The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

eastwickpress

Parasol Project Features Over 30 Local Artists

By

On Sunday, March 8, HAYC3 will present The Parasol Project with the installation of over 30 hand-painted parasols by local artists. Parasols will be suspended from the ceiling of The Perry Room at the HAYC3 Armory.

The latest effort of the HAYC3 Artist Guild, The Parasol Project will be on display through April 10.

“The parasols were the perfect follow-up to the Barn Quilt Snowmen that were on display throughout the community in January and February,” said HAYC3 Executive Director Aelish Nealon. Over 30 local talents stepped up to create this unique collection. Some invoke the idea of warmer weather to come while others are just pure artistic expression and a reminder that art is very much alive in our community.

The opening will also feature live music as part of HAYC3’s Music in Hoosic Series.  Recognized local musician Barry Hyman will be on hand doing what he does best on the banjo.

The opening will run from 10 to noon on Sunday, March 8 and is free and open to the public. For more information on this event please call HAYC3 at 518.686.9050, or visit the website www.hayc3.org.

17th Annual Corned Beef And Cabbage Dinner Saturday March 7, 2015

By

The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold an all you can eat Corned Beef, Cabbage and more dinner on Saturday March 7 in the Stephentown Fire Hall, at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown, NY. The doors will open at 4 pm and close at 7 pm.

Take out dinners will be available.

Prices are $12 for adults, children age 6-10 are priced at $7 and youth under the age of 6 eat FREE. Take out orders will be $10.

Advance tickets are NOT required.

The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department wants to announce that they will also be holding an all you can eat Roast Beef dinner on April 18 at the Fire Hall from 4 to 7 pm.

Invitation To Grafton High School Seniors

By

Grafton high school seniors are invited to apply for the Ethel Simmons Memorial Award. The prize of $300 will be awarded to the student who submits the best essay on some aspect of Grafton history.   The application and guidelines are available at the guidance offices of both Berlin Central High School and Tamarac High School as well as at the Grafton Community Library and Grafton Town Hall.

Any Grafton student who is attending public, or private school or who is home schooled is eligible to apply.

Applications must be submitted at the Grafton Community Library no later than 1 pm on Saturday, April 18.

The award is co-sponsored by the Graton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society. For additional information or resource topics please call  235-8317 or e mail  GHS12082@aol.com.

Cooking Classes Highlight HAYC3’s Menu Of March Offerings

By

What better way to warm up during the winter months than with a meal of homemade soup and bread? Toward that end, the Hoosick Kitchen at the HAYC3 Armory is offering an adult class on Bread 101 and a Young Chef’s Cooking Class called Soup, Soup, Soup!

Taught by local Chef Kelly O’Connor, these hands-on classes will be held in The Hoosick Kitchen located downstairs in the HAYC3 Armory at 80 Church Street.

Bread 101 will be held on Tuesday, March 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm and will teach participants how to make three different kinds of bread. Bakers will sample and take home breads prepared in class. The cost of the class is $15 including all supplies.

The Young Chef’s Cooking Class Soup, Soup, Soup! is the perfect introduction to the fundamentals of cooking soup. Designed for ages 8 to 12, the class covers basic cooking skills and fundamentals. Soup, Soup, Soup! will be held on Saturday, March 21 from 11 am to 12:30 pm. The cost for the class is $10 and limited to ten participants.  The cost includes all supplies and young participants will take home a sample of their creation.

To reserve a place or for more information, please call HAYC3 at 518-686-9050 or visit the website www.hayc3.org.

Berlin Fire Department Breakfast

By

On Sunday, March 1, from 7 to 11 am, the Berlin Fire Department will be holding its monthly breakfast. Breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, french toast, biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, bacon and sausage, home fries, toast and eggs (sunny side, over easy or over hard, scrambled). Beverage choice of coffee or tea (both available as decaf), hot chocolate, milk, and orange juice.

Prices are $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 5-12, children under 5 is no charge.

Takeouts available at 658-2890.

Visioning Workshop

By

The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance, in partnership with the Hudson River Greenway, has embarked on an exciting new project to develop a vision for a region-wide, multi-user trail network that will serve the Plateau communities and will  also someday connect to other trail networks beyond the Plateau.  An enhanced network of trails connecting the Plateau and its communities presents opportunities for recreation and economic growth.

