The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Endicott College Dean’s List

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Endicott College in Beverly, Mass. is pleased to announce the Dean’s List students for fall, 2014.  In order to qualify for the Dean’s List, a student must obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.5, receive no grade below a “C”, have no withdrawal grades, and be enrolled in a minimum of 12 credits for the semester.

The following students have met those requirements:

Ayla Marie Gee Graney is the daughter of Bernie and Cathy Graney of Hoosick Falls, NY.  Ayla is a Senior majoring in Visual Communications.

HACA Free Tax Service Opens February 7

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The Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA), for the eleventh year, is offering free assistance to the public in preparing income tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA program. The VITA site is located at the HACA Center at 26 John Street, Hoosick Falls. The office will be open each Saturday beginning February 7, from 10 am to 3 pm and on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 through February. In March and April offices will be open on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm, and on Thursday evenings by appointment. Office hours have been scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate people who find it difficult to take time off from work.  The service is free and is provided by IRS Certified VITA/TCE Volunteer Preparers. To help accurately prepare their returns, taxpayers should bring the following:

• Photo identification

• Valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse, and dependents

• Birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return

• Current year’s tax package, if received

• Wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers

• Interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099)

• A copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available

• Bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit

• Other relevant information about income and expenses

• Total paid for day care

• Day care provider’s identifying number.

Call Hoosick VITA at 518-686-9491 to make an appointment.

Volunteer positions at the site such as reception, filing, photo copying, or hostess are also available.

The VITA program offers free assistance to those with low-to-middle incomes (wage earners who make $55,000 or less) who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A, or a basic 1040 Federal tax return. Most returns for both Federal and State (including Vermont and Massachusetts) can be filed electronically and, upon request, refunds can be deposited electronically into a checking or savings account.

Cherry Plain State Park To Host Winter Fun Day

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Cherry Plain is a hidden gem for many campers in upstate New York, but few explore its beauty in the Winter. On Saturday, February 21, the Friends of Cherry Plain State Park (FCP) will host Winter Fun Day, a free event to bring the Capital Region out to this picturesque park. The event will be based at the Cherry Plain State Park entrance on Miller Road in Cherry Plain, New York from 10 am to 3 pm.

Volunteers will host snowshoe hikes and cross-country ski treks.  A Winter Adventure at 11am and an Animal Tracking outing at 1:30 pm will be featured. Members of the FCP will be on-hand throughout the day to direct and guide small parties ready to head out into the various areas of the adjacent Capital District Wildlife Management Area.

Free snowshoe demos will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The park has snowy hillsides for kids to enjoy, and the park will offer kids’ craft activities indoors when they need to warm up.

There will be a bonfire, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and marshmallows for roasting. Participants are invited to bring their own potluck dish to share at this community-spirited day. You will meet some wonderful people and have a chance to explore this special park during a quieter time of year.   Participants are also encouraged to dress warmly and bring along their outdoor gear for a day of adventuring.

FCP thanks the Town of Berlin for plowing a loop near the park entrance to provide parking.  However, as parking will be in short supply, everyone is encouraged to car-pool when possible.

Join us for this free outdoor event close to home! For further information or offers to help at the event, please call Fran Egbert at 674-3214. You may also call Grafton Lakes State Park’s Naturalist for more event information at 279-1155.

Woods Forum Scheduled For February 25

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Did you know that the Rensselaer Plateau is the fifth largest forest in New York State, and that it is 90% forested, and that those forests are 90% privately owned?

Whether its two, 20 or 200 acres, do you love your land and value your woods?  Then attend a Woods Forum conducted by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) on Wednesday, February 25 at 7 pm at the Poestenkill Town Hall (38 Davis Drive, Poestenkill, NY).

