The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

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David Grover And Linda Worster At The New Lebanon Library

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Local favorites David Grover and Linda Worster will be performing together at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, November 29, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The public is welcome and the event is free.

David Grover has earned countless awards including a Grammy nomination and Artist of the Year. He spent many years as Arlo Guthrie’s lead guitar and band leader. Grover and his Big Bear Band have performed at the White House, opened the Goodwill Games, appeared on The Today Show, performed with the Detroit Symphony for their Youth Series and played for the delegates of the United Nations.

Linda Worster has toured as a solo musician throughout New England, New York and New Jersey, performing in many coffeehouses, colleges, churches, healing centers, cafés and clubs. She has opened for many well known artists including Livingston Taylor, Harry Chapin, Paul Stookey, Leo Kotke, David Bromberg, Bill Staines, Dave Mallett, Jonathan Edwards, Joan Baez, Richie Havens and Taj Mahal.

For further information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.

Lions Annual Ball

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The Cambridge and Hoosick Lions Clubs present the 1st Annual Holiday Ball on Saturday, December 14, from 5 to 10 pm. The Ball is open to the public, but there is limited seating. The Ball will take place at the Hoosick Falls Country Club with a buffet style dinner with a carving station. Entertainment is by the Sage City Six. The cost is $35 per person.

Bring an unwrapped gift to donate to the local Toy Drive.

Please contact Don Cummings, Cambridge Lions Club, 518-321-4062 (cell), or Rosemarie Smith, Hoosick Falls Lions Club, 518-686-4504 (work).

Mountain Road School 15th Annual Holiday Fair

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The Mountain Road School will hold its 15th Annual Holiday Fair on Saturday, December 7, from 11 am to 4 pm. The fair will take place at the school’s home in the historic Hand House at 4565 County Route 9 in New Lebanon.

“Come join us at the Mountain Road School’s Holiday Fair on December 7,” said Director of Outreach Anne Undeland. “This year’s fair is going to be better; there’s something for everybody. From the Mountain Road Singers to the Pocket Lady, from beautiful hand made wreaths to delicious food to the gingerbread decorating workshop, the Holiday Fair is the perfect way to get into the spirit of the season, visit our wonderful school and take care of your holiday gift list too.”

The Mountain Road Holiday Fair will feature activities upstairs at the school, including a “Tiny Treasures Room,” face painting, a “Make and Take Room” where children of all ages can make a craft to take home, Beeswax Candle Dipping and a Gingerbread Decorating Workshop. The “Pocket Lady” (a beloved Mountain Road tradition) will roam the hallways with her cape of treats to delight young and old alike.

Downstairs, local vendors will sell high quality crafts suitable for gift giving, ranging from hand painted watercolors by Linnea Rhodes to handmade organic creams and salves by Cari Naftali. Outdoors under the tent Greg Hostash and Cindy Ouelette will make their famous French fries with garlic aioli and other grilled specialties, while indoors Richard Green will continue to host the ever popular Holiday Fair Café. A concert by the Mountain Road Singers will take place at 1 pm.

Founded in 1975, Mountain Road School is known for its innovative, multi-aged classrooms, visionary nature based curriculum and nurturing child centered philosophy. The 15th Annual Holiday Fair is also an opportunity to view Mountain Road’s new home in the lovingly restored 1788 Hand House situated on 20 acres of fields, woods and streams

Mountain Road School is located at 4565 County Route 9 in New Lebanon, one mile north of New York State Route 20. The address for many GPS systems is 4565 County Rte 9, East Nassau, NY, 12062.

For additional information, visit the school’s website at www.mountainroadschool.org, or contact Anne Undeland, Director of Outreach at 518-794-8520.

Letter To The Editor – The Benefits Of Community

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To the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Buckley and Reinhard children for their generous donation to the Grafton youth. Your presentation was something special to witness. It was symbolic of how children can bring a community together and restore faith in our future. My hope is these funds will aid Grafton youth to become positive role models and active participants in Grafton volunteer organizations.

In our fast paced world, it is very easy to overlook the benefits of community based volunteer services and the need to recruit new members. All too often our youth are dismissed as potential future members because they don’t fill an immediate need or the belief is their participation will be short-lived. I say, “What about our children’s needs?” And the need for them to experience first hand what it is like to become actively involved in their community or grow to appreciate those who serve in these organizations or decide on a career path. Our youth programs offer that fundamental opportunity and exposure. We may discover there is a budding librarian, historian, firefighter-paramedic or public servant living in Grafton after experiencing one of many volunteer organization programs.

It is reassuring to know the Grafton Fire Auxiliary will be sponsoring one of these programs on December 1, 2013. The description of the event at the November 18 Board meeting was enlightening. It represents a coming together of the community at large and an opportunity to reconcile our differences. There is no doubt the event will bring a smile to those who participate.

Barbara J. Messenger,

Grafton Town Board Member

Stephentown Texas Hold’em

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The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, December 7, in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and close at 6 pm. Play begins at 6:15 sharp.

No advance registration is required. A donation of $35 per player will be accepted and give the player 6,000 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,000 extra in chip value. This tournament will pay one place for every 10 players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of 9 places.

A free buffet will be served at the first break and refreshments will be available.

