The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

eastwickpress

Upcoming Rensselaer Land Trust Outings

By

• Cemetery Restoration Volunteer Work Day on Saturday, September 14, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Come for part or all day. Immerse your hands in history as we restore a 200 year old local cemetery on RLT’s Randall Brook easement in Stephentown. An expert restorer will be at the site to guide us. Call Francille Egbert for detailed directions at 518-674-3214 or email fran.egbert@gmail.com.
• Fourth Annual Plateau Traverse Hike, September 14 and 15. This is your chance to see some beautiful areas of the Plateau that are not open to the public. This hike is co-sponsored by the Friends of Dyken Pond, the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, the Rensselaer Land Trust and Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area. A $5 per day donation  is suggested to offset fuel costs of shuttles. Preregistration is required; contact info@rensselaerplateau.org or call Jim at 518-794-9160.
This will be a very strenuous hike (15 miles each day) with some bushwhacking and significant elevation changes. More information is available at www.renstrust.org/outingsandevents/listing.

Two On-Farm Workshops On The Fruit Fly

By

The Cornell Cooperative Extension will hold two farm workshops on Tuesday, September 10, in Rensselaer County.  Both workshops will highlight farm research aimed at understanding and controlling the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD). This invasive fruit fly is very damaging to soft fruit,  especially berry crops that ripen later in the season.  SWD caused over a million dollars in damage to berry crops in 2012 in New York alone.  Because of this, SWD management has been a major statewide research and extension focus during 2013, with two of the projects located in the Capital District region.  Plan to join growers, extension educators, Cornell University research faculty, industry and government representatives for updates on innovative management techniques for SWD.
• Fixed Sprayer System in a High Tunnel Raspberry Planting – The Berry Patch of Stonewall Hill Farm, 15370 NY Route 22, Stephentown from 2 to 3:30 pm. This project examines the effectiveness and labor saving attributes of this mode of pest control when faced with a challenging pest like SWD.  Owner Dale Riggs is the president of the NYS Berry Growers Association which has been advocating for increased research funding for SWD.  The farm also grows blueberries with bird netting and day neutral strawberries in a high tunnel – all for local markets.  This project is supported by a research grant from the NY Farm Viability Institute.
• Exclusion Netting and Mass Trapping to Control SWD in Organic Blueberries – Hay Berry Farm, 1276 Babcock Lake Road, Hoosick Falls from 4 to 5:30 pm. Lawrie Nickerson was awarded a NE SARE Farmer Grant to evaluate netting as a management tool for SWD.   She also looked at weed mat and berry quality in the study.  The farm features a SMART NET bird net, deer fencing and a portable hand-washing station to meet U-Pick customer needs.
To register for these workshops call Marcie at 518-272-4210. For more information, call Laura McDermott at 518-791-5038 or email her at lgm4@cornell.edu.

Ronald L. Hasbrouck Jr.

By

Grafton – Ronald L. “Skip” Hasbrouck Jr., 59, of Old Road, Grafton, NY, died Sunday, September 1, 2013, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Troy, NY, after a long illness.
Born in Troy, he was the son of the late Ronald L. Hasbrouck Sr. and Malvina Durivage Hasbrouck and the husband for 37 years of Shirley A. Thurber Hasbrouck. He had resided in Grafton all his life and was a graduate of the Berlin Central School District.
Skip was an operating engineer for Callanan Industries at Clemente Latham Concrete for over 30 years and formerly worked for Duncan’s Poured Foundations and the Rensselaer County Highway Department.
“Poppy” loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was a past member of the Grafton Fire Company and Rescue Squad and loved camping at Lake Lauderdale in Cambridge, NY, camp games, NASCAR and the Liars’ Club.
Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Ronald R. and wife Jennifer Hasbrouck of Grafton and Jonathan L. and wife Heather Hasbrouck of Grafton, eight grandchildren, Alyssa, Carissa, Kaitlyn, Michael, Anthony, Lillian, Caleb and Colin, a brother, Herbert S. and wife Maxine Hasbrouck of Grafton, two sisters, Suzanne M. and husband David Baker of Colonie, NY, and Robin M. Hasbrouck of Grafton, special friends, Jack and Terri Kaschak of Brunswick, NY, and several nieces and nephews.
At Skip’s request there will be no services.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Ronald L. Hasbrouck Jr. to the Lake Lauderdale Campground, RR#1, Box 256-12, Cambridge, NY, 12816.
For a private family guest book, visit www.brycefh.com.

