The North Hoosick Fire Department will hold a kids dance at the firehouse on Rt. 22 on Friday, November 22. Students ages 9 to 15 in the area schools are invited to attend the dance which will begin at 7 pm. Students will be able to dance to music until 10 pm. Parents must sign their child out after the dance.
Kevin McGuire Is Scrooge In A New Staging Of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
Broadway star Kevin McGuire returns to the Capital Repertory Theatre as Ebenezer Scrooge in Patrick Barlow’s rousing new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. McGuire – who founded the Theater Company at Hubbard Hall – plays a decidedly different Scrooge downtown, surrounded by actor/musicians who remember the fun found in the original tale. [Read more…] about Kevin McGuire Is Scrooge In A New Staging Of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol
SMA Dress Down For A Cause
Steven James Bell
Berlin – Steven James Bell, 38, died Sunday, November 17, 2013. Born in Troy, NY, on August 30, 1975, he was the son of Evelyn Fields of Troy and the late James Bell. He was the foster son of Stacy Carreau of Bennington, VT, and David Carreau of New Jersey. Steve was raised in Berlin, NY, and educated in Berlin schools. He was a carpenter his whole life and was employed by Madsen Construction, HosCot Builders in Hoosick, NY, Fairdale Farms in Bennington and by Carpenter’s Local 291 in Albany, NY. He was presently employed by Henderson Johnson Construction based in Syracuse, NY. [Read more…] about Steven James Bell
Robert M. Reiter
Stephentown – Robert M. Reiter, 61, of Rte. 43, Stephentown, NY, died on Monday, November 18, 2013, at his residence surrounded by his family after a long illness. Born and raised in Troy, NY, Bob was the son of the late Thomas B. and Catherine Casey Reiter Sr. and the husband of Deborah York Reiter. Bob attended Troy schools and served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He had resided in Stephentown for the past 35 years.
Elizabeth Marie Duprey
Berlin – Elizabeth Marie Duprey, 64, born on December 29, 1949, in Norwich, NY, passed away November 17, 2013, at the Albany County Nursing Home after a long illness. She is survived by her parents, Leon and Hope Duprey of Berlin, NY, and her sister, Adrienne and husband Thomas Irish, of Bay Palm, FL, as well as numerous nieces and nephews in the North Country. Little Rosette had a love of the outdoors and was an accomplished artist.
Funeral services will be at the convenience of the family, and she will be buried next to her beloved grandmother in Oriskany, NY.
In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 5 Computer Drive West, Suite 100, Albany, NY, 12205.
Her parents are very thankful for all the wonderful care provided by the staff at the Albany County Nursing Home through the years.
Arrangements are by the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home in Petersburgh, NY.
Carolyn M. Surdam
Hoosick Falls – Carolyn M. “Khaki” Surdam, 76, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2013, at her residence in Hoosick Falls, NY, surrounded by her family. She had resided there with her husband, Leo Surdam Jr.
Born on February 1, 1937, in Raymertown, NY, Carolyn was the daughter of the late Milford and Ruth (Cushman) Bornt. She was educated at schools in Lansingburgh, NY. Carolyn worked at Johnson Controls in Bennington, VT, as a purchasing agent.
She enjoyed bingo, bowling, playing cards, trips to the casinos and crocheting baby sets. Carolyn mostly enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She and her husband spent winters in Venetian Parks Estates in Sarasota, FL.
Survivors, other than her husband Leo Jr., include their children, Shirley White and husband Billy of Bartlett, IL, Leo Surdam III and wife Deborah of Hoosick, NY, and Gerry Surdam of Hoosick Falls, her sisters, Shirley Borter of Troy, NY, Ruth Bornt of Poestenkill, NY, and Emily Bornt of Melrose, NY, her brothers, Harry Bornt of Ormond Beach, FL, Ken Bornt of Melrose and Roy Bornt of Troy. Carolyn is also survived by seven grandchildren, Stephen Surdam, Tanya Brock, Leslie Rousseau, Matthew Steichen, Lauren Soto, Tara DeCicco and Alyssa Surdam, five great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by five brothers, Carl, Milford, Bob, Ray and Paul Bornt.
Funeral services are Friday, November 22, at 11 am from the Hoosick Baptist Church on South Street in Hoosick. Burial will follow the service at Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls.
Relatives and friends may call at the Church on Thursday from 4 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Karen McGovern Memorial Fund through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, which is handling the arrangements.
Stephen J. Gaj, Sr.
Petersbugh/Berlin – Stephen J. Gaj, Sr., 57, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2013, surrounded by his family at Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke, MA. Steve was born on April 12, 1956, to the late Walter and Stefania Gaj. He grew up in Granby, MA, and started his own family there in 1978. In 1989, he moved to Petersburgh, NY. He remained in the Petersbugh/Berlin, NY, area for the rest of his life.
