Bennington/Cherry Plain – Caroline C. Crandall Perkins, 97, formerly of Cherry Plain, NY, died peacefully Thursday, February 27, 2014, at The Manes House in Bennington, VT, where she had resided for the past 15 years. [Read more…] about Caroline C. Perkins
Berlin
The Third Annual Berlin Library High School Art Show
submitted by Monica Shupe
The Third Annual Berlin Free Town Library High School Art Show will run from March 5 to March 24 with an opening reception on March 11 from 5 to 7 pm. [Read more…] about The Third Annual Berlin Library High School Art Show
Berlin Fire Department Monthly Breakfast
On Sunday, March 2, 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 choices are 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.
Garbage Wars?
by Kieron Kramer
The issue of the renewal of Petersburgh’s contract to use the Berlin transfer station, which has been percolating for weeks, surfaced right at the end of the Berlin Town Board meeting last Thursday, February 13, when mild mannered, man of the people, badge-toting Dog Control Officer Doug Goodermote said to the Board, “I’ve been reading the last two weeks in the Eastwick Press that you people are dishonest and unfair.” [Read more…] about Garbage Wars?
Upcoming Programs At The Berlin Library
• Saturday, February 22 – 10 am to 12 pm. Make-and-Take Rubber Band Bracelet Workshop. Learn how to make bracelets or share your expertise and help your friends learn how. Please call the Library at 658-2231 to register for a fun workshop.
• Saturday, March 1 – 10 to 11 am. Celebrate Seuss on Take Your Child to the Library Day. We’ll be celebrating Dr. Seuss’s birthday with stories, crafts and snacks. Besides enjoying Seuss at his silliest, use this event to register your child for his or her first library card and borrow lots of books.
• Saturday, March 1 – 7 to 8:30 pm – the Almost Spring Concert at the Library. Shake off your cabin fever and join us for a free concert of Celtic tunes sung in both English and Gaelic, played on Scottish small pipes, guitar, violin and cello. Musicians are Alannah Fitzgerald on vocals, Ron Bakerian on Scottish small pipes and percussion, Richard Simpson playing guitar and Martha von Schilgen on fiddle and cello.
Letter To The Editor – Petersburgh/Berlin Transfer Station Agreement Unfair
To the Editor:
The current Transfer Station contract between Petersburgh and Berlin is not fair to Petersburgh. In addition to paying 50% of the total operational expenses, the current contract also includes a $12,000 annual transfer station access fee to Petersburgh. I believe Petersburgh has been paying this fee for over 20 years. $240,000 should be enough for the infrastructure.
The following facts show why this is unfair to Petersburgh. According to the 2010 US Census Bureau, Berlin has 1,880 citizens, 1,100 housing units, 789 occupied households and Petersburgh has 1,525 citizens and 661 family households. According to County Waste, 324 Petersburgh households have curbside pickup; whereas, Berlin has only 78.
The combined Berlin/Petersburgh household total utilizing the transfer station is 1,048. (1,450 total households minus 402 total curbside pickups). The 661 Petersburgh households minus the 324 curbside pickups equal 337. The 337 divided by 1,048 equates to 32.1% of Petersburgh’s citizens using the Berlin transfer station. Petersburgh only issued 151transfer station permits in 2013 so the 337 number is probably very high. In 2013, Petersburgh paid Berlin $60,925.21 in total fees and only collected $21,791.29 in revenue, leaving a deficit of $39,133.92 for the taxpayers of Petersburgh to unfairly subsidize the Town of Berlin.
THE TOWN OFFICIALS OF PETERSBURGH KNOW THIS! Have they notified the citizens of Petersburgh of this inequality? Bet not! Don’t sit on your couch and accept this! Join me at the next Town Board Meeting on February 24 and express your dissatisfaction of this unfair agreement. If the shoe was on the other foot, do you think Berlin would accept this?
If the Town of Berlin will not enter into a fair agreement, there are many options available. Attend the Town Board meeting to learn/discuss the available options. The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) states, “The people’s right to know is basic to our society.” It is the responsibility of the Town Board to inform its citizens of all issues the Town is facing as well as its financials. It’s time for the Town of Petersburgh to shine a light on the functions of our Town and its spending. Healthy, well-functioning democracies fully embrace transparency. Let your voice be heard on February 24 at, 7 pm.
Thomas Berry
Canfield Road, Petersburgh
Berlin Library Valentine
On Saturday, February 22 from 10 am to 12 pm thee will be a Make-and-Take Rubber Band Bracelet Workshop. Learn how to make bracelets or share your expertise and help your friends learn how. Please call the Library to register at 658-2231 for a fun workshop.
Berlin Rescue Squad Café
On Friday February 21, the Berlin Rescue Squad will be holding its monthly delicious Fish Fry Dinner. For $10 you can enjoy a hearty helping of fried cod on a roll, French fries, coleslaw, brownie and soda or water. Eat in or take out, it’s up to you.
We have also decided to serve mini hot dogs as well. These can be purchased in a meal, $10 for ten dogs with fries, a brownie and a beverage or $5 for four dogs with fries, a brownie and a beverage) or purchased a la carte.
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 Department. Please call Stan at 658-0088 or 269-8646 with any questions.
Informational Meeting On A Recreational Trail For Eastern Rensselaer County
by Bev McClave
Trails can be great assets to communities. They can provide recreational and exercise opportunities for residents, enhance local businesses by bringing more and new customers and spur local business development. The Friends of the Corkscrew Rail Trail invite the public to join them at an informational meeting to learn about the possibility for creating a superb recreational trail for the communities of eastern Rensselaer County. If you are interested in the possibility of a multi-use recreational trail which could ultimately run from Chatham, NY, to Bennington, VT, passing through New Lebanon, Stephentown, Berlin and Petersburgh, please join us to hear about this exciting proposed project. There will be an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions and offer comment.
The meeting will be held on February 27 at 6:30 pm at the Stephentown Fire Hall, Grange Hall Road, Stephentown. For more information, please visit http://corkscrewtrail.org//CorkScrewTrail/default.aspx or email info@corkscrewtrail.org.
David L. Paulson III
Hoosick Falls – David L. Paulson III, 32, was called home on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, at Albany Medical Center in Albany, NY. He had resided on Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, and was the son of the late David L. and Mary (Arcuri) Paulson.