The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

eastwickpress

HFCS Golfers Win Opening Matches

By

Coach Kyle DeGraaf reports, “The team has everyone returning from the 2007 team that finished second in the Wasaren League with an 11-3 record.  Taylor Bellemare (junior), Corey Callahan (senior), Kevin Gorman (senior) and Joe Wirmusky (senior transfer from Cambridge) were all Wasaren League All Stars and Sectional Qualifiers.  Zack Hall (senior), James Lynch (sophomore), Justin Carter (senior) and Nick Hunt (senior) are returning letter winners and have looked very good in pre-season.”

“Also looking to break into the starting line-up will be senior newcomer Ethan Myers, juniors Joe Nusca and Nate Cain and freshmen Jordan Colvin, Todd Rogers, Mitchell Andrew and Michael Merwin.”   

“We should be very competitive in the Wasaren League this year,” DeGraaf said. “I think that defending Wasaren League Champions Stillwater is the team to beat. Greenwich and Schuylerville will be very tough and Mike Barrato always puts together very good teams in Cambridge. 

HFCS Defeats Hoosic Valley In Opener

The Hoosick Falls golf team defeated Hoosic Valley on Tuesday at the Battenkill Country Club, 5-0.  Kevin Gorman was medalist with 38.

Bellemare HF def White 1 up

Wirmusky HF def Catone 2&1

Callahan HF def Huston 4&2

Gorman HF def Cook 5&4

Hall HF def McLaughlin 5&4

Lynch HF def Anderson 5&4

HFCS Defeats Schuylerville

The Hoosick Falls golf team defeated Schuylerville at Windy Hills Golf Club, 4-1, on Wednesday,  Chris Braim of Schuylerville was medalist with 35.

Braim Sch def Bellemare 3&2

Wirmusky HF def Vargus 2 up

Callahan HF def Seymour 3&2

Gorman HF def Delaney 2&1

Hall HF def Stark 5&4

Kelly Sch def Lynch 2&1

HFCS Board Meeting – The Rest Of The Story

By

Topics not published in last week’s HFCS School Board report.

by Alex Brooks

Capital Project

Clerk of the Works Ron Bugbee gave an update on progress on the Capital project. He said overall it’s going well and is on schedule. The parking lot has been repaved, the new windows are nearly done, the stage lighting is completed, the auditorium seats will be done by the end of the week and all the new lockers are on site and should be done soon. He mentioned two things that are delayed – an elementary playground set which will be installed September 8-12 and the doors to the concession stand, which are back ordered. Some temporary doors will be installed until the doors arrive.

Bugbee said everything else is on target and there will be no problems starting school on time. In fact, he quipped, it would be fine with him if school started a week early.

Board President David Sutton’s report was brief: “School will open on time.”

Board Forum

Dwain Wilwol said he would like to get a committee together to discuss displays and decoration in the lobby of the school. He would like to see displays of student accomplishments other than sports in those spaces. School Superintendent Ken Facin said he thought this was a good idea but it would need to be done sensitively, with an inclusive committee, as many people may have strong feelings about those displays. The Board agreed to seek members for such a committee and begin discussions.

John Helft said he would like to see the District look into getting some photovoltaic panels for the roof of the school. He said he thinks there is grant money available for that and the District should take advantage of it. Business Manager Pam Hatfield said there is a NYSERDA energy audit of the building in progress, and looking into photovaltaics may be a natural follow-up to it, working with NYSERDA. Facin said when the Board sets its goals for the year, it may want to have a “green school” goal.

Student Handbook

Superintendent Facin discussed some of the changes in the revised Student Handbook. The first is that mid-term exams are no longer optional. A mid-term assessment of student progress was considered essential and will now be given in all classes.

Working Papers

Another change concerns working papers for students. Students under 18 who want to work after school or on weekends need to have working papers given by the School District. The new rule is that students have to be in good academic standing to get working papers. Facin said, “We understand that there will be hardship situations, and we can make exceptions where appropriate, but students and parents have to know that school comes first.”

