Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
Spending Plan Keeps Fourth Consecutive Budget Under Tax Cap
submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison, and Chris Meyer, Deputy County Executive
The Rensselaer County Legislature voted Monday to approve the 2015 County budget. The budget is based on a spending plan that allows the budget to remain under the state tax cap for the fourth consecutive year while protecting needed services.
[Read more…] about Rensselaer County Legislature Adopts 2015 Budget With 1.48% Tax Levy Increase
by Paul Bouchey
Given the advent of the internet and the proliferation of ever-changing digital devices, now virtually everyone has easy access to an enormous amount of information hitherto available primarily on the written page in the form of books. These developments have led many to predict the inevitable demise of the traditional library. Yet, as Mark Twain once observed, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said of libraries.
[Read more…] about Grafton: Not Just Your Grandfather’s Library Anymore
by Bea Peterson
On Monday evening, November 24, Weir Committee member Norma Brenenstuhl distributed checks amounting to $11,000 to 12 community organizations. [Read more…] about Weir Fund Gives $11,000 To The Community
HAYC3 announces the opening of two new art shows accompanied by a free performance of The Doornails at The HAYC3 Armory on Friday, December 12.
The 120gallery90 will host two art exhibitions concurrently from December 12 to January 2. Gallery90 will be home to Nature’s Changing Landscapes: A selection of Landscapes, Seascapes and Still Lifes by New York artist Dustin Liebenow. Born and raised in the beautiful Eastwick area of upstate New York, where all of his work is created, Liebenow references the scenery and light that surrounds him to create paintings that explore kitsch, the surreal and people’s perceptions of fine art as well as nature and light. Liebenow received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in painting and a minor in art history at Pratt Institute in New York City. His work is in private collections throughout the U.S. and Canada.
At the same time, the 120gallery will host the Barn Quilt Snowman Project by the HAYC3 Artist Guild.
Featuring 20 hand painted, four foot tall snowpeople, this community art effort brings together a classic symbol of winter and elements of the community Barn Quilt project. Five of the snow people will be available for purchase with funds used to cover the expense of the project. The remaining 15 will be displayed throughout the community beginning January 10. A map of their future locations will be unveiled on January 10 and will be available throughout the community after that time.
Everyone is invited to meet the artists and view both galleries at the Opening Reception on Friday, December 12, from 6 to 8 pm.
At 7 pm a highly regarded musical group in the Capital Region, The Doornails, will deliver a memorable collection of “tongue-in-cheek” originals with obscure covers and a few familiar “warhorses.” All of their songs come flavored with some twang, a little soul and a lotta chops. The stellar musicianship of master flat picker Mike McMann and longtime harp blaster/songwriter Ted Hennessy shine when this trio rips through a set. All the while, “Geno” Lemme is on the stand up bass. The event is free and open to the public.
The HAYC3 Armory is located at 80 Church Street. For more information, call HAYC3 at 518-686-9050.
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
Berlin High School has been named a New York State finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest, a nationwide competition to increase interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) by challenging teachers and students to take topics out of traditional classroom settings and into local communities.
Berlin High School was awarded two Samsung Galaxy tablet computers for the school. In addition, teacher and team coordinator Dawn Wetmore will receive a PBS TeacherLine professional development course from PBS TeacherLine.
Berlin High School moved into this round of the competition because of the interest in using STEM to create an engineering design project that alerts parents when their child is approaching the roadway.
Berlin is one of five schools in New York to become a State finalist in the Solve for Tomorrow contest. During the next phase of the competition, Dawn Wetmore will create a lesson plan to address the issue in an educational setting. Should they win the State competition, Berlin Middle School/High School will receive a video technology kit and a technology package valued at $20,000. Fifty-one State winners will be announced in December.
“We are thrilled to announce Berlin High School as a State finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. I applaud the work and innovation of those students and teachers involved who seek to improve the community through STEM. We look forward to bringing the project to the classroom with Mrs. Wetmore’s lesson plan,” said Berlin High School Principal Dr. Catherine Allain.
To learn more about the competition and past winners, please visit www.samsung.com/solve.
submitted by Coach Bob Lang
The Hoosick Falls bowling team won a big match against Southern Division rival Hoosic Valley by the score of 4-0. This was the first league match for both teams. Hoosick Falls had total match pins of 3,632, and Hoosic Valley had total match pins of 3,149.