Arthur E. Smith Jr.

By

Hoosick Falls – Arthur E. Smith Jr., 89, died August 29, 2013, after a short illness, surrounded by his family at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, NY. He had been married to Gwendolyn (McMartin) Smith for 66 years.
Born April 22,1924, in Petersburgh, NY, he was the son of the late Arthur E. Sr. and Grace (Fuller) Smith. He was a lifetime resident of North Petersburgh, NY. Arthur graduated from the Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls as Salutatorian in the class of 1941. He then started a career as a builder. Many of the homes he built are located throughout the Hoosick and Taconic Valleys. He was an original member of the School Board of the Hoosick Falls Central School in 1956 and served two terms as President. He retired from the School Board in 1975 and from his business in 1991.
Apart from events celebrating his family life, he enjoyed outdoor sports including hunting and fishing. His favorite sports teams were the Boston Red Sox and the Dallas Cowboys.
Survivors, other than his wife Gwendolyn, are his four sons, David from Wellfleet, MA, Daniel and wife Gail of North Petersburgh, Dennis and wife Pam of North Petersburgh and Richard of Hoosick Falls. He is also survived by eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
In 1963 Arthur and his work crew converted the North Petersburgh schoolhouse into a chapel known as the North Petersburgh Methodist Church. The services for Arthur were held from this chapel on Tuesday September 3, at 12:30 pm. Relatives and friends called at the chapel from 11 am until the service. The burial followed at the Hoosick Rural Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Centers For Nursing and Rehabilitation or the North Petersburgh Methodist Church through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.
The family wishes to thank all the professionals at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and all those who provided his excellent care. For persons unable to attend the services the family suggests that they spend time talking with friends and family about an activity Art enjoyed throughout his life.

Jerome Chamberlain

By

Stephentown – Jerome “Jim” Chamberlain died August 31, 2013, at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake, in Lee, MA, of natural causes brought about by old age; he was 97.
Born in the small rural village of Mt. Upton, NY, Jim was the second child of Arthur and Clare (Wilcox) Chamberlain. Like his father, he loved and excelled in all sports, especially the game of baseball; in this he acquired considerable local acclaim. This talent and passion for all sports helped to center and sustain him throughout his long and active life.
In 1934 Jim met and fell in love with Neva A. Pidgeon of Norwich, NY. Their first meeting was over a soda counter where she served him a banana split. As their love grew so did the size of Neva’s banana splits. In 1938 they married. They had three children – Craig Jerome, Eric Roger and Jan Ellen. In 1951 the family moved to Clifton, NJ, where Jim worked for the pharmaceutical company Hoffmann-La Roche, retiring in 1978.
After Neva died in 1985, Jim later met Arline Carman, whom he knew from his early school years. It was a fairytale meeting and courtship. They became snowbirds, wintering in Florida with warm months spent in New York State.
In 2005 Arline’s health began to fail, and she eventually had to be admitted to a nursing home in Melbourne, FL. Jim was there every day, twice or three times, always present to help brighten her days. She died in 2008, and as in Neva’s death, he was totally bereft and lost without her.
Jim’s personal health began failing him. In 2008 he had a fall that required a hip replacement, eventually coming to Massachusetts to be near his family. He spent three years in assisted living; then the frailties of old age caused him to be admitted to the Kindred Nursing facility.
Jim is pre-deceased by his brother, Robert Chamberlain. He leaves two sons, Craig Chamberlain of Stephentown, NY and Eric Chamberlain and wife Lisa of Stockbridge, MA, a daughter, Jan Marraccini and husband William of Bangor, PA, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
The family wishes to express its extreme gratitude to the entire staff at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake for the attentive and compassionate care given to their father over the past two years. Thank you one and all.
A memorial service will be held, Saturday, September 7, at 2 pm, with visitation beginning at 1 pm, at the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY Rt. 43, Stephentown, NY. A second memorial service will be held Sunday at 10:30 am at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation of Laurel Lake, 620 Laurel Street, Lee, MA.