Incentives

The third major change, and the one that provoked the most discussion, was the District’s rules for handling students who are failing two or more courses. The District will provide academic tutorial sessions after school. Any students who want extra help can go to these sessions, but students who are failing two or more courses will be required to go. If such a student’s grades and effort do not improve after a 3 week period of attending academic tutorial, they will be excluded from one of their extracurricular activities, such as sports games or drama performances. The idea is to keep the pressure on students to improve their performance rather than dismissing them from their team so that they no longer have an incentive to keep working hard.

Facin said he, the teachers and administrators will be presenting the revised rules to the students when they return and both students and parents will be asked to acknowledge that they have read the handbook and understood it.

Appointments

The Board approved a 3-year appointment for Social Studies teacher Christian Farley and hired Lynda Bilow to teach English, taking the place of Linda Hutchins. The Board granted Math teacher Susan Huber a one year leave of absence and hired William Clairmont on a one year appointment to take her place. The Board approved a 2-year appointment for Science teacher Bruce Bailey.

The Board approved the appointment of 22 senior teachers to serve as mentors, to be paid an extra $1,200 for the year for such service and approved Nora Senecal as Mentor Coordinator at a rate of $2,200 per year.

The Board established four child care worker positions for the morning child care program. Each position is a 10 month, 1.5 hour per day position. Facin said these positions will be filled with existing personnel.

The Board established a new bus driver position for 5.75 hours per day for 10 months. Business Manager Pam Hatfield explained that by working with neighboring districts, she has been able to work out cooperative arrangements to get all of the students going to outside placements without hiring contract transportation. This new bus driver will be hired instead of hiring an outside company (usually it was Durrin, Inc.) to drive the students to placements at more distant institutions, which will save the District some money.

On Wednesday, August 27, the Board held a walk-through of the building to view the completed or nearly completed capital project.

Hoosick Falls Central School Opens On September 3

By

Tuesday, September 2, is a Teacher Workshop Day

Students in grades k – 12 will begin with a full day of instruction on Wednesday, September 3. Breakfast and lunch will be provided as usual. Students should follow their regular bus assignments and schedules.

Here are some helpful hints for the opening days of school:

1. Have your children at their bus stops 5-10 minutes early each day.

2. If you cannot walk your child to the designated bus stop, have a responsible older child do so.

3. Meet and get to know your child’s bus driver.

4. Insure that your child knows his/her bus number. Please be sure to let us know as soon as possible if you have changed your location or your children are going to a new baby-sitter. This is particularly important for a younger student, in grades k, 1, 2 or 3.

5. Reinforce bus safety with your child.

6. Label your child’s possessions.

7. Insure that our school nurse and the Elementary office have emergency telephone numbers in case you need to be reached.

8. Always feel you can contact the Elementary (686-9492) or High School (686-7321) offices for information.

Hoosick Falls Central School District 2008 – 2009 School Year Calendar

By

Sept. 2, 2008   – First Day For Teachers (Conference Day)

Sept. 3, 2008   – First Day Of School For Students Gr. k-12

Sept. 18, 2008 – 7-12 Open House (6:30-8:30 pm)

Sept. 25, 2008 – k-3 Open House (6:30-8:30 pm)

Oct. 2, 2008    – Gr. 4-6 Open House (6:30-8:30 pm)

Oct. 13, 2008  – Columbus Day – No School

Nov. 10, 2008 – Early Dismissal – Emergency Closing Drill 

Grades 7-12 at 2 pm; k-6 at 3 pm 

Nov. 11, 2008 – Veterans Day – No School

Nov. 13, 2008 – Parent/Teacher Conferences (6:30-8:30 pm) 

          Grades k-6; Early Dismissal – 12:30 pm – Grades k-6

Nov. 14, 2008 – No Classes For Grades k-12

k-6 Parent/Teacher Conferences

7-12 Staff Development Day

Nov. 26-28, 2008 – Thanksgiving Vacation

      (School Resumes Dec. 1)