The top bowler for Hoosic Valley was Tim Robitaille with a 267-615. Top bowlers for Hoosick Falls were A.J. Hurlburt 268-650, Ken Marbot 225-630, Jennifer Sargood 253-620, Josh McCart 236-619, Eric Bloomer 211-574 and Kyla Day 216-539. Top JV scores were made by Jon Bossoni 208-501, William Charbonneau 161-449 and Matt Bulson 158-436. Christopher Snyder had a 168-433, and Meghan Backes had a nice 188 for the exhibition team.
“This was a big early season match against one of our toughest Southern Division rivals this year. The team really stepped up their game after our non-league match against Schuylerville last Tuesday where we missed a lot of spares and didn’t score very well. Hoosic Valley got off to a good start in the first game, but we kept up with them and then pulled away in the second half of the game to win by 222 pins. In the second game Hoosick Falls kept up the good scoring and won by 202 pins. In the third game Hoosick Falls got off to a slow start and Hoosic Valley got off to a good start, and it looked like they were going to win the last game, but Hoosick Falls rallied in the 9th and 10th frames to win the last game by 58 pins. This win will help build their confidence for the rest of the season even though the team must continue to work hard to put up these scores from match to match,” said Coach Lang.
by Coach Bob Lang
The Hoosick Falls bowling team has both experienced and upcoming young bowlers who are ready to defend their Adirondack League title. There are five starters back from last year’s championship team – Ken Marbot, Senior Co-Captain, Josh McCart Junior Co-Captain, Jennifer Sargood, Junior, Kyla Day, Junior, and A.J. Hurlburt, Freshman. The bowlers who are ready to bowl at the varsity level are Senior Eric Bloomer, Senior William Charbonneau, Sophomore Jonathan Bossoni, Sophomore Tyler Lindsey, Sophomore Matthew Bulson, Sophomore Dan Suite and ninth-grader Lilli Williams.
[Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Bowling Team Season Preview 2014-2015
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
On November 15, Berlin Middle School/High School hosted the Rensselaer County School Music Association (RCSMA) All-County Ensemble Festival with four musical performances comprised of select ensembles from 14 school districts within the county.
This Festival’s program featured an elementary school chorus, a senior chorus, a jazz ensemble and a junior band. Each ensemble also featured local and renowned conductors including Katie Gardiner, elementary school chorus, Christina Pizzino-Catalano, senior chorus, Brian Carucci, jazz ensemble, and Michael Graves, junior band.
Ensembles are comprised of each school district’s most outstanding and committed student-musicians, with the intent that they will bring the music ensembles and lessons they have learned back to their schools to positively influence their school district’s music program.
Students enjoy working with peers from other schools and benefit from the expertise of their guest conductors.
“I really enjoyed working with our conductor Michal Graves, as well as with all the other students,” said Brett Harris, tenor saxophone player in the junior band. “He definitely pushed us to our full extent, and we worked together like a well-oiled machine.”
The RCSMA holds two ensemble festivals a year as well as a scholarship festival in the spring. The participating school districts take turns hosting the event. According to Berlin High School Choral Director Leslie Eliashuk, hosting allows the district to showcase their facility and it gives a chance for the whole school to be involved.
“It’s good for bigger school districts to be able to come to Berlin to see what we bring to the event,” she said. “We utilize the entire school, from our food service to student tour guides. Even our student musicians not selected for the event participate through ensemble assistance and light operation – it’s a community effort.”
The next festival will be held February 1 at Troy CSD, featuring the County’s junior choir, elementary school band, jazz choir and senior high school band.
On Friday, December 12, from 4 to 7 pm, students, parents and teachers will be working together at the Berlin MS/HS to make and sell hot fresh pizzas to help students raise money for their trip to Spain in April. You can order online by emailing Karen Day at kday@berlincentral.org before 2 pm on Friday the 12th or by telephone after 3 pm at 658-2515 ext 1042.
Red or white pizzas start at $8 and toppings cost $1 each. Toppings include pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, green and yellow peppers, black olives, onions, jalapeños, pineapple, broccoli and starting this month, meatball.
