The positive State Environmental Quality Review Act declaration, passed at the Nov. 23 New Scotland Zoning Board of Appeal meeting, means the board thought that the 4.2-megawatt solar proposal would have had an adverse environmental impact.

A Nov. 19 letter to the the appeals court states  former Voorheesville varsity girls’ basketball coach Robert Baron “is hereby withdrawing and discontinuing” his appeal of the lower court’s decision in his lawsuit against the school district. 

The Nov. 1 notice to Clarksville Water District customers said water samples taken a few days earlier showed nitrate levels of about 13 milligrams per liter, or three milligrams per liter over the maximum set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest sample, taken in the past two weeks, showed the nitrate level had dropped over 1 milligram per liter.

During the November village board meeting, Steve Schreiber, chairman of the grassroots Committee for a Quiet Zone in Voorheesville, voiced concern with how the project has stalled since an August update.

On Election Night, three of the four incumbent New Scotland Democrats facing Republican challengers were still facing uncertain futures as a number of absentee ballots had yet to be counted. But the Democrats breathed a collective sigh of relief on Nov. 17 after the release of the absentee-ballot counts. However, the recanvass results recently released by the Albany County Board of Elections should give Democrats pause as they show that Republicans — there are six for every 10 Democrats in town — are becoming more competitive.

Susan Albright, Timothy Albright, Meadowdale

Peter Drao, Charissa Mayer  New Scotland

During a recent public hearing on the village’s proposed local law that would have Voorheesville opt out of both retail sales of marijuana and on-site consumption, the board of trustees heard very little in the way of agreement for its proposal. 

VOORHEESVILLE — Valentine A. Ciupek, a high school athlete, worked a variety of jobs as he and his wife raised two children. He retired as a head account clerk after a 33-year career with the state.

Mr. Ciupek died on Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, after a brief illness. He was 96.