The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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Performing Arts Students And Musicians To Perform With Sharon Katz & The Peace Train In A Benefit Concert At Hoosick Falls High School

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Grammy nominated Sharon Katz and the Peace Train will roll into Hoosick Falls on Thursday, February 13, at 7 pm for a concert in the Hoosick Falls High School auditorium to benefit the Hoosick Falls High School Performing Arts Council.

The South African singer/songwriter/guitarist and several members of the Peace Train will spend the day at Hoosick Falls High School leading music and dance workshops for approximately 25 to 30 student musicians and performing arts students. The students will learn traditional African songs and peace anthems, drumbeats and dance routines and will join the Peace Train on stage for the concert.

Tickets for the performance cost $7 for students and $10 for adults. Childcare will be available (donations accepted).

More About The Artists

The multicultural South African band, Sharon Katz & the Peace Train, is legendary for using music to help the late Nelson Mandela usher in the end of apartheid and prepare for the country’s first democratic election in 1994. Apartheid was the official policy of racial segregation formerly practiced in the Republic of South Africa, involving political, legal and economic discrimination against nonwhites.

Sharon Katz & the Peace Train made history 20 years ago when they formed South Africa’s first of its kind, 500 voice, multiracial choir and organized a courageous cross country tour to promote a message of peace and unity on board a train dubbed the Peace Train.

Nominated for a “Best World Music Album” Grammy for their first U.S. release, “Imbizo,” Sharon Katz & the Peace Train have been playing to international audiences to much acclaim, sharing their culture and experiences through the rhythms of their music, the grace and agility of their dance and their powerful songs. The band has performed at the New Orleans Jazz Fest, Carnegie Hall’s World Music series, Disney World’s International Festival, the Philadelphia Folk Festival, the Smithsonian Institution’s African Art Museum and the Hudson River Clearwater Festival, and also has recorded with such artists as Sting, Elton John, Tina Turner and Madonna.

Now based in the U.S., Sharon Katz & the Peace Train continues to spread its message of peace and reconciliation today through lectures and performances in universities, schools and communities around the world.

Childcare Provided

Childcare will be available during the concert and will include arts and crafts activities, homework help and snacks.

Panther Girls Basketball Wins Two

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by Steve Bradley

The Panther Ladies basketball team played two games over the past week, winning both.

Last Friday, the Ladies went up to Cambridge and defeated the Indians, 40 – 28. Kelly Pine was high scorer for the Panthers, dropping in 14 points. Chelsea Stevens chipped in 11.

On Monday, the Ladies made the trek up to Granville for a game postponed a couple of times since early December. The Panthers overwhelmed the Horde, 70 – 39. Junior Rachel Pine scored 25 points. Freshman Kelly Pine added 14, and sophomore Megan Flynn added 11.

The game scheduled for Wednesday, February 5, was postponed due to weather.

The Ladies travel to Schaghticoke to play the Hoosic Valley Indians on Friday, February 7. The JV game is scheduled to begin at 6 pm with varsity to follow. Next Monday, they again travel, this time to Glens Falls. The JV game is scheduled to begin at 5 pm with the varsity to follow immediately after.

No date for the Stillwater make up game has been announced.

Hoosick Falls Central School Kindergarten Registration

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Hoosick Falls Elementary School has finalized the process for kindergarten registration and screening for the 2014-2015 school year. Parents of children residing in the Hoosick Falls Central School District who will be five years old on or before December 1, 2014, should contact the elementary office as soon as possible at 686-9492 to provide the District with required information. This information will be used to create a mailing list for future events, including kindergarten screening.

An informational meeting for parents and guardians only will be held on Thursday, April 24, at 6 pm in the elementary school cafeteria. Parents will receive important information regarding medical requirements and concerns, transportation and the school breakfast and lunch program. They will also have the opportunity to meet all of the kindergarten teachers and briefly preview the curriculum as they rotate through the classrooms.

An additional component of the kindergarten registration process is kindergarten screening which is scheduled for June 23 through June 25. More detailed information pertaining to the screening will be provided at the informational meeting for parents. Registration packets are available through the elementary school  office. We look forward to hearing from you.

Patriot Flight Applications Available

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Voice of a Vet is pleased and excited to announce that it has just received information and applications for the Patriot Flight that will take place on Saturday, May 10. Departure is from the Albany International Airport.

Patriot Flight is a one day excursion to Washington, D.C. for World War II and terminally ill veterans of other wars to view the War Memorials. Selection is made on a first-come, first-serve basis, so if this is something you’d like to do, don’t delay in calling. They are hoping to have a second trip in the fall.

If you’d like more information or an application, contact Gail Smith at 686-3269.

