The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Upcoming Events At Local State Parks

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• July 18, Friday – Flood Plain Explore on the Walloomsac River from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Join Ecologist David Hunt in the Bennington Battlefield on an exploration of the rich flood plain along the Walloomsac River. We’ll tramp through flood plain forest and peer into backwater sloughs. This is a very special opportunity to learn more about the ecology of this beautiful river and its surroundings. Please meet in the driveway of the Barnett House, 30 Caretaker Road, in Hoosick. To pre-register call 279-1155.

• July 19, Saturday – Skyhigh Triathlons at Grafton Lakes State Park – 8 am – adult triathlon and 11 am for youth. For more information, visit www.skyhighadventures.com.

• July 19, Saturday – Touch ‘N Explore Wildlife Display at Cherry Plain State Park from 2:30 to 4:30 pm – a birds and feathers program with live birds in attendance! Learn from wildlife educator Bernie Hoffman.

• July 23, Wednesday – If These Rocks Could Talk – A Geology Walk with David DeSimone at 4 pm. We are very pleased that local geologist David DeSimone will be joining us for a special geology tour of Grafton Lakes State Park. We’ll explore the signs of over 500 million years of geologic change found in the rocks you walk by every time you visit the Park and the Rensselaer Plateau. Call to register and for details at 279-1155.

Grafton Lakes State Park is open from 8 am to dusk, with swimming open 10 am to 6 pm. Gate fees are $8 per car. Cherry Plain State Park is open for camping through Labor Day, with swimming also open 10 am to 6 pm. Gate fees at Cherry Plain are $7 per car. The Bennington Battlefield is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm.

Ecosystem Engineers, Jr. Naturalist Program On The Beaver

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The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering a Junior Naturalist Program on August 6 from 1 to 3 pm. This program will teach Jr. Naturalists all about one of our favorite mammals, the beaver! Students will be thinking and acting like a beaver as we explore their homes and construct our very own dam. Please wear water shoes and clothes that can get wet. A $1 per child donation covers material costs. A complete list of programs can be found at: www.dykenpond.org. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with planning but not required and can be done by contacting the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or 658-2055.

Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville. Call 518-658-2055 for more information and a complete schedule of our summer events.

Register For 29th Annual Run For The Roses Race

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Registration is now open for the 29th Annual Run for the Roses 5k Foot Race to be held on Sunday, August 10, at Grafton Lakes State Park. The event benefits the Grafton Community Library and includes a 2.5 mile Nature Walk and Kids’ 1 Mile Fun Run in addition to the USATF sanctioned 5k race.

Pre-registration deadline for reduced entry fee is August 5. The Nature Walk steps off at 8 am, $10, day of race, $15. The 5k starts at 9 am, $20, day of race $25.  Fun Run starts at 10 am, $8, day of race $10.

The first 100 pre-registered 5k runners will receive a long sleeve T-shirt. Short sleeve T-shirts will given to all other pre-registered participants. All participants receive a free book and a rose.

Register online at www.finishright.com or download the application from www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org.  Race applications are also available at Grafton Lakes State Park Office, phone 279-1155, and at the Grafton Community Library at 2455 NY Route 2.

Angeles T. Hall

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Berlin – Angeles T. Hall, 88, formerly of Berlin, NY, passed away on July 14, 2014, with her family by her side at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY. She is pre-deceased by Tony Hall, her husband of 45 years.

A resident of Berlin for over 30 years, Angie worked as an RN in Bennington, VT, and as an LPN instructor in Troy for BOCES (now known as Questar). Upon retirement from BOCES she occasionally worked as a substitute teacher for the Berlin Central School District and volunteered her time at the Berlin Senior Center and Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Grafton.

Surviving Angie are her three children, Audrey and husband Scott Vanderhoef of Grafton, NY, Albert and wife Kim Hall of Latham, NY, and Alan and wife Michelle Hall of East Greenbush, NY. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Christine, Andrew, Annie and Lydia Hall. Angie also leaves behind her dear friends, Bob “Murph” Anderson and his daughter Amy, Valerie Bulson and Michael Kneutter.

Angie’s remains will be donated to the Albany Medical College’s Anatomical Gift Program. A memorial service is planned for 11 am on Saturday, August 2, at Our Lady of the Snow Parish in Grafton.

To honor Angie’s memory, those who wish may make contributions, in lieu of flowers, to the Parish of Our Lady of the Snow, P.O. Box 234, Grafton, NY, 12082.

George E. Durkee Jr.

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Eagle Bridge – George E. Durkee Jr., 62, passed away on Thursday, July 10, 2014, at his residence on County Route 68 in Eagle Bridge, NY. He had resided there with his wife Linda (Ogert) Durkee.

Born on January 5, 1952, in Troy, NY, George was the son of the late George E. and Lois (Weatherbee) Durkee Sr. George was educated at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, NY, and graduated from Hudson Valley Community College. He enjoyed hunting and dowsing. For many years he owned and operated the White Creek Store and ran a plumbing business from that location after its closing.

Survivors, other than his wife Linda, include their son, David Durkee and wife Lauren of Dayton, ME, his sister, Nancy Rietz of Latham, NY, and two grandchildren, MacKenna and Declan Durkee.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 19, at 10 am in the West Hoosick Cemetery on the Buskirk/West Hoosick Road in West Hoosick, NY. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice through the funeral home.

Wesley Edmund Sandberg, Jr.