Please join us for a public workshop on Thursday, March 5 at 7 pm at the Poestenkill Fire House to provide information and gather input from the public.  Speakers from a variety of regional trail organizations have been invited to share their experience in developing trail networks.  For more information about the project, please visit the following link: http://www.rensselaerplateau.org/trailvision.  The Poestenkill Fire House is located at 182 Main Street, Poestenkill, NY.  Refreshments will be served. For questions please contact Sarah Parks at sarahtparks@gmail.com.

Infrastructure Improvements By Rensselaer County Lead To Job Growth

By

Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature welcomed news of significant job creations at Regeneron Pharmaceutical in East Greenbush in 2014, and said the growth demonstrates the value of infrastructure improvements.

The Legislature approved extension of sewer lines to Regeneron that proved to be crucial for a major expansion at the pharmaceutical company’s East Greenbush campus.

Regeneron announced the creation of 265 new jobs in East Greenbush during 2014, following the sewer expansion project that was started in 2012. The project was introduced by Chair of the Legislature Martin Reid, and continued with construction during 2013.

“The news of Regeneron’s job growth during 2014 demonstrates the value of the sewer expansion approved by the Legislature. This is very good news for Rensselaer County and the Capital Region,” said Reid.

“We are hopeful there will be more job growth at Regeneron as the company continues to build a name in the pharmaceutical industry on the international stage,” added Vice Chair of the Legislature Phil Danaher.

The move to accommodate the Regeneron expansion was necessary because the expansion exceeded the amount East Greenbush’s sewer facility can handle. Incorporating Regeneron is expected to help the town with town sewer issues and capacity.

The project includes extension of a sewer pipeline from the Regeneron campus on Route 9 and 20 approximately one mile to the county sewer district pump station on Aiken Avenue in the Fort Crailo neighborhood of Rensselaer. The project is in the final stages, and much of the work was accomplished on a tight deadline.

District 2 legislators Danaher, Leon Fiacco, Rob Bayly and Kelly Hoffman have continued to make the Regeneron sewer expansion a priority.

“Regeneron is an important part of the economic climate in Rensselaer County and the Legislature is proud to have played a role in that job creation. The Sewer District is an important tool in job creation, and the Regeneron expansion is proof of that work,” said Fiacco.

Jimino: County Refinance Will Save Money

By

Rensselaer County Executive Kathleen M. Jimino has announced that the County will proceed with a plan to refinance current debt and save the County over $1.2 million without extending the life of the bonds. This would be achieved by refinancing the current debt of approximately $12 million at a rate that is expected to be 2.2% as opposed to the 4.22% currently paid in interest.

Under a directive from the NYS Commission on Corrections the County was required to add an additional 192 cells to the jail.  To pay for the required expansion the County borrowed nearly $50 million over the course of four years to complete the construction project that also included expansion of the kitchen facilities, services area, locker rooms for Corrections Officers as well as upgraded security features and the existing jail facility.  The construction project was completed in the fall of 2011.

“Our efforts to cut costs and adhere to strict fiscal controls has been recognized by bond agencies,” said Jimino. “They have raised our rating, which gives us a better interest rate”

In April of 2014 Standard and Poors raised the County’s bond rating by stating, “We view the County’s management conditions as strong with good financial practices”.  According to Standard and Poors any entity achieving an “AA” rating means they have a “Very strong capacity to meet financial commitments”.

Courtney Kellar of Berlin Named To Provost List

By

Courtney Kellar of Berlin, N.Y., has been named to the Provost List for the Fall 2014 semester at Southern Vermont College (SVC) in Bennington, Vt. The Provost List recognizes full-time students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.25 during the semester.

Kellar is a freshman majoring in Nursing. She is a graduate of Berlin Central School and the daughter of Barbara and Stephen Kellar of Berlin.

Minks To Sinks A Winter Tag Sale

By

The Minks to Sinks Annual Indoor Tag Sale will happen this Saturday, February 28, from 9 am to 1 pm at the HAYC3 Armory. Along with great buys attendees will have an opportunity to Shop Local and support three area businesses. Hoosick Hickory, Sweet Sara’s Bakery and That’s Different Chocolate will join the event providing tasty food to eat in or take home.

Tag Sale spaces are still available. Vendor forms can be found online at www.hayc3.org.

If you have any questions about the Minks to Sinks event or for more information, contact HAYC3: Call 518-686-9050, email contacthayc3@gmail.com, or visit http://hayc3.org.