Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
submitted by Kevin O’Malley
March 15 is coming fast! Six Marching bands are signed and ready for the Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s parade on March 15 at 1 pm – Olde Saratoga Fyfes and Drums, Excelsior Drum Corps, Berkshire Highlanders Pipes and Drums, Taconic Pipe Band, Capital Brass Drum Corps and the Galloway Gaelic Pipes and Drums. [Read more…] about Come Join The Fun At The Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Parade
by Steve Bradley
Last Friday and Saturday HFCS students Nolan Foster and Luis Weierbach competed in the New York State wrestling championships. The event was held at the Times Union Center in Albany.
Foster, a sophomore, competed in the 113 pound class. In his first match he won by decision over an opponent from Section X, 4 – 2 in overtime. Foster won the match with 24 seconds left in the overtime period. Unfortunately, Foster lost his next two matches, the first by a 4 – 3 score to a Section VI opponent; the second was a 6 – 5 loss to a Section V wrestler which eliminated Foster from the competition. With two years of high school left, and losing two State final matches by a two point total, there is no doubt that this will not be Foster’s last appearance in this competition.
Weierbach, a senior and previous State champion in the 106 pound class, was appearing in his fourth State championship. This year he competed in the 120 pound class. His first opponent was from Section VII, and Weierbach quickly put him away with a pin at the 1:28 mark. In Weierbach’s next match, against a Section VI opponent, he won by decision, 6 – 3.
Sunday afternoon, in the semifinals, Weierbach faced a familiar foe. Fellow Section II wrestler, Albany Academy’s Matt Morris, entered the match with a 45 – 0 record. Weierbach had been defeated by Morris twice this season, the last time being two weeks ago in the Sectionals. The two wrestlers put on the best show of the State championships.
After the first period Morris held a 2 – 0 lead. In the second period, Morris didn’t score and Weierbach scored three, taking a 3 – 2 advantage. With less than a minute left in the third and final regulation period, Morris was able to score one point to tie the score at 3 – 3.
The pair then went into a one minute, sudden death period. Neither was able to gather a point by the time the period ended.
The match then moved to two thirty second periods, one for each wrestler, to earn a point from the bottom position. Weierbach was on the bottom first and was close to escaping Morris, but Morris grabbed Weierbach’s leg and held on for longer than the referee thought he should. Morris was called for stalling, giving Weierbach one point. On Morris’s thirty seconds, Weierbach was able to keep Morris from gaining any points, and Weierbach came away with an exciting 4 – 3 win.
In Sunday evening’s finals, Weierbach was defeated by Bryan Lantry of Section V, 5 – 4. After a scoreless first period, Weierbach took a one point lead in the second period, but Lantry later took the lead and was able to hold on for the win. Weierbach ended the 2014 championships with a 3 – 1 record and took second place.
The weekend brought Weierbach’s stellar career at HFCS to an end. He will wrestle at West Point next year for Army.
submitted by Erin Clary, Communications Specialist, Berlin Central School District
On Saturday, March 1, a team of eight Berlin Middle School students competed in the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl regional competition at General Electric Global Research in Niskayuna.
Team Berlin placed fifth in the car competition and advanced through quarter finals in the academic Q&A portion. With the support of more than 35 cheering friends and family members, this first time team was one of 11 middle school teams from nine school districts to compete in the regional competition.
For months leading up to the event, students stayed after school using knowledge from their math, science and technology classes to build a small electric car from a lithium battery and miscellaneous parts. The vehicle then had to carry a 1½ pound salt container down a 50 foot track. Team Berlin won its initial heats and qualified for the single elimination heats, making it to the second round.
Students also participated in the academic competition portion of the event to test their math and science knowledge. As the only rookie team at the event, Team Berlin defeated Bethlehem and had close scores with other Big 10 schools in the Capital District.
According to Berlin Science Teacher Audrey Vanderhoef, hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) projects like these help students learn 21st century skills such as team work, communication and problem solving. It also encourages students to begin thinking about college and careers.
“These students are already figuring out career pathways and the importance of work ethic,” said Vanderhoef. “Events like these allow them to discover the many opportunities in the Capital Region even if you come from a small town in the valley.”
Vanderhoef said the event helps students build confidence while having fun. “They’ve lost that frustration level,” she said. “It makes them excited to try and to not be afraid of making mistakes.”
Students also had the opportunity to see 3-D printers in action and speak to architects and engineers who developed the RPI tech park.
