Lisa Little Wolf will be the guest speaker at the May 20 meeting of the Taconic Valley Historical Society. Lisa Little Wolf has been an educator of American Indian studies for the past several years. She conducts training and seminars for people who wish to learn more about Native Culture. She is a Board Member of The Native American Institute of the Hudson River Valley, which conducts educational programs and works closely with The Stockbridge Muncee Nation. Lisa is Northern Cheyenne, who are located in Southern Montana.
Meetings are held at the Methodist Church, South Main Street, Berlin, on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 pm. The programs are free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.
Berlin
The History Of Cowee At The Stephentown Historical Society
by David Flint
Berlin Town Historian Sharon Klein spoke at the Stephentown Heritage Center Monday evening of Willis Judson Cowee and the company he founded and the many community contributions they made in various ways over the course of the history of the Town of Berlin. These included the Water Company, the Heat, Electric & Power Company, the Free Town Library and the generous support extended to the Fire Department and Rescue Squad.
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The Berlin Memorial Day Parade
The American Legion Taconic Valley Post #937 will be hosting a Memorial Day Parade in the Town of Berlin on Monday, May 27, at 11 am. All interested marchers should assemble between the Baptist and Catholic Churches on Main Street at 10:30 am.
Refreshments will be provided for all parade participants at the Watipi building after the parade.
Questions on the parade should be directed to the American Legion Taconic Valley Post at 658-9397.
Ryan Reichelt Bags His First Turkey
submitted by Allison Oswald
Ryan Reichelt, 14, of Cherry Plain participated in the NYS Youth Turkey Hunt on Saturday, April 20, shooting his very first bird at 6:15 am. [Read more…] about Ryan Reichelt Bags His First Turkey
Letter To The Editor – I’m Upset
To the Editor:
I was very upset when I read the Eastwick Press this week. (This letter was submitted on April 19.)
First of all, I respect the “freedom of speech” and the “freedom of press”.
What I don’t understand is the purpose of the reporters who go to school board meetings and town board meetings. I thought their job was to report what happens at the meetings. That appears to be what most of them do. I go to most of the school board meetings and Thadeus (sic) does a great job without putting his opinions down. I did not find that with what Kieron Kramer wrote on the town of Berlin meeting this month. It consisted of “his opinions”. He only needed to report on what the board discussed and voted on. All his remarks were very improper and not necessary.
I usually go to the town board meetings, too but missed them because of other commitments. I do know that the town board we have now is doing a great job and I support them 100%. I don’t have any personal opinions on the gun control laws since I don’t understand them that well, but we don’t need to hear an “outsiders” opinion.
Another issue is that Mr. Kramer should get other facts straight. There is no Commonwealth Avenue in Berlin. I believe the fire hydrant he wrote about would be located on Community Avenue. This is the hydrant that has been discussed at many board meetings.
JoAnn Kellar
Concerned resident of Berlin
Editor/Reporter’s response:
JoAnn is correct; there is no Commonwealth Avenue in Berlin. I must have had Boston on my mind when I wrote the story.
The hydrant referred to in the Berlin Town Board story of April 19 is, of course, on Community Avenue across from the firehouse. Even though I am an “outsider” – I wasn’t born on the Plank nor do I live in a hollow log on Bly Hollow Road – I have a visa that allowed me to visit the firehouse on Community Avenue several times – most notably for the hearings on the cell tower in Cherry Plain and the proposed purchase of the Berlin Lumber property and an overflow Town meeting on the same subject.
Seriously, JoAnn’s letter is instructive. In it she says, “I don’t have any personal opinions on the gun control laws since I don’t understand them that well…” Apparently, JoAnn, you are opposed to the NY Safe Act and the expanded background checks it calls for – the Town Board said so in a resolution at the April meeting.
Too often these days “freedom of the press,” which JoAnn and most everybody else says they support, really means freedom to tell them what they already know, what they already believe, what they want to hear. To tell a reporter that he or she must only repeat facts without putting them in context is just as much an “infringement” of Constitutional rights as gun control might be.
I’ve been covering Berlin Town Board meetings regularly since 1996 – I have only missed four, I think. During that time the Town Boards never passed a resolution on such a political issue.
