Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Alex Brooks
A joint meeting of the Petersburgh and Berlin Town Boards on March 27 began with Supervisor Rob Jaeger of Berlin asking Supervisor Siegfried Krahforst of Petersburgh what the Petersburgh Board wanted to discuss. Krahforst replied that they wanted to meet to renegotiate the contract for the use of the Berlin Transfer Station. He said the sticking point is the monthly rent of $1,000.
[Read more…] about Discussion Begins On Berlin Transfer Station Contract
by Bea Peterson
Maple syrup making can start from early to mid-February and can last until the end of April. It is all weather dependent. Perfect maple syrup making weather requires nighttime temperatures in the mid-20s and daytime temperatures in the mid-40s. As everyone in this area knows, we haven’t had many warm days, and the nights have been colder than usual.
FCCLA students across the New York State were mesmerized by speaker Jacy Good as she told of the tragic loss of her parents and her miraculous recovery from a car accident caused by a teen using a cell phone. Another speaker, brought to the group by the National Safety Council, was Marianne Angelillo from Skaneateles, NY, author of ”Sharing My Stones,” who talked of turning her grief into a campaign for awareness for teens and parents trying to prevent underage drinking.
[Read more…] about Berlin FCCLA Students Attend Leadership Conference
To The Editor:
I just realized that it’s been twenty years since I first began donating family heirlooms and historical items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society. Since the old vacant garage on Main Street in Berlin was burned to the ground by arsonists, how safe is the old, vacant “cracker box” building where some of my donations are stored. Also, someone entered one of the homes where my donations are and walked out with one of the books I wrote for children, which was illustrated by Randi Bentley. 1 had to purchase another one to replace it.
I thought when I donated items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society: family heirlooms, two theatrical posters of my grandparents (cost $500 to restore), an original leather bound book by Emma Willard, books written by my great grandparents, and cannot be replaced, that these items would be appreciated and kept safe. At the time, a resident of Berlin advised me to donate to the Rensselaer County Historical Society instead, because everything was farmed out in individual homes and some things were reported stolen. Never once did I imagine that it would take twenty years to generate interest enough to provide a building for the society where my family treasures would be safe, and then – wait how long – for these items to be moved inside that building.
I planned to attend a lecture on March 11 in Waterford covering the Irish Revolutionaries. One of these groups was the Clan-na-Gael, of which my paternal great-grandfather was President and is written about in a book I donated to the Taconic Valley Historical Society called My Twenty-five Years In the Secret Service by Henri LeCaron.
It was because these treasures meant so much to me, and because I was proud of my family history, that I donated them to an organization I believed would provide safe keeping for the years to come; a place where my future generations could come to learn about their ancestors’ lives, careers and fame. My parents were life-long residents of Berlin, and I was born in a Berlin landmark. I’ve spent my life trying to restore and preserve – from my apartment buildings, homes (including Moseley’s), to heirlooms and genealogy.
I am hurt that the people of Berlin have this “day come – day go” attitude. I’d hoped to receive an announcement of an opening of the new building where I’d see my Victorian quilt and my family books, etc., displayed. I’ve had two strokes and have health problems and am afraid I’ll never see my cherished donations in a permanent, safe place, visible to all. I almost cry when I think about the lack of concern. I am filled with regret and disappointment. Can you tell me anything to restore my hope?
Sincerely,
Beverly Plank Lettko
Main Street, Mechanicville
On Sunday, April 6, from 7 to 11 am, the Berlin Fire Department will be holding its monthly breakfast. Breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, French toast, biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, bacon and sausage, home fries, toast and eggs (sunny side, over easy or over hard, scrambled). Beverage choice of coffee or tea (both available as decaf), hot chocolate, milk and orange juice.
Prices are $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12 and no charge for children under 5. Take-outs are available.
by David Flint
The building on the southwest corner of Route 22 and Elm Street in Berlin has been through a number of rebirths. Back in the 1960’s it was a popular little eatery called the Lunchbox. Later it was a video store and then a pizza place. For a number of years it also housed a Laundromat. In its current life it is now the location of Karen & Charlie’s Guns.
Karen and Charlie Davis have resided in Petersburgh for about ten years. They have a business up there called D & D Floorcovering. They are both gun enthusiasts, hunters and members of the Berlin Rod & Gun Club. Having noticed that, aside from Steve’s Gun Shop in Stephentown, there is no place locally where the area’s many hunters can purchase hunting supplies, they opened their own shop last September.
