The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Isabel M. McGuire

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Hoosick Falls – Isabel M. McGuire, 48, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014, at her residence surrounded by her family. She had resided on Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, with her mother, Isabella J. McGuire; she was the daughter of the late Leo McGuire. Isabel was born on October 5, 1965, in Bennington, VT.

Isabel graduated from Hoosick Falls Central School with honors. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from SUNY Potsdam and earned her Master’s in teaching from the University of Albany. She began her teaching career at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, where she worked for eight years. In 1995 she took the high school math position at Hoosick Falls Central School, where she was in her eighteenth year teaching. She was the National Honor Society Advisor, Math Department Head and had previously coached girls basketball. Her impact on students and her love for teaching was incredible. She continued outside the classroom cheering on the sports teams (often with her blue hair), attending each drama production and concert and chaperoning proms and formals. Her encouragement and mentoring will be missed.

For many summers Isabel taught swimming lessons and was a lifeguard at the Town of Hoosick Pool. When “retiring” from the pool, she purchased her getaway spot, “Camp Bella,” on Hedges Lake. There she spent quality time with friends and family. Travel was also a passion, and she could be found on whatever adventure came up – Italy, Spain, France, England, Scotland, Alaska, cruises and much more. The trip just had to be an idea and she was already signed up. She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church.

Isabel is survived by her mother, Isabella, her sister, Karen Sprague and husband Richard, brothers Leo McGuire and wife Karen and Michael McGuire and wife Jan, all of Hoosick Falls. She is also survived by her much loving nephews and nieces, Keith Sprague and wife Jenn, Amy Raco and husband Matt, Kevin Sprague, Lisa McGuire, Brad McGuire and wife Becky, Jared McGuire, Tim McGuire and wife Ashley, Scott McGuire and Craig McGuire, as well as four great-nieces and great-nephews. In addition to her family, Isabel leaves her many friends, especially her “Campers” and her HFCS family of colleagues and students. We will miss her beautiful smile, honest friendship and her crazy sense of fun.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Wednesday, March 19, at 10 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial will be private.

Relatives and friends called at the Immaculate Conception Church on Tuesday, March 18, from 3 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Isabel M. McGuire Scholarship Fund or the Karen McGovern Memorial Fund, through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, who are handling the arrangements.

Kermit Fred Westfall

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Nassau – Kermit “Kert” Fred Westfall, 59, of Nassau, NY, died March 3, 2014, of a long illness at Atria Shaker Assisted Living in Albany, NY.

Kermit was born in Hudson, NY, on April 8, 1954, and graduated from Berlin Central School. He was a self-employed water pump specialist. For many years, “Kert” ran Kert’s Water Well Pumps with his brother Keith. He was a man of few words, which were carefully chosen. His dry sense of humor and quick wit will be missed.

Kermit was pre-deceased by his parents, Victor Westfall in 1999 and Ruth (Brayman) Westfall in 1977. He is survived by his brother, Keith Westfall, and sister-in-law, Bev (Mooney) Westfall of Cherry  Plain, NY, three nieces, Portia Westfall of Rochester, NY, Peace and husband Christopher Goyette of Brunswick, NY, and Patience Westfall of West Dennis, MA, one great-niece, Hailey Goyette, cousins, Nancy Johnston and John Johnston of Livingston Manor, NY, and longtime friend, Darlene Eagle of Nassau.

A graveside service will be held in the spring at the Grove Cemetery, Quaker Street, Delanson, NY, at the convenience of the family.

Arrangements are under the care of the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home.

To light a memorial candle, to leave a message of condolence for the family or for more information and directions please visit, www.parkerbrosmemorial.com.

Vivian H. deMercado

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Hoosick – Vivian H. deMercado, 90, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2014, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT. She had resided on Lester Lane in Hoosick, NY.

Born on April 1, 1923, in Albany, NY, Vivian was the daughter of the late George and Birdie (Burdick) Goyer. She was married to Clarence O. White for thirty-four years; he passed away in 1980. She married Ivan deMercado in 1994, he passed away in 1999.

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Gloria A. Hunt

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Hoosick Falls – Gloria A. Hunt, 75, passed away on Friday, March 14, 2014, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, NY, with her family by her side. She was the wife of the late Earl Hunt Sr., who died in 1991.