However, the main purpose of JoAnn’s letter is to defend the Town Board. It’s not necessary. This is one of the most efficient and congenial Town Boards, and Supervisor Jaeger is perhaps the most far sighted, influential Supervisor in recent memory. What he has accomplished for his community will probably be considered historic – that’s just my opinion, of course – but it doesn’t mean he can’t make a mistake.
Berlin Community Summer Feeding Program
submitted by Trish Gerstel
Earlier this month the Berlin Community Food Closet (BCFC), a local emergency food distribution center, announced its “Summer Feeding Program” which will assist families whose children partake in the school system’s free/reduced-price breakfast and lunch program.
Unlike BCFC’s normal operations, the Summer Feeding Program will provide families with food before they have a food emergency, noted Coordinator Trish Gerstel, who also described other ways that the program differs from the food closet’s standard program. “First, the amount of food distributed will be determined by the number of children versus the full family size. Also, this program will provide a full week’s worth of breakfast and lunch, including fresh fruits and vegetables; normally we distribute only non-perishable foods and provide for all three major meals for three days. Finally, to make this program work, we will be relying much more heavily on food donations from generous community members,” she said.
The reason for the last alteration is the inability to purchase Summer Feeding Program food through the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, the food closet’s largest source of food for its standard operations. “Because the Summer Feeding Program focusses on a specific age group and because we are soliciting monetary donations, we cannot use Regional Food Bank foods in this program,” Gerstel said.
Families who would like to sign up for the program must return a completed Sign Up Form no later than June 3. These forms are available at the Berlin Community Food Closet, housed in the Berlin Seventh Day Baptist Church’s Maxson Fellowship Hall, North Main Street, as well as in the lobbies of the Berlin and Petersburgh Post Offices and the foyer of the Berlin Seventh Day Baptist Church. The forms also can be downloaded from the Church’s web site, www.berlinsdb.org. Distribution of food through this program will be held every Sunday of the summer vacation from June 16 to August 25 between 1 and 1:30 pm.
Community members interested in supporting the program can become a Sponsor by committing to a weekly donation of food to be dropped off at the BCFC between 12 and 12:30 pm on Sunday or a weekly monetary donation of $25-$30 – a total of $275 – $330 for the entire program. Questions regarding the program should be directed to Trish Gerstel at trishagerstel@berlinsdb.org.
Brownell and Goodermote Say More Convenient Bank Service Needed in Eastern Rensselaer County
submitted by Rich Crist, Rensselaer County Legislative Liaison
Rensselaer County Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote say residents of eastern Rensselaer County need more convenient banking options following the closure of a Bank of America branch late last year.
The closure by Bank of America of the Berlin branch means there is no bank service in the Taconic Valley – State Route 22 corridor between the Town of Hoosick and the Town of New Lebanon in Columbia County. A number of residents have been forced to travel across the state border into Massachusetts for banking service.
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Kidney Fundraisers In Memory Of Steve Kellar
The family of Steve Kellar will be raising money for the Northeast Kidney Foundation in his memory. On Saturday, May 18, from 4:30 to 7 pm, there will be a spaghetti dinner at the Berlin Firehouse. Adults: $8, Children 3-10: $5, Children 2 & Under: FREE. There will also be a Coffee Cup Auction. New and handmade items can be donated. Take-outs are available.
On Sunday, June 9, is the “Walk for Kidneys” at the Crossings of Colonie. If you would like to join the team Steve’s Angels, please contact Tiffany Kellar at 658-2843
Berlin Rescue Squad Café
On Friday, May 17, the Berlin Rescue Squad will be holding its monthly delicious Fish Fry Dinner. For $10 you can come enjoy a hearty helping of fried cod on a roll, French fries, coleslaw, a brownie and soda or water. Eat in or take out; its up to you. Call-in orders are welcome. The Firehouse number is 658-2890. The dinner will be held from 5 to 7 pm at the Berlin Fire House.
For more information call Stan at 658-0088 or 269-8646.
Sullivan Jones VFW Post 7466 Breakfast
The Sullivan Jones VFW Post 7466 located in Poestenkill invites the public to its Monthly Buffet Breakfast on May 12 from 8 to 11 am. Breakfast includes eggs, home fries, sausage, pancakes, French toast sticks, toast, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. The cost is $7 for adults, $3 for 6 to 12 years old and free for children 5 years and under.