Due to the closing of school for mid-winter recess, the next business meeting of the HFCS PTA has been rescheduled for Thursday, February 28, in the Elementary School Library beginning at 6 pm.
As always, members and non-members are encouraged to join meetings to find out what the PTA is doing for our children and to share ideas for special programs and events to benefit the children and families of our School District.
If you would like to become a member or to learn more about the PTA and its programs, please attend this meeting or contact Membership Chair Paula Kamperman at 518-686-5344.
BCS Pizza Night Do-Over
Thanks to last week’s storm, the Berlin High School Pizza Night was postponed to this Friday, February 15. So, this Friday that you can get a hot fresh pizza (red or white) for just $8 and toppings are just $1 each. Toppings include pepperoni, sausage, ham, mushrooms, onions, black olives, green peppers, broccoli, pineapple and jalapenos. Order by emailing Karen Day at: kday@berlincentral.org up until 2:30 on Friday afternoon or by calling 658-2515 extension 209 starting at 3 pm. You may eat-in or take out.
BCS Cabaret Rescheduled
The Cabaret was cancelled due to the storm last week. The Cabaret will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 6 pm at the Berlin High School. The High School Band and Chorus will be performing music from Sinatra to Buble. The tickets for dinner and a show cost $8 for adults and $6 for Senior Citizens and students. Come to the Cabaret!
North Hoosick Fire Department Kids Dance
The North Hoosick Fire Department will hold a kids dance this Friday, February 15, at the firehouse on Rt. 22. The dance will be held from 7 to 10 pm.
Students ages 9 to 15 who attend Hoosick Falls Central, Cambridge Central, Berlin Central or St. Mary’s Academy are welcome to attend dance # 313.
As part of the Department’s accountability, parents are reminded they need to sign the students out after the dance.
February Events At The Stephentown Memorial Library
• Annual Meeting and Public Hearing – The Board of Trustees of the Stephentown Memorial Library will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 21, at 6:30 pm, following the regularly scheduled Board meeting at 5 pm. Both meetings are open to the public. The Director and Board of Trustees will provide reports on the state of the Library and the future of the Library. Refreshments will be provided. Following the Annual Meeting, there will be a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed Library vote on March 19 to make the Library a Special Legislative District Library. Bring any questions you may have and get answers.
Library Annual Meeting – 6:30 to 7:15 pm; Public Hearing – 7:15 to 8:30 pm.
• Family Movie Night – On Friday, February 22, at 6:30 pm we will show the recently released “Hotel Transylvania” on our large screen. Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis. This animated movie is rated PG. Running time for this movie is 91 minutes. Popcorn and juice will be served. This event is free and all are welcome. Bring the whole family.
• E-Reader Class – On Saturday, February 23, at 11 am, local technology consultant Nathan Hans will go over the features of e-readers such as the Kindle and Nook and share how to obtain and use free pc software for e-readers on your personal computer. If you have recently gotten an e-reader device and would like some help learning how to use it, please bring it with you to this class. Those who have not yet purchased an e-reader, but are interested in learning more are also welcome. Want to learn how to download Library books to your device? This class will also discuss how to access the Library’s online catalog of downloadable materials and give general tips on using your eReader. Advance registration is suggested. Call the Library at 733-5750 to register. If you have an e-reader device, please bring it along with you!
• Thursday Night Coffeehouse Series – On Thursday, February 28, at 6:30 pm the Library will kick off its new musical coffeehouse series. In response to your requests, the Library is offering a monthly Thursday evening of music, coffee and socializing at the Library. Each month we will feature a different performer or group, and musical styles will range from jazz to classical to bluegrass to hip hop. Check the Library website for a schedule of dates and performers. This month we are pleased to welcome Martha von Schilgen on fiddle along with French Canadian duo Vonnie Estes (piano) and John Guay (hammered dulcimer) of Two Bits String Band. They will play traditional tunes from Quebec and Ireland, with some modern tunes that sound like traditional tunes thrown in. The Coffeehouse event is free and open to all. There will be refreshments for sale to benefit the Library.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during Library hours. Also check the Library website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.
Columbia Land Conservancy Offers Children’s Program At The New Lebanon Library
The Columbia Land Conservancy will present “Animal Tracks” on Thursday, February 21, at 2 pm at the New Lebanon Library. The program is oriented to school-aged children.
Tracks and traces can provide a glimpse into the lives of animals whose actions are otherwise hidden. Participants will learn about track patterns, identify the animals that made them and make plaster casts of local animals to take home.
To register, please contact the New Lebanon Library at 518-794-8844 or email leb@taconic.net. The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Grafton Library Wants Volunteers
Anyone who wants to volunteer at the Library is welcome, depending on the needs of the Library and the abilities and skills of the volunteer. The suggested minimum age for young people volunteering at the library is 12 years old. We’re looking for help shelving books, checking in/out books for patrons, retrieving books off the shelves for inter-library loans and help with organizing materials for programs.
If you’re interested in volunteering, call the Library during open hours at 279-0580 or email the Director, Stephanie Preston, at Director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org.
Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department Texas Hold’em
The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, February 23, 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.
A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.
No advance registration is required, and a donation of $35 per player will be accepted. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 1,000 extra chips. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of nine places.
For further information, please call John Linton at 518-733-0469.
Friends of Cherry Plain State Park Outdoor Fun Day
On Saturday, February 23, the Friends of Cherry Plain State Park (FCP), is hosting Winterlude, a free day of fun in the outdoors. The event will be based at the Cherry Plain State Park entrance on Miller Road from 10 am to 3 pm.
Volunteers will host snowshoe hikes, cross-country ski treks and ice skating on the pond. An animal tracking and nature observation event will be featured. Members of the FCP will be on hand throughout the day to direct and guide small parties ready to head out into the various areas of the DEC’s Capital District Wildlife Management Area. Free snowshoe demos will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Kids’ craft activities will be available inside the Park office when they need to warm up.
There will be a bonfire, hot chocolate, hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting. Participants are invited to bring their own potluck dish to share on this community-spirited day. You will meet some wonderful people and have a chance to explore this picturesque park during a quieter time of year. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and bring along their outdoor equipment for a day of adventuring.
FCP thanks the Town of Berlin for plowing a loop near the Park entrance to provide parking. However, as parking will be in short supply; everyone is encouraged to car-pool when possible.
For further information or offers to help at the event, please call Dick Gibbs at 283-0155 or 225-7371. Come on out and make your own fun as you join in with other outdoor enthusiasts.
Stephen J. Kellar
Berlin – Stephen J. Kellar, 47, of Park Avenue, Berlin, NY, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday evening, February 12, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.
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