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Berlin – Wesley Edmund Sandberg, Jr. (known as Wes), 76, of Luther Forest in Malta, NY, passed away peacefully in his home on Saturday, July 5, 2014. Wes was born on August 28, 1937, in the Bronx, NY, and was the son of the late Wesley E. and Dorothy Beckerith Sandberg. He grew up in Berlin, NY, attended the Crane School of Music and was a graduate of SUNY Potsdam earning his teaching degree in music. Wesley had been a music teacher for close to 30 years, first with the Shenendehowa Central School District and later with the Waterford Halfmoon Union Free School District from February 1, 1971, until he retired on June 30, 1993.

As a teacher, Wes shared his love and appreciation of music and theater with his students; he had high expectations of them and left lasting impressions on many. Like his father, Wes was gifted in the woodworking craft, creating intricate decorative boxes, cabinets and furniture. He was not one to read a manual and could fix anything; he always knew how to make it better or stronger. He was a perfectionist in all he did and worked tirelessly until he got it just right. He was always whistling, always had a piano to play and sang in a variety of local choral groups. He was an avid art, music and ballet enthusiast. Although he was a man who kept mostly to himself, those who knew him recognized Wes as a very special, unique and passionate man with exceptional sensitivity, wisdom and a hearty, loud laugh. Wes, also named “Poppy” by his only grandson Nicholas, was everything and more a grandfather and father should be, including a best friend.

Wesley is the husband of Marilyn Seidelmann Sandberg of Malta and was always there for her, the father of Lisa and husband David Hodgkinson of Scotia, NY, the brother of Doris Reichelt of Berlin and the late Caryl Sandberg, the uncle of Tammy Reichelt and Greg Goodermote and the grandfather of Nicholas Allen Hodgkinson of Scotia, Poppy’s inspiration and favorite.

Services will be held at the Gordon C. Emerick Funeral Home, 1550 Route 9, Clifton Park, NY, on Saturday, July 19, promptly at 10 am.

Immediately following the services, interment will be held for the family in the Jonesville Cemetery, A Victorian Resting Place For All. Flowers for the service are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Northeastern New York, 4 Pine West Plaza, Suite 405, Albany, NY, 12205.

Alric W. Jones Sr.

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Petersburgh – Alric W. “Mike” Jones Sr., 78, passed away on Tuesday, July 15, 2014, at the Bennington Health & Rehabilitation Center in Bennington, VT. He had resided on Smith Road in Petersburgh, NY, and was the husband of the late Betty (Thomas) Jones.

Born on November 5, 1935, in Berlin, NY, Mike was the son of the late Adolf and Nora (Brown) Jones. He attended schools in the Berlin area. Alric was employed at W.J. Cowee, Inc. in Berlin for forty years until retiring. He then worked at the Berlin Transfer Station. Mike enjoyed gardening and working on cars.

Survivors include his children, Peter and wife Joyce Jones of North Petersburgh, NY, Gary and wife Joyce Jones of Cherry Plain, NY, Edward and wife Michelle Jones of Stillman Village, Petersburgh, Brian and wife Tracie Jones of Eagle Bridge, NY, Michael Jones of North Petersburgh, Alric W. Jones Jr. of Petersburgh, Tammy and husband Edmund Spizowski of Florida and Sandra Betits. Alric is also survived by a sister, Dorothy, two brothers, Howard and Harold, fifteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and his dog, Snickers. He is pre-deceased by two sisters, Ruth and Agnes, a brother, George and a grandchild, Kyle.

Funeral services are Friday, July 18, at 12 pm from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main St. in Hoosick Falls, NY. Burial will follow the service at the Berlin Baptist Cemetery in Berlin. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 10 am until the start of the service.

Malcolm F. Townsend

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Petersburgh – Malcolm F. Townsend, 66, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at the Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center in Bennington, VT. He had resided on the Petersburgh Junction Road in Petersburgh, NY.

Born on January 16, 1948, in Bennington, Malcolm was the son of the late Floyd Townsend and Florence (Burch) Townsend. Malcolm attended Hoosick Falls Central School and was employed at several area farms. He enjoyed fishing and bike riding.

Survivors include his sisters, Sally Webster and husband Bob, Peggy Morin and husband Tom, all of Hoosick Falls, NY, Judy LaFond of Hoosick Falls, Joyce Ellsworth and husband Bill of Easton, NY, Jeanette Chaffee and husband Norm of Pownal, VT, Nancy Coulter and husband Ed of Pownal and Molly Labonte and husband Don of Petersburgh. Malcolm is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral services were at 11 am on Friday, July 11, from the Mahar Funeral Home. Burial followed the service at Hoosick Rural Cemetery, Hoosick, NY. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Friday morning. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bennington Health & Rehabilitation Center through the funeral home.

Virginia R. Green

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North Hoosick – Virginia R. Green, 81, passed away on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at her residence on Route 67 in North Hoosick, NY. She was the wife on the late Joe Robertson, her first husband, and the late James Green, who died in 2002.

Born on July 14, 1932, in Shaftsbury, VT, Virginia was the daughter of the late Irene and Perle (Cross) Gulley. She attended the one room school in White Creek, NY, and Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls, NY. She worked for twenty-one years at Keough Brothers Furniture and then twenty-three years at Johnson Controls in Bennington, VT, until retiring.

Survivors include her daughter, Kelly Green of North Hoosick, her sisters, Phyllis Ruggles of Shaftsbury Hollow, VT, Doris Lucas and Teresa Livingston, and her brother, Edward “Sonny” Cross, all of White Creek, and a very special girl Virginia raised from the age of three months, Emily S. Zirbik of Pownal, VT. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Virginia is pre-deceased by a daughter, JoAnn Robertson, and a brother, Perle Cross.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls.