snow Emergency and the plans going forward.

With the last of the expected 17 inches of snow to stop falling later this afternoon, the Mayor's Office, Hudson Police Department (HPD), and the Department of Public Works (DPW) have issued the following storm update:

• The Snow Emergency will end tomorrow at 8:00 a.m. At that time, regular parking rules will go into effect;
• Snow removal work is expected to begin Tuesday night after 11:30 p.m.
• No parking will be allowed on blocks where snow removal signs are placed; and
• Given the amount of snow that has fallen, snow removal could take several days.

As a reminder, sidewalks on Warren Street are to be cleared 12 hours after snow stops. All other sidewalks must be cleared within 24 hours.

Thank you to the teams of HPD and DPW for keeping our community safe during the blizzard. And thank you to the residents and businesses for doing their part during this historic storm.

More Snow News

Despite the snow emergency and the closure of City Hall for the day, garbage collection will take place today as always on a Monday. The schedule for trash and recycling pickup will proceed as usual throughout the week. 

Thank you, intrepid DPW workers!

The Morning After

Beginning at 8:00 a.m. this morning, all cars should be parked on the even side of the street, where they must remain for the next 24 hours.

There is a travel ban in all of Columbia County, which started at noon yesterday and continues until 11:00 a.m. today. All nonessential vehicular travel is prohibited on public roadways within the county. Only essential emergency vehicles and emergency personnel are allowed to travel.

Meetings and Events in the Week Ahead

This is something that rarely happens. There are no meetings or events in the week ahead. This will allow us all to focus on digging out of the snow and looking forward to Groundhog Day.

Plans for 11 Warren Street

At its meeting on Wednesday, the Public Works Committee of the Columbia County Board of Supervisors agreed to forward to the full board a resolution authorizing an agreement with LaBella Associates, in the amount of $177,400, "for the programming, design, bidding, and construction administration services associated with the design and construction of exterior building improvements" to 11 Warren Street. The resolution will be voted on by the full board in February.

The RFP (request for proposal) for the project, which was issued in September 2025, provides this information about the scope of the project and how it is expected to proceed.

The consultant will work with the County through four (4) workshop sessions. At the first meeting the consultant will listen to the County’s needs for the exterior building façade improvements. The consultant will be expected to offer feed-back relative to building code issues, building mechanics, advantages/disadvantages to available options; concepts for the exterior building elevations; strategies to keep the project within budget; permitting issues; and any other matter that would be normal to the planning of a building exterior façade renovation of this kind.

After the initial workshop session, the Consultant shall prepare a minimum of three (3) schematic concept drawings for use in two (2) public charrette workshops that will allow the general public to review, comment and provide input on the proposed design. The general idea of a charrette is to create an innovative atmosphere in which a diverse group of stakeholders (County and City) can collaborate to "generate visions for the future" for the building appearance.

The scope of work described in the RFP makes no reference to a review by the Historic Preservation Commission. The building is located in a historic district, and although 11 Warren Street is a noncontributing structure, any alterations to the exterior require a certificate of appropriateness from the HPC.

There is always some question about whether or not the City of Hudson has jurisdiction over county projects. This was the case back in 2011 when the County did the expansion of the courthouse and the alterations for ADA compliance. 

In 2011, Cheryl Roberts, then city attorney, clarified (and Gossips reported) that the City "has jurisdiction [over county projects] until the City says that it doesn't." David Robinson, then Commissioner of Public Works for the County, originally indicated he would seek a Monroe decision from the Common Council to exempt the courthouse project from review and approval by the Hudson Planning Board (then the Planning Commission) and the Historic Preservation Commission. In the end, however, the courthouse project was reviewed both by the Planning Board and the HPC. It remains to be seen how Ray Jurkowski, the current Commissioner of Public Works, will handle this.

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The Snow Emergency Has Begun

SNOW EMERGENCY IN EFFECT FOR 48 HOURS

BEGINNING 8 A.M. SUNDAY, JANUARY 25

In alignment with Governor Hochul's statewide State of Emergency, and out of an abundance of caution to ensure the safety of everyone and the ability of crews to clear streets, the City of Hudson will begin a Snow Emergency effective 8 a.m. Sunday.

EFFECTIVE 8 A.M. SUNDAY 1/25, all vehicles are to be parked on the odd side of the street for a period of 24 hours.

EFFECTIVE 8 A.M. MONDAY 1/26, all vehicles are to be parked on the even side of the street for a period of 24 hours.

_________________________________________

Note 1: Even on streets that do not require alternate side overnight parking, vehicles must be moved to the opposite side of the street for plowing purposes. "No Parking" signs on the few streets where they are placed shall be ignored for purposes of this Snow Emergency.

Note 2: For West and East Court streets, the WEST side shall be considered ODD, and the EAST side shall be considered EVEN.

Note 3: Info on additional snow removal beyond the end of the snow emergency will be provided as the storm develops. Please check the City's website and/or Hudson Hub for updates.

Note 4: As this notice is being provided more than 24 hours in advance of Snow Emergency commencement, this will replace the 12-hour notice typically provided under City code.

Our Changing Food Scene

Chronogram reports that Manor Rock, the restaurant that replaced Hudson Food Studio at 746 Warren Street, will be closing next Saturday: "Manor Rock Restaurant in Hudson to Close January 31, Farm to Continue." 

Watch This Site

A week ago, this is what stood on Fairview Avenue between Oakwood and Parkwood boulevards.

The demolition of the Colonial Revival house and its outbuildings commenced on Monday. This is what the site looks like today.

Photo: Win Jackson

Photo: Win Jackson

Of Interest

The Times Union has an article today about Bard and its endowment: "Bard College keeps fundraising after creating $1 billion endowment." As we know, the Galvan Foundation's gift of an unspecified number of properties in Hudson is part of that $1 billion endowment. The article provides information about Bard's plans for the Hudson properties that is different from what the public has heard in the past. The following is quoted from the article: 

Bard appraised them to count them toward the fund drive, but does not plan to sell them. They are generally income-generating properties. Bard has said it would generally continue the current uses of the buildings.