To the Editor:
I would like to elaborate further on the anonymous letter referenced in the January 18 Eastwick Press article titled “Weird Confrontations and A Sander Accident in Grafton.” The purpose for reading the anonymous letter, found in my Town Hall communication box at the January 14 Town Board meeting, was to point out that security within the Town Hall may need to be revisited.
On the surface the letter may seem as a practical joke or possibly a threat. More importantly, it speaks directly to the security of Official Town communications and correspondences. In addition to reading the anonymous letter at the meeting, I suggested the Grafton Town Board investigate additional measures to assure the security of official communication boxes and public safety.
As reported in the Eastwick Press during 2012, issues of Town Hall security were acknowledged, requiring changes in security procedures including securing communication boxes and changing locks on doors. It is apparent these procedural changes have been breached if someone can simply place an un-authored letter in Town Officials’ communication boxes located in a locked room. Residents of Grafton need to be assured their public and private information or correspondence remain secure. Every public servant has a responsibility to uphold these protections.
I would like to assure the people of Grafton as a public servant, I am committed to safeguarding YOUR information and protecting the public at large within the Town Hall and Grafton publicly owned properties.
Barbara J. Messenger
Town of Grafton Board Member
Letter To The Editor – A Feudal Firearms Law?
To the Editor:
It is with a heavy heart and utter disappointment and disgust that I find myself compelled to write this letter, the causation of which is the enactment of New York’s recent ill-conceived feudal firearms law. This law is an overbearing assault on individual Rights guaranteed by our Constitution! A knee jerk reaction to a heinous crime perpetrated by an insane individual, this does nothing to address the root of the problem, which is the state of mental health in this country, and the treatment (or lack thereof) of those so afflicted. In their haste to trample the Constitution of the United States under the pretense of public safety there was absolutely no thought put into this law, or the ramifications thereof.
While I am certain the 21 gun salute at the close of the Berlin Memorial Day Ceremony will be almost as dignified and respectful with BB guns as it was with the Garand rifles typically used which are now classified as “assault rifles” and illegal, I am not as confident our respected veterans who once carried these same rifles across Europe and the Pacific in defense of liberty and our Constitutional Rights will feel quite as proud or dignified marching down the streets of Berlin in our Independence Day Parade, a celebration of Rights and Freedoms, with broom sticks on their shoulders instead of their Garand rifles!
I must also point out that while we lack the funds to repair roads and bridges, we miraculously have funding to crush honest citizen’s Rights? Or is this destined to be yet another unfunded State mandate to be foisted upon the Counties?
While I maintain this travesty must be repealed immediately, I must applaud our State Senator Kathy Marchione for having the courage and wherewithal to stand up to the Governor and downstaters so eager to seize our Rights! And being in receipt of our copy of the Eastwick Press yesterday, dated January 25, which reported on the Petersburgh Town Board actions, I must also tip my hat to Petersburgh Town Councilman Duane Goodermote for his similar efforts to defend the Constitution.
There is yet another question that arises and that is this: If they can move so swiftly and without public debate to eliminate our Second Amendment Rights, which portion of the Constitution will they trample next? Our Right to voice our disgust with their actions, or perhaps the Right of the Eastwick Press to even be published?
Todd Hermann
Berlin
Panther Wrestlers Take Second At The Ken Baker Classic
by Ryan Mosher
The Hoosick Falls wrestling team picked up a second place trophy at the Ken Baker Classic wrestling tournament on Saturday, January 26, in Cambridge, as well as coming away with three individual weight class champions. The tournament brought together sixteen different teams, mostly from the WASAREN League, and was a good warm up for next weekend’s Class C Sectional Tournament.
[Read more…] about Panther Wrestlers Take Second At The Ken Baker Classic
HFCS Bowlers Place Second In Adirondack League Tournament
submitted by Coach Bob Lang
The Hoosick Falls bowling team finished second at the Adirondack League Bowling Tournament at Broadway Lanes in Fort Edward on Tuesday, January 29, with a total pin count of 3,133 pins for three games with five bowlers. Fort Edward finished first with a great score of 3,263. Schuylerville was third with a total of 2,809. Hoosic Valley was fourth with a total of 2,600, and Stillwater finished fifth with a total of 2,557.
[Read more…] about HFCS Bowlers Place Second In Adirondack League Tournament
Panthers Limit Beattie To Beat The Horde
by Ben Gaines
The last game against Granville was an easy match for the Hoosick Falls Varsity squad. That was not the case Friday night, January 25. Coach Lilac’s plan last game was to contain the Horde’s 6’3” Jared Beattie, who averages 23 points per game. The plan worked last time, not this time. [Read more…] about Panthers Limit Beattie To Beat The Horde
Panther JV Basketball Slaughters The Horde
by Ben Gaines
The healthy Panthers’ JV squad loaded onto the bus Friday, January 25, for the lengthy ride to Granville.The team was in great spirits now that midterm week was behind them, and it was game day. Upon stepping into the Granville gym everything came into a different light, literally. The gym was dark with a blue light that took time to adjust to. The boys didn’t do so well in warmups at first, but they finally adjusted. [Read more…] about Panther JV Basketball Slaughters The Horde
Hoosick Falls Elementary School Registration For September 2013 Kindergarten Class
The Hoosick Falls Elementary School has started the process of creating a registry/mailing list of new students for the September 2013 kindergarten class.
If you have a child who will be five years old by December 1, 2013, please call the Elementary office as soon as possible at 686-9492 to ensure your child’s name is placed on our mailing list.
Kindergarten screening will occur during the week of June 17.
Mountaineers Lose Battle With Waterford
by Ryan Mosher
It was a tale of two halves in Berlin on Tuesday night where the boy’s basketball team was hosting Central Hudson Valley League foe Waterford. After a 22 point victory in their first meeting of the year, the Fordians may not have gotten what they expected from the opening tip-off.
The Mountaineers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first two minutes and more importantly seemed to grab every rebound. Waterford seemed shocked when Berlin was scoring on second chances and grabbing defensive rebounds and scoring on their trips down the floor. The Mountaineers led 16-10 after the first quarter.
[Read more…] about Mountaineers Lose Battle With Waterford
Come To The Cabaret My Friend
On Saturday, February 9, at 6 pm come for dinner and a show. The Berlin High School Chorus and Berlin High School Band will be performing. Ticket prices are $6 for students and Senior Citizens and $8 for adults. [Read more…] about Come To The Cabaret My Friend
Berlin Central School District 2013-2014 Kindergarten Registration
The Berlin Central School District has begun the process of registering kindergarten students for the 2013-2014 school year. If you have a child who will be five years of age on or before December 1, 2013, please call 658-2127 from February 4 through February 15 and from February 25 through March 1, 2013, between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm to make sure your child is listed on our kindergarten register. The office will be closed from February 18 through February 22, 2013 for Winter Recess. This will ensure that you will receive the kindergarten registration packet by mail.
All registration paperwork including a copy of your child’s Birth or Baptismal Certificate and proof of residency must be hand delivered to Berlin Elementary School by March 29, 2013. Drop off times are between 8:30am and 3:45 pm Monday through Friday.