Team Berlin includes Ilan Mikit (captain), Seiji Akera, Breanna Brundige, Amada Despart, Mike Diaz, Kiam Kaiser, Anthony Marshall and Ben Stewart.
The Parent Engagement Committee invites all Berlin Elementary School parents and grandparents to the English Language Arts (ELA) Common Core Night. This will be held on Thursday, March 20, from 6 to 7:30 pm at the Elementary School. Child care and refreshments will be provided. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more and ask your children’s teachers about how you can help your child in school.
Confused about healthcare? Get health insurance help and information at The Armory on Friday, March 14, from 5 to 7 pm. Pamela Cole, a representative from WellCare, a healthcare group that partners with providers and governments to deliver quality, cost effective health care solutions will be there to meet with you and help you make sense of the confusing healthcare system.
WellCare provides managed care services through government sponsored programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. They offer a variety of health plans for families and children as well as prescription drug plans.
The Lebanon Valley Historical Society (LVHS) has been granted $225 from the Columbia County Board of Supervisors and the Columbia County Historical Society 2013 Re-grant program. These funds have been used to buy archival storage boxes and supplies for the LVHS collection of The ECHO, a now out of print weekly newspaper which covered towns in Columbia and Rensselaer Counties on the Massachusetts border.
Previously, the LVHS had an extensive but incomplete collection of The ECHO. Last summer, the Town of New Lebanon received a donation of a complete collection of The ECHO, and gave them to the LVHS. The LVHS requested funding from the Columbia County Historical Society to buy archival storage boxes and supplies in order to safely store this collection.
In January, volunteers from the LVHS sorted and collated the newspapers. The LVHS now has an almost complete collection of The ECHO from 1940 to 1996. They are archivally stored in the LVHS rooms at the New Lebanon Town Hall and available for public research by appointment.
Since many of the donated editions had multiple copies, extra copies were donated to the Stephentown and Canaan Historical Societies. Copies of The ECHO are also available for public perusal at the New Lebanon Heritage Center.
submitted by Gail Smith
About a dozen interested veterans attended the information night on the Patriot Flight that will take place on May 10 (originally reported as May 3). Bill Schaaf and Danielle Havel from the organization brought with them all the information veterans and/or guardians needed to know. Bill began with three tear-jerking clips from the movie Honor Flight, which is a documentary based on an Honor Flight event that depicted what attendees might experience during their trip.
The sole purpose of Patriot Flights is to bring veterans to the Washington, DC, War Memorials, free of charge, for a day filled with honor, recognition, remembrance and memories. Their goal is to take as many World War II Veterans as possible, but they are also taking applications for Korean War Veterans and Guardsmen.
Patriot Flight has made 13 trips to Washington over the years, which are funded through donations by individuals and organizations. It is a life changing experience which Bill promised, besides a veteran’s wedding day and the day their children were born, would be the most memorable event of a veteran’s life. The only thing they’ll have to do is get up, get dressed and get themselves to Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church, the departure location. Patriot Flight will take it all from there.
We were assured that the veterans’ personal comfort is of utmost importance and the only medical concern they will have will be facial muscle fatigue from smiling all day. That’s a good problem to have!
Seats are first come-first serve, so don’t delay. Cost for Guardsmen is $350. If you have any questions or would like an application, you can call Gail at 686-3269 or Bill Schaaf at 542-0609, stop in at the Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church or visit patriotflight.com.
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department along with the Grafton Ladies Auxiliary will be serving an All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast on Saturday, March 29, from 8 to 11 am at the Grafton VFW – Fire Hall on South Road (County Route 85).
Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs (made to order), sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk are on the menu. The cost is $9 per adult, $4 for kids 12 and under and free for kids five and under.
The Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company will serve its monthly breakfast at the firehouse on Sunday, March 16, from 8 until 11:30 am. Breakfast consists of your choice of French toast or pancakes, together with bacon or sausage, toast, orange juice, beverages and eggs prepared to your order for a cost of $6 with children under five served free.
Support your locate fire company while visiting with friends and neighbors and enjoying a hearty breakfast to start your day. The firehouse is located behind the post office near the intersection of Routes 20 and 66 North in the hamlet of Brainard and is handicap accessible. For more information call 518-766-3815.
Last Saturday over thirty people came to enjoy an evening of Celtic music performed by the musical group calling itself Shoni. A lot of history, much jamming, great laughs and baked delicacies made for a fun program. [Read more…] about Celtic Music At The Berlin Free Town Library
