HIGH MUD SEASON BERLIN DIRT ROADS HOLD RESIDENTS HOSTAGE.(Local)

Byline: Mark J. McGuire Staff writer

Most of the Hindes' seven children, ages 7 through 13, huddled around the television, thumbs pressing furiously on the Nintendo control.

The children were laughing and having fun. Unlike most of their classmates, they were home Wednesday, trapped by a channel of mud known as Bly Hollow Road.

For the past week, Bly Hollow and several other rural Rensselaer County roads have been virtually impassable for school buses, emergency vehicles and residents, save for those with a sense of adventure and a sturdy four-wheel drive vehicle.

Like 80 percent of the 51 miles of town roads in Berlin - pronounced BURlin - Bly Hollow is …