Join fellow woodland owners and forestry professionals for a discussion on how to maintain the value of your woods for timber harvesting, recreation, wildlife and for future generations.   Discuss how to care for your woods today and plan for its future.  Talk with and hear about the experiences of other landowners. Attendees will receive a copy of the new Guide for Landowners intended to help landowners find information in the recently published Rensselaer Plateau Regional Conservation Plan that is useful to them. Both of these resources and much more are now on the RPA website at http://rensselaerplateau.org/RensselaerPlateau/ConservationPlan.aspx. Refreshments will be served.  Please call Sarah Parks at 302-584-7748 for additional information.  This program is co-sponsored by New York Forest Owners Association, the Rensselaer Land Trust and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.

Keep informed of the many activities going on with RPA or the more than 30 Alliance organizations by checking out our new data-base driven calendar of events at http://renpa.azurewebsites.net/.

David J. Morin

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Hoosick Falls – David J. Morin 64, passed away on Tuesday January 20, at the Wyoming Community Hospital, in Warsaw, New York. He resided in Sonyea, New York.

David was born on August 21, 1950 in Troy, New York, son of the late George and Elaine (Doney) Morin. David graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls and formerly worked at Oak Mitsui in Hoosick Falls.

Survivors include his son Sean Morin of Bennington, VT, brothers James Morin of Pownal, VT, Steven and his wife Margaret Morin of New Hampshire and Ronald and his wife Helen Morin of California.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday February 7, at 11 am at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls, New York. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, New York. Memorial contributions may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation through the funeral home.

The Life Of George Holcomb – Illnesses

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Saturday, June 14, 1834: Today Doc Elijah Graves called and took tea with us and I bargained with him and he inoculated my five children for the kind pox for two doll that is if they have it I was inoculated and Sister Eleanor.

Sunday, June 22: Today I took my double wagon and carried my five children and Susan Wylie to the Shakers to meeting.

Monday: On this morning the widow of James Sweet deceased died of a lingering consumption Wednesday: I took my two horse team and carried my wife and daughter Charlotte and Eliza Wylie and Eunice Watson to the funeral of the widow Sweet. She was the daughter of Old deacon Green of Berlin. Elder Jones preached.

Saturday, June 28, 1834: today Mr. Ostrander hoed for me half a day and I agreed to pay him in cider and towards night I took single wagon and carried my wife to Lebanon. We carried 17 pounds of butter to Edwin A. Briggs store and traded it at 12 cts per pound, and I carried two small bundles of wool to the carding machine on pool hill and left to be carded.

Monday: today Mr. Hiram Thayer began his month work for house rent. Today we cut and drew an oak from the hill and I drew it to E. Goodrich mill and had it sawed into three inch plank and said Goodrich had one for sawing and I had two.  I called to the Morton Farm. Brother Wm was loading up goods to carry to Hoosic where he has moved to. I bought a long stail pitch fork of him and paid 25 cts and a tar bucket and paid 12 cts.

Thursday: Today I took my big double wagon to J.B. Maxon’s and had a new tongue ironed and a new tongue to my covered wagon ironed and a band put on a new block tongue and a plate on the geering, and for the whole work he charged one dol and 25 cts.

Friday, July 4: Today I took the covered wagon and carried my wife and Eliza Wylie to Pittsfield to brother F. Jay Wylie’s on a visit, but he nor his wife was at home. They were gone to Richmond. Then I carried sister Eleanor, she went with us to go to Lanesborough to visit Old Aunt Wheeler at one widow Smith’s. We found the old lady bedridden and helpless. She is 91 years of age, maintained by the town. We took a cup of coffee with said widow Smith and then my sister Eleanor returned with me to Pittsfield to brother Wylie’s where I had left my wife. We all then returned home. We came home by way of both Shaker Villages and got home at ten this evening.

Monday: This afternoon I put my horse to the widow Wylie’s wagon and rode to Lebanon after Doc Right for Platt Wylie, for he has the quinzy throat, very much swollen and painful. I called to the pool and got a bundle rolls that I had left the other day, the wool to be carded. Tonight I watched with Platt Wylie.