Business, they say, has been pretty good, considering that they are still fairly new to Berlin. They have actually had a few customers from as far away as Connecticut and New Jersey. They have not heard any negative comments from people in the community so far and are pleased to say that they have received quite a few positive comments. They carry a sizeable variety of both hand guns and long guns and ammunition for whatever gun you have. Prices on the hand guns range from $170 up to $675 for a Beretta. Karen said they have sold a lot of rifles and shotguns, especially the Savage brand, and quite a few hand guns. If you don’t see what you’re looking for, Karen says they have access to all the manufacturers so they can order it for you.
They also carry muzzle loaders and air rifles along with all the necessary cleaning kits and accessories. They do take trade-ins and they have a few used long guns, but most people these days, they say, seem to want to hold on to their old weapons, perhaps fearing future confiscation. They expect soon to stock target and hunting archery equipment as well. For the fishing people they carry all kinds of fishing supplies as well as bait fish. Most of their sales, however, has been in ammunition for target shooting and for hunting.
With the advent of the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement (SAFE) Act the Davises say that they have to be very careful with the paperwork and so do their customers. But they can help the customers with that. They have all the necessary forms if, for example, someone wants to transfer ownership of a weapon or request a pistol permit, and they are prepared to help customers fill them out and get them filed. They are also prepared to answer questions that people have regarding the new law, or they can refer them to the proper authority. Charlie said that it is pretty common knowledge now what arms and ammunition people can and can’t have under the SAFE Act and as far as he knows, everyone seems to be complying with the law. Regarding the SAFE Act, Charlie said he believes the State went about it the wrong way. He thinks they would have been better advised to more actively enforce existing laws rather than creating a new one that seems in some respects to go after sporting enthusiasts rather than potential criminals.
Another service that Karen and Charlie plan to offer is ammunition reloading. They think there will be a growing demand for that because the new law will eventually require background checks for ammunition sales. They believe that people will not want to go through the hassle of a background check just to buy a box of ammo.
Karen and Charlie say that they want to keep a small store that is community oriented. Their basic goal is to listen carefully to what the customers want, what they like and what they don’t like.
There is no website for Karen & Charlie’s Guns yet but they plan to have one constructed in the future. Meanwhile they are listed on a number of manufacturers’ websites. For more information they can be reached at 658-2222. Hours at the store are 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday through Friday and 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday.
Karen and Charlie are optimistic about the success of the store. “We hope it works out. We think it’s a real benefit to Berlin and Petersburgh to keep business local,” they said.
A Rabies Clinic will be held on Thursday, April 3, at the Town of Berlin Municipal Center, 17563 NY Route 22 in Cherry Plain (formerly Berlin Lumber). All rabies vaccines, dog-DHLPP vaccines and cat-FURCP vaccines cost $10 each; cash only! Cats will be treated from 6 to 7 pm, dogs from 7 to 8 pm. No appointment is necessary. Call Doug Goodermote at 658-3308 if you have questions.
Annual Meeting
The annual meeting of the Taconic Valley Soccer Club will be held on March 31 at the Berlin Municipal building starting at 7 in the evening. All coaches, parents and Board members are asked to be in attendance. Some of the items to be discussed will be how to increase the number of players, inclusion of players from other towns lacking teams, filling open Board member spots, new fundraising activities and developing new fields.
Spring Soccer
The TVSC is currently accepting registrations for its Spring soccer program for boys and girls k-5th grade who would like to play soccer! Opening Day is April 26, at the Berlin Elementary School, starting at 9 am. No registrations will be accepted at Opening Day.
Registration forms are located at local libraries as well as online at taconicvalley.sportssignup.com.
Also, we are looking for volunteers for coaching and participating on the Board.
For further information, please contact Jen Burhans at 658-2096.
by Kieron Kramer
In a letter dated February 25, Acting Regional Director of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) Sam Zhou responded to the Rensselaer County Legislature’s letter of February 3 prioritizing improvements to New York State routes within the County. Zhou’s letter says, “In consideration of your letter and after careful consideration and a review of available funding, I am pleased to let you know that we are scheduled to begin paving on Route 22 and Route 20 in the coming 2014 construction season. Route 22 will be paved from the Columbia County line north, 9.4 miles, to Cherry Plain. We are proposing to pave from Cherry Plain to Petersburgh in 2015.”
by Kieron Kramer
It’s all quiet on the Berlin front. At first, at the Berlin Town Board meeting on Thursday, March 13, various Town officers said that last month it was “all quiet” in Water District #2, in Code Enforcement, in Zoning appeals, in Youth Commission activities and at the transfer station. Well, not exactly. [Read more…] about Berlin Town Board Action – Shhhh…
