The bocce court at the Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, has been completed thanks to the many volunteers, Donna Walker and the Town of Grafton. If you are a senior in Rensselaer County please feel free to come try it out.
Our Center is open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 3 pm. If you have any questions or need more information, please call the Center at 279-3413.
Tuesday Women’s Bowling League Meeting
There will be a meeting on Tuesday, August 6, at 6:30 pm at the Barbecue Recreation pavilion in Hoosick for the Tuesday Night Women’s Bowling League. All team captains are encouraged to attend. Each team must have at least one member of their team present to cast any votes on any issues that might arise.
We are looking for a few more teams to fill the empty slots that we have. We also need individual bowlers to fill some vacancies on other teams. If you are interested in coming out on Tuesday nights and having some fun with your friends, please give us a call. Call Risa at 518-428-3026, Pat at 518-205-5104, Jean at 518-686-9817 or Barbecue Recreation at 518-686-5751.
Berlin Volleyball Camp Starts Soon
Berlin Volleyball Camp for modified to varsity players is scheduled for August 5 to August 9 from 3 to 5 pm at Berlin Middle/High School. The fee is $50. Contact Paul Slaver at 518-577-4469 for more information.
Letter To The Editor – Thank You All!
To the editor:
I would like to thank all the emergency responders for their quick response to the tractor trailer rollover accident on Route 7 on July 15. Many times we forget how much work and dedication goes into making a fire department, police department or rescue squad a well run organization until we need them. I am proud to say we have some of the best organizations in all of New York State!
I appreciate and would like to thank everyone of you for your service. Your dedication to your community does not go unnoticed.
Respectfully,
Keith Cipperly Town of Hoosick Supervisor
Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company Annual Pig Roast
On Saturday, August 17, the Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company Inc. will hold its 25th Annual Pig Roast on the firehouse grounds located just off Route 20 in the hamlet of Brainard. Doors will open at 1 pm, and the afternoon will be filled with fun events including door prizes and games as well as hot dogs, sausage, hamburgers and drinks, all the while the ‘whole pig’ covered with foil, will be roasting on the spit in view of the attendees.
At about 5 pm the roast will be served with baked potato, applesauce, corn on the cob and of course the pork – all followed by ice cream with your choice of strawberry or chocolate sauce. Tickets may be reserved by calling 518-766-3815 at a cost of $20 for adults and $10 for children 5-12. The event is held under cover of the large pavilion in the rear of the fire house.
Completing the event will be a large raffle, and members are currently canvassing the area residents to offer them an opportunity to support this project with the purchase of tickets for which prizes have been donated by area merchants. Special thanks goes to those merchants who include Jackson’s Old Chatham House, Thoma Tire and Antiques at Bailey’s in Nassau, Lebanon Valley Speedway, Angel’s Trumpet Flowers and Gifts, Mario’s Restaurant and Hermon T. Huntley Insurance Agency, all in New Lebanon, as well as Curtis Lumber in Schodack. Additional door and game prizes will be distributed during the event.
Consolidation Of County Social Services And Probation Offices Approved
submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison
Following extensive negotiations that produced cost savings, the Rensselaer County Legislature approved a relocation and consolidation of the County Social Services and Probation offices during a special legislative meeting Monday night, July 22.
The relocation and consolidation will see the Social Services and Probation offices moved from two locations in downtown Troy to Flanigan Square. Flanigan Square was recently used as State offices. The Social Services offices will be moved from the Raddock Building on Sixth Avenue and the Probation offices moved from the corner of Fifth and Broadway and Fulton and Fourth streets.
Chairman Martin Reid praised the work of legislators, including Vice Chairman Stan Brownell, Vice Chairman for Finance Phil Danaher and Legislator Kelly Hoffman, in helping negotiate the lease and bringing about additional savings and efficiencies. Brownell, Danaher and Hoffman each have professional experience with leases and relocation of offices.
The relocation was initially proposed in May. Legislators worked on a bipartisan and cooperative basis to improve the lease and the relocation. Reid credited the cooperative approach with generating positive results for taxpayers.
“There was a lot of hard work by legislators, and collaboration between legislators, department heads and other County officials to strengthen and improve this lease from the County’s point of view,” said Reid.
The lease was approved by a 16-0 margin with one abstention.
The lease approved on Monday evening includes three months free rent, and administrative fees for the agreement were removed. The lease gives the County more flexibility; potential future rate increases were reduced and tied to the state tax cap.
The consolidation of the services also improves efficiency for County government. Consolidations like the one approved Monday are recommended by the State.
“This is a major move for County government, and one that we hope will serve the interests of the people of the County and our employees for years to come,” said Brownell.
Linda Orton Takes Thoroughbred Hunter Championship At The Vermont Summer Festival
Linda Orton and her own Top Honors were awarded the hunter championship title during the inaugural week of TAKE2 Thoroughbred classes at the Vermont Summer Festival. With owner and trainer Linda Orton, Top Honors nearly swept the division, collecting blue ribbons in all but one class during week two of competition at the Vermont Summer Festival at Harold Beebe Farm in East Dorset, VT.
Top Honors has been an invaluable member of Orton’s Manor Ridge Farm, based in Hoosick Falls, for over ten years. While the horse’s sire was a noted racehorse, Top Honors never made it to the track. Instead, Orton acquired him when he was just over one year old and trained him into a trusted show mount.
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Rensselaer Land Trust Ingalls Preserve Ribbon Cutting In Stephentown
On Saturday, July 20, more than 30 community members gathered at the Rensselaer Land Trust’s Robert Ingalls Preserve in Stephentown for an official ribbon cutting ceremony in memory of Robert Ingalls.
During the ceremony, Christine Young, Rensselaer Land Trust’s Executive Director, reflected on Robert Ingalls’ years of dedication to the Land Trust as Vice-President and as a long time Board member who served on multiple committees to aid in the Land Trust’s success. “He touched the lives of many of us through his generous and humble spirit and extensive knowledge of plants and the land of the region – he is greatly missed,” said Young.
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Run For The Roses
The 28th annual Run for the Roses will take place on Sunday, August 11, at Grafton Lakes State Park. Events include a 5k foot race, 2.5 mile scenic nature walk and a kids one mile fun run. Proceeds will benefit the Grafton Community Library and the Courtney Carelli Foundation for Literacy.
A medal and a bouquet of roses will be awarded to the top male and female runners. All entrants will receive a T-shirt and a book. The first 150 pre-registrants will receive a long sleeve T-shirt.
The deadline for mail-in pre-registration is August 6. Entrants for all events may pick up their packets at the Park’s main parking lot on the day of the race. For more information, or to access a race entry form on-line, go to www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org or call the Grafton Community Library at 518-279-0580.
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center Events
• Saturday, July 27 – 1 to 3 pm – Community Art Project. Folk art fish will be created with local artist Ellen Crane. This program is great for families and all ages, so come to Dyken Pond and get creative! Please wear old clothes because art can get messy.
• Tuesday, August 6 – 1 to 3 pm: Fantastic Ferns. The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering a Junior Naturalist Program. This program will teach Jr. Naturalists all about the indigenous ferns of Dyken Pond Center. A short hike and hanging wall craft will be included in this program. A $1 per child donation covers material costs.
Pre-registration is encouraged for both of these events to help with planning, but it is not required and can be done by contacting the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or by calling 658-2055.
Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing and non-motor boating at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent each day from 9 am until 3 pm. Call for more information and a complete schedule of our summer events. Our programs can be found at www.dykenpond.org.