Dec. 22 – Jan. 2 , 2009 – Christmas Vacation

              (School Resumes Jan. 5, 2009)

Jan. 19, 2009 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – No School

Feb. 16-20, 2009 – Mid-Winter Recess

    (School Resumes Feb. 23, 2009)

March 20, 2009 – Staff Conference Day

  No Classes For Grades k-12

April 10, 2009 – Good Friday – No School

Apr. 13-17, 2009 – Spring Recess

    (School Resumes Apr. 20, 2009)

May 25, 2009 – Memorial Day Holiday – No School

June 16 – June 25, 2009 – Regents Week

June 22 – 24, 2009 – Early Dismissal – 12:30 pm Grades k-6

June 24, 2009 – Kindergarten Graduation – 9 am

          – Last Day Of School For Students

June 25, 2009 – k-6 Conference Day

June 26, 2009 – k-12 Conference Day

June 26, 2009 – High School Graduation At 7 pm

School Hours

The elementary school day will begin at 8:30 am and end at 3:20 pm. The high school (grades 7-12) will begin at 7:30 am and end at 2:15 pm.

The District will utilize two bus runs to transport students and there will no longer be bus room. The new bus schedules are posted on the HFCS website.

The “before school” childcare program will begin on the first day of school, September 3, no earlier than 7:15 am. Children must be brought into the building to the elementary cafeteria where parents will be required to sign their child into the program each day. Children cannot be dropped off at the curb to enter the building on their own. 

Students not enrolled in the “before school” childcare program cannot be dropped of at school before 8:30 am.

k-6 7-12

Buses Arrive 8:30 7:30

Attendance & Instruction 8:30 – 3:20 7:30 – 2:15 

Buses Depart 3:20 2:15

Student Pick-Up By Parents 3:35

Extracurricular, Detention 3:20 – 4:20 2:20 – 4:20

     (Mon. – Thurs. only)

Make Your Own Sundae With Berlin XC Team

By

The Berlin Central School Cross Country team will be holding a “Make Your Own Sundae” event in Lena’s parking lot, Route 2, Labor Day weekend. The team is raising funds to participate in a Cross Country Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park on September 20. This is the same course where team members will race if they make it to the New York Public High School State Championships. The team has enjoyed great success in the past and looks for a successful season this year. Attending this invitational would provide an unprecedented experience for all team members and also provide practice for the state meet at the end of the season. It would be wonderful if the whole team could attend.

The team is still accepting company or individual donations, and if anyone would like to send a check made out to Berlin Central School with a notation that it is for Berlin Cross Country it would be greatly appreciated.

The New Lebanon Sports Booster Club Has A Successful Poker Run

By

The New Lebanon Sports Booster Club would like to thank all of the participants at our August 16 Poker Run! 

The 40 riders enjoyed the 115 mile ride through New York, Vermont and Massachusetts ending with a pig roast at the Bridgeway CafÄ in Cherry Plain. 

Thank you to Rich and Kelly O’Dell and Lisa Ferrannini for organizing the successful event.  Special recognition goes to Kristal Clevenger, the winner of the poker run, for donating her winnings to the booster club.

Stephentown Book Discussion Group Meeting

By

The Book Discussion Group of the Stephentown Memorial Library will read Outlander,  a first novel by Diana Gabaldon, for its meeting on Thursday, September 11.   Please note the change of date from the usual first Thursday.

This historical romance begins with a bit of time travel back to 17th century Scotland.  Former Royal Army nurse Claire Randall is spirited back to a time of superstition, Jacobite plotting, witchcraft and adventure. Jamie Fraser, a handsome Scottish soldier, becomes part of her new life.  

Copies of the book are available at the Library desk.   The Book Group meetings are held in the Community Room at the Stephentown Memorial Library, Main Street, Stephentown, from 1 to 2 pm.  Bring a lunch.  New readers are always welcome.  For more information, call 518-733-5750.

