Windshield Survey: Village of Schaghticoke, NY

Darra HotoppEmpire State College

Introduction The village of Schaghticoke is located within the town of

Schaghticoke, in rural northern Rensselaer County. It spans the area from the Hoosic River bridge north on NY State Route 40 to the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds.

Schaghticoke is bordered on the north by Washington County, and the west by Saratoga County. It is bordered to the south and east by the Hoosic River.

The town of Schaghticoke, formed in 1788, encompasses 10 villages covering an area of about 50 square miles.

Housing

Homes in the village are mostly Victorian era large homes, built of brick or wood.

They are often rented out as multi-family units, and are in good repair.

Pollution The village of Schaghticoke is

clean and well-kept. There are no signs of water pollution, and the tree-lined streets are clean and

welcoming.

Recreation and Transportation There is a limited amount of

recreational areas in the Village. The school has a track which the public is welcome to use, and there are many areas for fishing.

There is a large county fairground which is closed most of the year but does host the Schaghticoke Fair every Labor Day weekend. The fair showcases agricultural programs. 4-H is a popular social club for children in the area.

The village has a small public library.

Public transportation does not reach this far out into the country. Transportation mainly consists of private vehicles, bicycle, or foot travel.

Cargo trains travel through the area.

The streets are well maintained, with posted village speed limits of 30 mph.

Just outside of the village you will still find unpaved and private roads.

NY State Route 40 runs through the middle of the village, and NY State Route 67 is on the outer edge of the village boundary.

Shopping and Economics There is one main shopping center in

Schaghticoke. It includes a Shop & Save, a Rite-Aid, a Subway, a liquor store, and a dance school.

There is also a Stewart’s and a Mobil, and several private businesses including hair salons, bars, a couple of family owned restaurants, banks, and farm supply stores.

The majority of the economy in the area appears to be farming and related business.

Other employers include the retail and food establishments listed at the left.

Health, Social, and Protective Services Protective services in Schaghticoke are

limited.

There is a Sheriff Department substation in the center of the village.

There is a local volunteer fire department, and the local emergency response is provided by Hoosic Valley Rescue Squad.

The nearest hospital is located fifteen minutes away in Troy, NY.

There are very few health or social service agencies available within Schaghticoke, but several within about 15 minutes of the village.

There is one health center/doctor office on the edge of the village.

The nearest social service agencies are located about 15 minutes away in Troy, as well.

There is no senior center, and child care centers are privately owned or home daycare centers.

Schools

The Hoosic Valley School complex consists of the elementary school, high school, transportation barn, and sports fields. The schools are very well-kept with no visible damage or graffiti. Pictured here is the middle/high school building. Located around the bend is the elementary school.

Religion The Presbyterian United Church offers

religious services.

Transfiguration Parish offers religious services as well as community events like Zumba.

General

There is no notable gang evidence. There is no evidence of homelessness.

The area appears to be very family-friendly, with children visible playing in their yards, teenagers walking down the street, and friends

meeting for coffee at the Stewart’s shop. The Schag-a-Val restaurant is always busy, with a full parking lot and families often standing in the

lot talking with each other. School sports are popular and are a family event.

Wildlife can be seen on the outskirts of town, along with pets and livestock.

There are very few advertising signs in the area, with the exception of the “billboard” for the Schaghticoke Fair, and a wide array of political

signs related to the upcoming elections.

Evaluation Subjective feeling: The area is a family-friendly, close-knit community which I

have chosen to live in for the last two years.

Strengths: The close-knit community is probably one of the most important strengths as there are always people willing to help if needed. Because the area relies upon a pool of volunteers for safety and emergency response, you often bump into trained EMS or fire personnel wherever you go. This resource is invaluable in terms of community health in an area that is vastly under-served by healthcare facilities.

Challenges: Large gaps in services exist especially for those who are older, infirm, or may not have access to transportation. These gaps are filled by home care agencies and senior care agencies based out of Troy. Emergency medical care is limited by the geographical distance to the nearest hospital.

Evaluation

Strategies to address public health problems/challenges: From a community health perspective, it would be beneficial to conduct health screenings, flu clinics, blood pressure clinics, etc. in the area. Many people may not be able or willing to make frequent trips to Troy or Albany to obtain necessary health screenings.

Conclusion: While the village of Schaghticoke is a welcoming, family-friendly community in which to raise a family, its rural location limits its available health care resources. Patient education in the schools or in public health fairs or clinics would be beneficial to the residents and alert them to necessary screenings and available resources.