For more information, please call Tom MacVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Become A Watershed Stream Spotter

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Think Spring! Become a Watershed Stream Spotter for the Kinderhook or Wyomanock Creeks. An information session will be held on Wednesday, December 11, at 6:30 pm at the Stephentown Memorial Library. This is your chance to become a citizen scientist.

Volunteer environmental monitoring can be a great family activity, a good excuse to get outdoors or simply a good way to learn about pollution of water and how to protect your favorite water body. No previous education or training is required in order to participate. Equipment, materials and training will be provided. There is no need to register, just show up. If you have questions, contact Fran@stockportwatershed.org.

The End To End Challenge

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The End to End, a 29 mile endurance challenge along the Taconic Crest Trail, will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014, as announced by the Taconic Hiking Club. This event pits entrants against 29 miles of unimproved backwoods trails traversing three states – New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.  The challenge of this hike is a cumulative total of 7,836 feet of ascent and 9,470 feet of descent to be completed in one day.

In past years, entrants have come from New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York to test their stamina against the rigors of a trail that includes Berlin Mountain, the highest point in Rensselaer County.

Those interested in achieving the end reward of a specialized trail patch and a unique certificate of achievement should contact R.J. Hydorn, 2 Miller Avenue, Troy, NY, 12180, or rjhydorn@lycos.com to have the registration form sent. The form is also online at http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com.  Completed registration forms will not be accepted until December 1, 2013.   An entry fee of $30 is required with each registration. This fee is non-refundable after March 31, 2014. There will be a ceiling of 25 entrants for this event, with each application handled on a first received, first served basis. Additional entrants will be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

All participants in this challenge are expected to arrive in Pittsfield State Park on Friday, May 16, to camp out and be ready for the 5 am wake up and hot breakfast served by the Taconic Hiking Club.  Hikers start at 5:30 am, and there are three support sites with water and other supplies along the route.  Sweep parties follow the hikers to provide assistance and support as needed.  Volunteers will be available to pack the hikers’ camping gear and move their cars to the finish line at Rt. 346 in Pownal, VT.  Entrants are encouraged to bring a companion to help with this and to be available to drive a very weary hiker home after the successful completion of this event.

It should be noted that this is not a timed event and entrants only compete against their own clocks, not each other.  This unique event has been held for over 30 years and has attracted attention in both Backpacker and Adventure magazines. For more details see the Taconic Hiking Club website, http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com.

American Red Cross Blood Drive At HFCAC

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Did you know that one pint of blood can save up to three lives? This holiday season why not consider giving something that can have a lasting impact? Donating blood costs nothing and only takes about 15 minutes.

On Monday, December 9, from 1 to 6 pm, the Hoosick Falls Community Alliance Church at 484 Hill Road, Hoosick, will provide an opportunity for you to help save a life through our American Red Cross Blood Drive. If you are at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, are healthy and have not given blood in 56 days you are eligible.

There is no greater feeling than knowing that you have helped provide life to someone in need.  Make a difference by calling 1-800-REDCROSS or visiting redcrossblood.org today to schedule your appointment.

For more information, contact HFCAC at 686-3269 or the American Red Cross at the number above.

Thomas G. Restino

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Hoosick Falls – The Honorable Thomas G. Restino, 86, passed away on Saturday, November 23, 2013, at his residence on Willow Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, surrounded by his loving family. He had resided there with his wife of sixty-two years, Helen (Sluzas) Restino.

Born on September 10, 1927, in Hoosick Falls, Tom was the son of the late Angelo and Anna Rose (Malillo) Restino. He was educated at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls. Tom was a veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Korean Conflict, and he worked at Oak Mitsui in Hoosick Falls as a welder.

Tom’s passion was politics. He began his career as Trustee for the Village of Hoosick Falls and followed as Justice of the Peace for the Town of Hoosick. He served three terms as a Rensselaer County Legislator and finalized his political career as Town of Hoosick Supervisor. He was a member of the American Legion Post # 40, where he had served as Commander, Adjutant and Chaplain. He also was the Past President of the St. Mary’s Academy Alumni.

Survivors, other than his wife Helen, include their children, Michele Restino and Christine Flynn Saulnier of Brimfield, MA , Gregory Restino Sr. and wife Kathy of Hoosick Falls, the Honorable Thomas G. Restino Jr. and wife Margaret of Hoosick Falls and Kathryn Mayer and husband Jeff of Fairfield, CT, his sisters, Margaret Hoffman and Sophie Ravena, both of Hoosick Falls, and Angie Fulginiti and husband Tony of Melrose, MA. Tom is also survived by grandchildren, Toni Monigan, Greg Restino Jr. and  wife Amina, Kathleen Restino, Anna, Jake and Drew Restino and Lucas and Rosey Mayer, and a great-grandchild, Liam Monigan. He is pre-deceased by sisters, Sadie Starsiak, Augusta Vitro and Nonette (Dorothy) Williams, a brother-in-law, Francis Vitro, and a sister-in-law, Mary LaPorte.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered on Tuesday, November 26, at 10 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial followed the Mass at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, on Monday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to either St. Mary’s Academy or the Karen McGovern Memorial Fund through the funeral home.

Tom’s family would like to express a note of gratitude to his special caregivers, Carol Hanselman and Gretchen Yonconish, as well as his many special friends who supported him.