Nathan Hoffman Graduates Magna Cum Laude

By

Nathan Hoffman of Stephentown graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University in Boston, MA,  with a bachelor’s degree of Science in Business Administration with a dual concentration in Finance and Marketing.

While in Boston, Nathan worked in Corporate Finance for MFS Investment Management and also as an Allocation Analyst for TJX Companies Inc. In early 2008, Nathan accepted a Financial Analyst position with International Sematech, a global consortium of leading computer chip manufacturers that has recently relocated to Albany, NY, from Austin, Texas.

International Children’s Author Hosts Tea Party For Stephentown Children

By

 

 

by Susan Brissette

Mary Pope Osborne, author of the Magic Tree House series, hosted a tea party for several lucky Stephentown children last week. The special tea party was one of hundreds of items offered at the Stephentown Memorial Library’s very successful auction last month. Winning bidder, Mary Jo Daly, and several other Stephentown supporters accompanied the children to the event, held in Pittsfield, MA. Mrs. Reba Evanchik graciously offered her home and garden for the affair. Mrs. Pam Kueppers, the Library Trustee who arranged for  Osborne’s participation, photographed the event.

Osborne talked with the children about how she comes up with story ideas, shared never before seen covers for her soon to be released new books in her forty-two book series and sought their opinions on possible new book topics.  The children were delighted to discuss their own reading and writing habits and asked questions such as “Where do you write?” “How do you do research?” and “How did you decide on names for the main characters?” Each child received an autographed gift book from Ms. Osborne.

The Stephentown Memorial Library is dedicated to providing resources and opportunities for lifelong learning to the Stephentown community. To learn more, call 733-5750 or visit the website, www.stephentownlibrary.org.

Stephentown Planning Board Action – August 2008

By

 

by David Flint

The only item on the agenda for the Stephentown Planning Board at their meeting on August 21 was an application from Thomas Pecoraro for a 5-lot subdivision in Stephentown Center. Pecoraro received a variance from the Zoning Board in January to subdivide a one-acre parcel on the south side of Newton Road at the intersection with Route 43 into two half-acre lots. Since February he has been coming before the Planning Board seeking approval to subdivide a parcel on the north side of Newton Road into three more lots. Two of these lots, a 2.1 acre lot and a 4.5 acre lot located behind the Stephentown Center Community Church, will have houses built on them and will have a shared driveway from Newton Road. The third lot of 13.2 acres will be retained as undeveloped woodland for the recreational use of the homeowners on the other four parcels. A pedestrian right of way will provide access to and through this shared area. 

The Planning Board earlier advised Pecoraro to return with a completed Part 1 of the Environmental Assessment Form, which he did. Last month when it became apparent that a small portion of the land to be subdivided was deeded under the name of Pecoraro’s brother Stephen, the Board’s attorney, Craig Crist, advised that Stephen’s name would also have to appear on the application for subdivision approval. 

At last week’s meeting, with both Craig Crist and Chairman Tom Morelli absent, acting Chairman Lew Sharp questioned why there was any need after all for Planning Board approval. Sharp noted that the two half-acre lots on the south side of Newton Road were not actually part of the subdivision now in question. He pointed out that the Land Subdivision Regulations (Local Law #3 of 1991) specify that a subdivision, for purposes of the Regulations, is defined as “the division of any parcel of land into five or more lots, parcels or sites╔,” Therefore he saw no reason for the Planning Board to be involved. Pecoraro’s 3-lot subdivision will require boundary changes, but Sharp advised that boundary changes could be accomplished through the County Clerk’s Office. Sharp said he would consult with Code Enforcement Officer Dean Herrick and Chairman Morelli and that they would further consult with Craig Crist on this matter. In the meantime, with Board Members Freling Smith, Bob Lobdell and Derrick Gardner in agreement, he advised Pecoraro to go ahead and get the boundary line changes he needs at the County Clerk’s Office.