by Alex Brooks
After a public hearing in which no one made any comments, the Planning Board granted approval for a used car lot at 572 Rabbit College Road to Josh Smith. The approval was for a sales area not to exceed 7 vehicles on a lot described as “less than a tenth of an acre.” The Board waived all fees except the $25 public notice fee.
[Read more…] about Petersburgh Planning Board Action – Used Car Lot Approved
HFCS Retirements And Tenure
by Alex Brooks
At the HFCS Board meeting on May 21 Schools Superintendent Ken Facin had words of praise, and a corsage, for each of the teachers and staff who are retiring from the District at the end of the year.
[Read more…] about HFCS Retirements And Tenure
Grafton Trail Riders Variance Fails
by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, May 28, to consider a variance for the Grafton Trail Riders Club concerning overnight camping in travel trailers. Grafton Town Supervisor Frank Higgins read a resolution which appeared to be the same one offered two weeks ago at the regular meeting, and it failed by the same vote as it did two weeks before. Marie Claus, Rick Ungaro and Mike Crandall voted against it, and Higgins and Barbara Messenger voted in favor.
Tom Withcuskey asked if he could speak. He expressed impatience at the continuing impasse. “Enough’s enough,” he said. He said he and others have been working on this resolution since January. Withcuskey said he was the coordinator of the effort, with input from the Grafton Trail Riders, the Town Attorney and the Supervisor.
Councilman Rick Ungaro then offered his own version which was substantially similar but confined the overnight camping to just the one weekend in September known as the Over the Mountain weekend. Higgins asked him if the Town Attorney had seen this version of the resolution, and Ungaro said no.
Ungaro made a motion to pass his resolution, and Mike Crandall seconded it, but Supervisor Higgins said they could not vote on it until the Town Attorney had seen it, and he made a motion instead to adjourn the meeting, which was approved.
Marie Claus complained that she was not consulted or notified about the Special Meeting. She only knew about it because she read a notice in The Eastwick Press. She asked that the Supervisor and the Town Clerk contact all Board members when a Special meeting is scheduled.
With nothing accomplished, everyone filed out of the meeting room. There were knots of people in corners of the building and out in the parking lot expressing frustration.
J.A. Bradley And Sons Celebrates 100 Years 1913-2013
Fifth Generation In Local Business
submitted by Jackie Stroffoleno
As local electrical contracting firm J.A. Bradley and Sons begins its centennial year, the fifth generation family firm looks forward to a bright future while honoring its long history and pride in its community, family, friends and associates. To put into context just how rare it is for a business to celebrate its 100th year, the US Small Business Administration states that historically, 33 percent of small businesses will survive 10 years and only 25 percent will make it to 15 years. To get to 100 years is a testament to the dedication, workmanship and loyalty J.A. Bradley has had to its craft and community. [Read more…] about J.A. Bradley And Sons Celebrates 100 Years 1913-2013
BCS Prom – Seaside Paradise
by Dianne Mosher and Karen Day
Over 100 students and chaperones danced the night away aboard the JP Cruise Ship as it sailed up and down the Hudson River on Saturday, May 25. [Read more…] about BCS Prom – Seaside Paradise
Time Capsule Openings
The Berlin Central School District will open the time capsules at the Grafton Elementary School and the Stephentown Elementary School. The items in the time capsules will be turned over to the Historical Societies of the two towns.
Everyone is welcome to attend these events and share your memories of the schools.
The Stephentown Elementary School time capsule opening will be on Saturday, June 8, at 10 am. The Grafton Elementary School time capsule opening will be on Saturday, June 22, at 10 am.
The Last Pizza Night
On Friday, June 7, the Class of 2014 will host a pizza night. As always you can order a hot fresh pizza for just $8 with sauce or without. Toppings cost $1 each. You can choose pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushroom, onion, black olives, jalapenos, green pepper, pineapple and broccoli. You can order pizzas online before 2:30 pm on Friday by emailing Karen Day at kday@berlincentral.org or by calling 658-2515 ext 209 after 3 pm on Friday. Starting in September you can look forward to the Class of 2014 hosting a monthly pizza night as they work to raise money for their senior year expenses.
Surdams Celebrate Their 60th
Feathers Of Hope At The Stephentown Historical Society
Author Barbara Chepaitis will give a talk, “Feathers of Hope: Berkshire Bird Paradise and the Human Connection With Birds,” at the Stephentown Historical Society meeting on Monday, June 3, at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road, Stephentown. It is free and open to the public. The building is handicapped accessible. For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.
The Berkshire Bird Paradise Sanctuary in Grafton is a bird sanctuary for disabled and injured birds which strives to give them a safe haven to live, thrive and rehabilitate as best they can. Peter Dubacher started the Berkshire Bird Paradise, a certified not for profit company, back in 1972 as a “labor of love.” It has grown into one of the largest bird sanctuaries in the country with over 1,000 birds and almost 100 different species.
About 40% of the birds are permanently disabled and will be there for the rest of their lives. The disabled birds live in habitats custom designed to be as natural as possible and to challenge them to work and climb and be productive. The goal is to “allow the birds to live out their natural lives with dignity.”
The sanctuary has evolved into an outdoor educational institution, where visitors and students on field trips or on college internship programs can learn about birds. The sanctuary is also a small botanical garden with hundreds of plants and exotic flowers. It is open every day, weather depending, from Memorial Day weekend until the end of October.
Chepaitis is the author of eight published books and is on the faculty at the Western College of Colorado low-residency creative writing program. Feathers of Hope was her first non-fiction book. She has followed it with Rescue of Eagle Mitch, also involving the Berkshire Bird Paradise. Mitch, a wounded Steppe Eagle, was rescued in Afghanistan by a Navy SEAL and an Army Ranger. Barbara facilitated the journey of the now-flightless bird to its home at the Grafton sanctuary.
Berlin Fire Department Breakfast
On Sunday, June 2, from 7 to 11 am, the Berlin Fire Department will be holding its fresh, hot off the griddle monthly breakfast. For your eating pleasure we include all-you-can-eat pancakes, French toast and biscuits for our homemade sausage gravy, sausage and bacon, toast, home fries and eggs (scrambled, sunny side, over easy or over hard). Beverage choices include coffee, tea, (both decaf available), hot chocolate, milk and orange juice.
Prices are $7 for adults, $4 for kids 5-10 and free for kids under 5. Please join us before church, grocery run or what you are doing for the day and have a great start to the morning.
This will be the last breakfast until October so please come out and support us!