Born on October 20, 1938, in Johnsonville, NY, Gloria was the daughter of the late William and Mary (Hansen) Cox. She formerly worked at the Undergarment and Barclay’s, both in Hoosick Falls, and later at C.B. Sports in Bennington, VT, from where she retired. Gloria enjoyed crafts and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her children, Patricia Arnold of Hoosick Falls, Dale Hunt of Troy, NY, Gail Dryden of Ravena, NY, Brenda McGlamory and husband Sid of Crawfordville, FL, Marlene Hunt of Eagle Bridge, NY, Darlene Bradley and husband Mike of Cambridge, NY, Pamela Hunt of Hoosick Falls, Jeffrey Hunt of Cambridge, NY, Earl (Jake) Hunt Jr. and Robert Hunt both of Hoosick Falls, and a stepson, Earl (Butch) Hunt Jr. of Pittstown, NY. Gloria is also survived by a sister, Rose Burns of Clifton Park, NY, 28 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by two sisters, Evelyn Cox and Sylvia Meier, two brothers, Charles and Frank Cox, and a stepdaughter, Priscilla (Pat) Hunter.

Funeral services are Thursday, March 20, at 5 pm from the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Relatives and friends may call at the Church on Thursday from 4 pm until the start of the service. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of America through the funeral home.

Rensselaer Land Trust Events

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All events are free and open to the public. Go to www.renstrust.org or call 518-659-5263 for more information.

• Solar Energy: Cooperating With Your Neighbors to Save Money – Thursday, March 27, at 7 pm at the East Greenbush Library. “Community Solar” is an initiative to increase the use of solar energy in Troy and local communities and reduce its cost for participants. Steve Andersen will share information about how solar electric energy works then introduce the innovative community solar program which has already been implemented in communities in Tompkins County and Madison County. Jaron Kuppers, a homeowner in Troy, will share his experience with the installation of rental solar. Global warming, children’s futures – you can make a difference within your budget

• Finding the Mohican Indians in Rensselaer County with Shirley W. Dunn – Sunday, March 30, at 2 pm at the East Greenbush Library. Learn about the Mohican Indians, first inhabitants of Rensselaer County, how they met Henry Hudson, how and where they lived and how their role in local history has been overlooked because of emphasis on the Iroquois, who lived far inland. Speaker Shirley W. Dunn will show the locations of some of the Mohican villages in Rensselaer County and name some of the Mohican leaders of past centuries who not only signed land deeds but helped the newly arrived Dutch. Shirley Dunn is the author of three books about the local Mohican Indians.

The Life Of George Holcomb – Election Day 1830

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by Alex Brooks

Monday, November 1: This afternoon I took my double wagon and went to Election to Claudius Moffitt’s and carried brother Samuel and old Mr. Caleb Sheldon. I voted for Governor Enos T. Throop and Lieut Gov Edward P. Livingston and Senator Herman I Quackenbush and Assembly George R. Davis, Aaron Worthington, Martin Springer, Chester Griswold.

Enos T Throop was Martin Van Buren’s Lieutenant Governor. They were elected in the 1828 election and took office in January of 1829. Throop became Governor after Martin Van Buren resigned as Governor in March of 1829, after he was appointed Secretary of State by President Andrew Jackson. Van Buren, incidentally, served the shortest term of any Governor in the history of the State. In the 1830 election in which George cast his vote for Throop, Throop was elected Governor in his own right and served his own two year term, but he did not run again in 1832 and was succeeded by William Marcy. Marcy started as the Editor of the Troy Budget, a newspaper that George subscribed to, and was also a part of Martin Van Buren’s New York group of Jacksonian Democrats. Marcy served three terms as Governor of New York. In any case it is clear that George is a committed Jacksonian Democrat.

Saturday, Nov 13: Some rainy and high wind. We chopped and drew a load of wood and sorted and cribbed some corn. This afternoon Doctor White from Pittsfield Medical Institution came and operated on sister Newton’s other blind eye, and they paid him five dollars.

Sunday: Rainy. I rode to I Newton’s to see how sister was since the operation on her eye.

Monday, Nov 15: Today I took my single wagon and carried my four oldest children to school. It was the first day that school began. Mr. Hiram Mattison is our teacher.

Monday, December 13, 1830: Today I rode to Berlin as far as Hamon Village and a half a mile west up the mountain to Berlin games to look for cows to buy. I did not agree for any cows and I returned home this evening. This morning Mr. Benjamin Carpenter died, he had been deranged about a year.

Wednesday: Today stormy. I chopped some wood and ground axes and tended to chores. On this evening Miss Meriah Sackett died with a lingering consumption. She is the daughter of Calvin P. Sackett.

Two Truck Accidents In One Week On Route 7

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by Bea Peterson

A ride along Route 7 in Hoosick on Wednesday morning, March 12, confirmed that guardrails are down in four places along the north side of Route 7, the westbound lane, between Tibbitts Forest and the Man of Kent Restaurant. Prominent orange and white barrels mark the areas where the rails should be standing.

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