Florence Townsend

By

Petersburgh – Florence Townsend, 92, passed away on Friday, August 30, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT. She had resided on Green Road in Petersburgh, NY.
Born on March 27, 1921, in Cambridge, NY, Florence was the daughter of the late Wesley and Fannie (Burch) Sherman. She graduated from Walter A. Wood High School in Hoosick Falls, NY, in 1939. Florence was a homemaker all of her life. She enjoyed gardening and sewing. She was well known for her flower gardens.
Survivors include her daughters, Sally Webster, Peggy Morin, Joyce Strait and Judy LaFond, all of Hoosick Falls, Jeanette Chaffee and Nancy Coulter, both of Pownal, VT, and Molly LaBonte of North Petersburgh, NY, her son, Malcolm Townsend of Petersburgh, twenty-eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by three brothers, Malcolm, Duane and Clarence Burch.
Services will be private. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls.

The Life Of George Holcomb – George Is Chosen As School Trustee

By

Tuesday, October 7, 1828: I racked cider and made out a load of nearly five barrels, and brother Wm carried it with my wagon and horses for me to N. Nichols distillery and said Nichols had bargained to pay me in tallow at ten cts per pound and give 50 cts per barrel for cider.  Wm fetched a chest of cake from Bull’s to carry to training to sell tonight.  Platt Wylie put his horse to my wagon and we rode to Doc Right’s and he gave me a writing to carry to Doctor Graves to clear me from military duty on account of deafness.
Wednesday: This morning Mr. John Russell rode with me to Doctor Graves to see if he would give me a discharge from military duty.  He wrote certificate to have my neighbors sign that I was deaf in one ear.  I like got all my neighbors to sign it. I carried it back this evening and said Graves gave me certificate, and I carried the said certificate to Capt Sylvester Gardner and he signed it.
Thursday, October 9, 1828: I went to Berlin to Doc Hammond’s old stand to Nicholas Harrington’s to muster training peddling.  I cleared about 8 dols. Hiram Beers went with me and peddled for me.  I gave him fifty cts for his day’s work.  Brother Wm went with me to training peddling.
Friday: I peddled in our own town to Simon Cranston’s to muster.  Said Beers helped me the same as yesterday.  I cleared or made about eight dols today again.
Saturday: This morning after we tended to some chores I took the covered wagon and carried my wife and daughter went with me to Pittsfield on a visit to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.  I called in the village and left Henry H. Strong three bushels of apples towards my newspapers.  I carried my big bible to Pittsfield to be bound at $1.37 cts.  We called up to Pontoosuc and stayed to Mr. Joseph Fairfields.
Sunday: today I went to a Methodist meeting at a school house near said Fairfield’s, and this afternoon we came home.  I handed said Fairfield 14 cts to pay the pasturing of my horses to a man nearby or said landlord to Fairfield, his name I do not remember.  We came home through Lanesborough.
Monday: Today quite a high wind.  We dug potatoes and I gathered apples and I gathered walnuts.  Tonight I went to school meeting.  I was chosen first trustee and Adam Brown the second and Zachariah Chapman the third.  The wind blew off the roof to my hovel.
Tuesday: We dug potatoes and mended our hovel.