The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Front Page

The History Of The Mohawk Trail

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by David Flint

With the approaching 100th anniversary of the opening of the Massachusetts scenic roadway along Route 2 known as the Mohawk Trail, Lauren Stevens of Williamstown entertained and informed the Stephentown Historical Society on Monday with a presentation on its cultural significance. Stevens, former college professor, environmental columnist for The Berkshire Eagle and founder of The Advocate newsweekly and of the Hoosic River Watershed Association, recognized that construction of the road was a remarkable engineering feat that finally provided good access to Berkshire County across the Hoosac Range from the east. [Read more…] about The History Of The Mohawk Trail

Caroline C. Perkins – Memorial Service

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Cherry Plain – Caroline C. Crandall Perkins, 97, died February 27, 2014. She was the wife of the late Andrew H. Perkins, the mother of Ann and her husband Marc Woodroe, Lorraine and her husband Joe Schiff, Carol Wagar and Patricia and her husband David Shuhart. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 1 pm at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh, NY, with visitation prior to the service from 11 am to 1 pm. A lunch will follow in the Berlin Methodist Church.

John M. Saunders

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Berlin/New Lebanon – John M. Saunders, 54, of New Lebanon, NY, passed away on Thursday, May 1, 2014, at the Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA. Born in North Adams, MA, John was the son of the late Robert F. and Elizabeth May Bentley Saunders.

John recently resided in New Lebanon but had been a resident of Berlin, NY, for most of his life. He was a correctional officer for over 25 years working at several correctional facilities, recently retiring from the Hudson Correctional Facility where he had been employed for the past 20 years. John was a member of the Catskill Masonic Lodge #468. He loved fishing, hunting, trapping and spending time in Daytona Beach, FL. He will be truly missed.

John is survived by his cherished children, Joshua Saunders of New Lebanon and Marcella Saunders of Agawam, MA, and his devoted brother, William R. Saunders.

Family and friends are invited to a celebration of John’s life that will be held on Sunday, May 11, at the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 Rte. 43, Stephentown, NY, from 1 to 3 pm.

Helen E. Thomas

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Berlin – Helen E. Thomas, 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday afternoon, May 4, 2014, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls, NY, surrounded by her loving family.

Helen was born in New Lebanon, NY, and retired from W.J. Cowee, Inc. in Berlin, NY, where she worked in manufacturing floral picks.

She is pre-deceased by her husband, Alonzo R. Thomas, and her siblings, Floyd Whitman and Gertrude Whitman. Survivors include her children, Susan Walters and Michael Thomas, Sr., her grandchildren, Meagan Hall, Michael Thomas, Jr. and Valarie Thomas, her great-grandchildren, Austin and Derek Tremblay, and her sister, Alice Hobson. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service was on Thursday, May 8, at 12 pm at the Cherry Plain Community Christian Church, Cherry Plain, NY, with burial to follow in the Berlin Community Cemetery. Viewing hours were on Thursday from 10 to 12 at the Church.

For online condolences please visit, www.parkerbrosmemorial.com.

Stephen K. Bobik

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Stephentown – Stephen K. Bobik, a longtime resident of Moore Hill Road in Stephentown, NY, passed away peacefully at the age of 69 on April 22, 2014, after a long illness. He was able to remain with his wife Judy until the very end, which is all he ever asked for the entire time.

Born in Schenectady, NY, Stephen attended Mohonasen and Linton High Schools, Hudson Valley Community College and went on to receive his Master’s Degree from Union College. He was employed as a Mechanical Engineer at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory for many years, retiring in 2006. An avid fisherman and hunter, he was founder and president of the Knolls Fishing Club at KAPL.

After residing for many years in Rotterdam, NY, Steve lived in Castleton-on-Hudson, NY, and then Stephentown. He was well known locally as a true outdoorsman who found his greatest joy in living among nature’s splendor and sharing his lifelong passion for the conservation of its resources. He was also an accomplished cross-country runner, awarded for his achievements in high school, at Hudson Valley CC and in numerous marathons.

Survivors include his wife, Judy of Delmar, NY, his daughter, Patricia Sezna and her husband Steven of Los Angeles, CA, his sister, Suzanne Whelan and her husband Charles of Ocala, FL, his grandsons, Randall Bobik and Christopher Bobik, both of Rotterdam, as well as several aunts, nephews and cousins. He is pre-deceased by his son, Stephen M. Bobik.

The family is so grateful to all the people of Stephentown who helped us through this difficult time. We will never forget the amazing optimism he carried within him even in the face of his greatest challenge.

A funeral service was held Monday morning, April 28, at Daly Funeral Home in Schenectady with interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Memorial donations in Steve’s name may be made online or by check to the Natural Heritage Trust for New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation Education Camps. For details please visit the website www.dec.ny.gov/education/96461.html.

Elaine W. Goodermote – Graveside Service

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East Poestenkill – A graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 17, at 1 pm at the Woodside Cemetery on Fifty Six Road, Poestenkill, NY, for Elaine W. Goodermote of Plank Road, Averill Park, NY. Elaine died on December 21, 2013, after a long illness. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

Hoosick Meets On Heroin

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HAYC3 Sponsored Meeting Well Attended

by Bea Peterson

Heroin use is an epidemic in this country, this state, this area, this community, this very minute. A panel of experts in various fields, including law enforcement, mental health, social media and addiction recovery, addressed the crowd of more than 100 people who attended the HAYC3 sponsored Town Meeting on Wednesday, April 23. [Read more…] about Hoosick Meets On Heroin

Bottle Bombs Set Off On River Street

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by Bea Peterson

Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Ashe said that on Saturday, April 26, Officers from the Department responded to a report of shots fired in the area of River Street. When they arrived they noticed “unknown subjects” fleeing from the area. The Officers located bottles on the ground that appeared to have exploded. Officers located two juvenile males who admitted they had been setting off “Bottle Bombs.”

[Read more…] about Bottle Bombs Set Off On River Street