Applications Are Being Accepted For The Lillis Bunce Memorial Award

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Attention high school seniors! Applications are being accepted for the Lillis Bunce Memorial Award. This $200 award is offered by the Grafton Community Library Board of Trustees in recognition of the lifetime community service of the late Lillis Bunce of Grafton. The purpose of this award is to encourage and reward the community service of our youth as demonstrated by the example Mrs. Bunce set throughout her life.

The Lillis Bunce Memorial Award is presented annually to a high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community by performing community service in any of the following areas: library/literacy, gardening, environmental causes or civic/church organizations – all areas for which Lillis demonstrated a personal interest and passion and gave generously of her time and talents.

Any Grafton resident who is currently a senior in high school is eligible to apply, including private and home-schooled students.

Applications may be obtained at the Library, on the Library’s website, www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org, or at the guidance offices of Berlin, Hoosick Falls or Brittonkill Central Schools. Completed applications may be submitted in person at the Library or by mail to the Grafton Community Library, P.O. Box H, Grafton, NY, 12082. The deadline for receiving applications is May 2, 2014 at 7 pm.

An Invitation To Grafton High School Seniors

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High school seniors attending public, private school or who are home schooled and are residents of Grafton who will be graduating this year are invited to apply for The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award.

This award of $300 is given to the applicant who submits the best essay about some aspect of Grafton’s history and his or her relationship to it.

The award is presented annually by the Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society in memory of Ethel N. Simmons, a native of Grafton and, for many years a Grafton teacher, Librarian and the Town Historian.

Both the Library and the Historical Society have resource materials to aid students in their research. Contact the Library during regular hours for their assistance. Please call Anne at 235-8317 for assistance from the Historical Society.

A copy of the application form is available at the Library, the guidance offices of Berlin and Brittonkill Central School or by email at GHS12082@aol.com.

The deadline for submitting applications is 7 pm on April 1, 2014, at the Library.

Petersburgh Library News

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Kids Crafts

The Petersburgh Public Library will be holding a Winter Break Kids Craft on Wednesday, February 19, from 2 to 4 pm.  Children of all ages are invited to stop by and make a bird feeder.  The bird feeder will be made out of a milk carton which will be painted, a popsicle stick roof added to it and a perch for the birds.   All materials will be provided, and children will be able to take home a bird feeder with bird seed to feed the birds this winter.

Story Hour

Story hour on Tuesday, February 11, will feature the letter “S.”  Pre-schoolers and their caregivers are invited for stories, activities, a craft and snacks.  There will be no story hour on February 18 because of school vacation.

Book Discussion Group

The Petersburgh Public Library book discussion group is reading the book The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón. The book will be discussed at the next meeting on February 12 at 7 pm. Copies of the book are available at the Library. New members are welcome.

Digital Photography Workshop 

The Library will sponsor another digital photography workshop on Thursday, March 27, April 3 and April 10 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm.  Sign-up is required, and there are only two openings left so if anyone is interested please contact the Library soon to join the class.

Berlin Free Town Library News

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The Berlin Free Town Library will hold two programs this Saturday, February 8.  There will be a Make-and-Take Workshop in the children’s area from 10 to 11 am.  Participants will learn how to make Swedish hearts, simple origami hearts, origami bookmarks and Valentine snowflakes.  Please drop in to learn a new craft.

Also on that day, the Library will provide free tax preparation help from 10 am to 1 pm.  Call the Library for details at 658-2231.

February Programs And Events At The Grafton Community Library

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The Grafton Community Library is pleased to announce the following programs for the month of February. All programs are free and open to the public. They will take place at the Library, which is located at 2455 NY Route 2 in Grafton. For more information contact the Library at 518-279-0580 or email director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org. Stay up to date with everything that is happening at the Library by liking us on Facebook®, visiting our online events calendar at www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org/whats-happening-at-your-library and by signing up for our email newsletter at graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

Grafton Community Book Club

The Grafton Community Book Club meets the last Wednesday of every month. Join us this month to discuss M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans, a harrowing and lyrical novel about an Australian lighthouse keeper and his wife and the devastating choices they must make when fate brings them the child they have so long wished for in an unexpected way. The Grafton Community Book Club will meet on  February 26 at 12:30 pm in the Library.

Weekly Programs

Story Time

There will be story time for toddlers up to school age children on Wednesday, February12, at 10:30 am, Thursday, February 20, at 4 pm and on Wednesday, February 26, at 10:30 am. Bring your little ones to the Library for story time fun including crafts, stories, snacks and more.

We were excited to feature Mary Pierson’s special sing along story time on February 6.

Sit & Knit

The Sit & Knit knitting and needle arts group meets every Saturday from 10 am to 12:30 pm. All skill levels are welcome. Come work on your projects and learn about all the needle arts including knitting, stitching and crocheting.

Game Day

Game Day at the Library is every Tuesday starting at 3:30 pm. Come to the Library to play your favorite board games with friends – Scrabble®, Bananagrams®, Scattergories® and more. Use the Library’s games or bring your own.