Steve was a racing and classic car enthusiast spending most of his life as an auto mechanic as well as an employee at Lebanon Valley Dragway where he could often be seen on the starting line. If he wasn’t at the track, he was enjoying the simple life that he loved, which mostly included spending time with his friends and family in a garage or next to a campfire. Over the years he also enjoyed hunting, played in several horseshoe, dart and softball leagues and was well known for his pig roasts.
Stephen is pre-deceased by his son, Stephen J. Gaj, Jr, his parents, Walter Gaj and Stefania Gaj (Gondek), and his brothers, Paul Gaj, Frederick Gaj and Walter Gaj, Jr. Survivors include his children, Paul F. Gaj and wife Jillian of Orange, MA, and Charlene M. Millias and husband Michael of Johnstown, NY, the mother of his children, Linda Larose, his grandchildren, Stephen, Tristen and Alivia Gaj and Maya and Eryn Millias, his siblings, Dorothy Bycenski and husband Joseph, Phyllis Horoszewski and husband Thomas, Richard Gaj and wife Cynthia, Peter Gaj and wife Robyn, Gail Holt and husband Frederick, David Gaj and Diane Lemire and husband Arthur, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Services were held Monday, November 18, at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home in Petersburgh. Calling hours were from 10 am until 12 pm with a memorial service at 12 pm. Burial followed at the Meadowlawn Cemetery in Petersburgh.
Alberta R. Sears
East Nassau – Alberta Ruth Teal Sears, 68, died peacefully on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, at her home in East Nassau, NY. Born in Troy, NY, on April 14, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Erwin and Helen Geerhout Teal.
Alberta enjoyed being with her family, camping, cooking and doing crafts.
She was the beloved wife of the late Kenneth E. Sears, Sr., who died in 2011, the loving mother of Kenneth E. Sears, Jr. of East Nassau, Wanda J. Sears-Lacey of Dalton, MA, Denise H. and husband Carl Schmidt of New Lebanon, NY, and Paul C. and wife Terry Sears of East Chatham, NY, the adored grandmother of Nicole and Kari Schmidt and Kenny and Kaitlyn Sears, the step-grandmother of John Archer, the dear sister of Evelyn Myatt of Poestenkill, NY, Elsie Miller of Stephentown, NY, Edie Robinson of Wynantskill, NY, Judy Marchand of Latham, NY, Beverly Stockholm of West Sand Lake, NY, and the late Esther Holt and Deese Teal. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown.
The Life Of George Holcomb – Paying Off The Interest
Saturday, July 18, 1829: This evening I went and paid Edward Carr one year’s interest on a note of 202 dol which was 14 dol and 14 cts, and I paid him 20 cts compound interest, and I went and paid Adam Brown one year’s interest on a fifty dollar note, which was three dollars and 50 cts.
Saturday, July 25: On this day I took the covered double wagon and carried my wife and Mother Spring to Richmond to brother Jay Wylie’s on a visit. We carried Charlotte and Geo P. and the babe Sarah Orselia (b. 25 March ’29) and I paid said Jay one year’s interest on the three hundred dollars I had borrowed of him, which was twenty one dollars. I carried Mother Holcomb to the widow Hunter’s on a visit until we returned, and I carried a grist of rye and corn to the Shakers’ mill and had it ground and took it at night when we returned.
August was a hard-working month, mostly haying. Toward the end of the month he digs potatoes and picks apples, and again begins to go on marketing trips to Pittsfield and Troy.
Tuesday, September 1: We made cider and got ready for to go to Commencement. We fenced stacks. Russell Pierce held plow a spell and I am to carry him to Commencement.
Wednesday, Sept. 2: This morning at midnight I started for Williamstown with cider and cake to peddle. Brother Wm and Mr. Newton went with me and peddled. I sold about five dollars, and we got home about 9.
Sunday, September 6: I took the single wagon and carried my wife to the Methodist quarterly meeting at the meeting house near Bigalow’s in Lebanon. This evening I walked over to Elder Mathew Jones, Isaac Newton’s and Francis Buten’s collecting school tax.
Monday, Sept. 7: I went with the single wagon to the west part of this town to Robert Tifft’s peddling cake and cider. I cleared four dollars peddling. I left a keg to John Babcock’s with cider in it and he paid me 39 cts and agrees to send the keg to Barnum Clark’s shop by Saturday.
Saturday, Sept. 12: This morning I rode over to Elijah Goodrich’s to see if he would come and fix our cider mill, and I paid up a note of nine dollars and interest to Lydia Stone and today we gathered apples and got in rowing too. This evening we made cider.
Sunday: This evening I went up to brother Wm and he took his horse and came home with me and stayed, to be ready to go to training.
Monday:Today brother Wm put his horse with mine to my wagon and went to Canaan to General Training peddling. I made about five dol and a half.