The Grafton Peace Pagoda 20th Anniversary Celebration is Saturday, October 5, at 11 am and everyone is welcome. The Ceremony Celebration begins at 11 am with the Annual Ceremony by Nipponzan Myohoji Multi-faith Prayers for Peace followed by special guest speaker Dennis Banks, (Ojibwa Nation) American Indian Movement Leader, music and dance, including Japanese Nou Drumming (Tsuzumi Shoulder Drum) and a potluck lunch (vegetarian options preferred).
“Since we first came to this land we have seen many snow filled winters, many springs sweet with apple flower blossoms and many autumns filled with the brilliant red of the changing maple leaves. Our lives, too, have seen many changes: children we knew as babies now have babies of their own; many of you are now grandparents who were young men and women when we first met.
We worked together as one, using recycled wood and mixing concrete by hand, and the Peace Pagoda was finally inaugurated in 1993. In the 20 years since the inauguration, we have welcomed visitors from all over the world. Every day friends come and go like the breeze,”
The Grafton Peace Pagoda is located at 87 Crandall Road in Grafton. Call 518-658-9301, email cheythiya@gmail.com or go to www.graftonpeacepagoda.org for more information.
Grafton
Dyken Pond Bird Seed Sale
The Dyken Pond 20th Annual Bird Seed Sale is a fundraiser to benefit the Friends of the Dyken Pond Center. Order a premium bag of bird seed while supporting the programs of the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Proceeds from this fundraiser go towards scholarships for children to attend the Summer Nature Camp and land protection efforts. Stock up to last the winter!
These are the seeds available and the prices:
Premium Mixed – 40 lb. bag – $25 • Sunflower Hearts – 20 lb. bag – $29 Black Oil Sunflower – 40 lb. bag – $26 • Niger – 20 lb. bag – $19
Hi-Energy Suet Cakes – each cake $1.50
The last day to order is Sunday, October 14. The pick-up date and time is Saturday, October 20, between 9 am and 12 noon at the Capital Agway, 1333 State Highway 7, Troy. A 10% discount will be offered on any bird-related items bought at Agway during pick-up.
Arrangements can also be made for pick-up at the Rensselaer County Government Center on Monday, October 22, or at the Dyken Pond Center.
To place your order, send an email to jmeehan005@nycapp.rr.com or call Jamie Meehan at 518-301-3802. Orders can also be mailed to Jamie Meehan, 9 Plumadore Drive, Troy, NY, 12180. Please include your full name, mailing address, email and phone number on the order. All email orders will be confirmed and payment accepted on pick-up day.
Please visit our website at www.dykenpond.org for more information about the Center and a calendar of events.
Early October Events At GLSP
2, Wednesday – Interpretative Hike & Wander at 4 pm. Join Student Conservation Association Intern Laura Sears to share some of her discoveries along the trail. Pre-registration required: 279-1155.
12, Saturday- Treasure Hunt in the Wild Woods at 10:30 am. Team Deer and Team Coyote will each explore the Wild Woods and Shaver Pond Trail, looking for clues and signs of animals. If you succeed in your explore mission, treasure awaits! $3/person or $10/family of four or more. Space is limited for this popular program so pre-registration required: 279-1155.
No No Nanosphere
by Kieron Kramer
Nothing happened at the Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, September 16, – no old business, no new business, no Uncle Sam. Only the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting was voted on.
There is an old adage that no news is good news. Not so at the Grafton Planning Board. The gorilla in the room for the second month in a row is the status of the offer by Michael Dadachov of Corpuscular Inc., the microsphere and nanosphere laboratory and production company, to the Berlin School District to purchase the Grafton Elementary School building and five acres of land surrounding it for use as a nanosphere production site. Planning Board Chairman Tom Withcuskey said in a phone interview that he has heard nothing from Dadachov or the School District regarding the purchase. Consequently, no application for a site plan review has been made yet. So it goes.
Albany Symphony Musicians To Visit Grafton
The public is invited to enjoy a special evening as a violinist and a cellist from The Albany Symphony Orchestra perform and speak with the audience. The Grafton Community Library is presenting an extraordinary opportunity for students, families and everyone to Meet the Musicians at the Grafton VFW/Firehall on Thursday, September 26, at 6:30 pm.
Founded in 1930, the Albany Symphony Orchestra is one of this region’s most revered music and cultural institutions, having won numerous national awards for its adventurous concert programming, recording projects, composer residencies and innovative educational efforts involving area schools throughout the region. More information about the Albany Symphony Orchestra is available at www.albanysymphony.com. This free program sponsored by the Grafton Community Library is made possible in part through a Community Art$ Grant, a program funded by The Arts Center of the Capital Region through the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Visit www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org or call 279-0580 for more Library news.
Fatal Fire On Plank Road
Yvonne Keefe, spokesperson for the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office, reported that the Sheriff’s Office responded to a fatal house fire on Plank Road at approximately 10:10 pm on Sunday night, September 15. Fire Departments from Poestenkill, Wynantskill, Eagle Mills and Mt. View responded. Investigators from the Rensselaer County Fire Investigation Unit have determined the fire to be accidental.
Officials found the body of Devin Hover, age 29, in the home that was destroyed by the fire last night. The parents, John Hover and Georgia Hover, also in the home were transported to Albany Medical Center for treatment.
Porcupine In The Trees
Brunswick Grange Tailgate Sale
On Sunday, October 6, the Brunswick Grange will hold its Annual Fall Agricultural Tailgate Sale at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, Routes 67 & 40, Schaghticoke, from 8 am to 12:30 pm. More than 50 vendors will have various varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, vegetables, plants, flowers and other agricultural items. Absolutely no dogs, cats, puppys or kittens will be allowed for sale. A donation of $15 per vendor will be charged.
The event will be held rain or shine. For more information, please call 279-9113.
September Events At Grafton Lakes State Park And Cherry Plain State Park
21, Saturday – American Littoral Society Shoreline Cleanup at GLSP from 10 am to 12 pm. This is a great service opportunity for families or Scout troops. You’ll be part of an international cleanup helping to address litter on lake, river and beach shorelines with thousands of participants globally! This year we invite participants to do cleanup either on foot or in their own kayaks or sturdy boats. Pre-register at 279-1155
21 and 22, Saturday and Sunday – Geocache Weekend at Cherry Plain State Park. Try out geocaching. This fun outdoor treasure hunt activity uses your smart phone or a hand held GPS to find hidden caches, called “geocaches.” For information, contact Rob Baldwin at 283-6087.
25, Wednesday – Wonders of the Watershed Paddle at 4:30 pm at GLSP. Paddle on Long Pond with SCA Intern Jamie Wasielewski and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park (BYO Boat). Pre-registration is required; call 279-1155.
27, Friday – Star Watch at Grafton Lakes State Park at 7:30 pm. Join members of the Albany Area Astronomers and explore the night sky. The group meets at the Deerfield pavilion. The rain date is Saturday, September 28. Call 658-9144 to confirm.
29, Sunday – Hudson River Ramble – Hike to the Fire Tower at 11 am. It is a three mile round trip hike to the Dickinson Fire Tower with a lunch break at the tower. Enjoy the fall foliage! Pre-registration is required; call 279-1155.
Grafton Town Board Action – New Assessor Appointed; State Audit Completed
by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board went into Executive Session in the middle of their Town Board meeting on September 9 to deliberate about who to appoint as the Town Assessor. They were in that session for about an hour and a half, and when they came out they voted 4-1 to appoint David J. Galarneau of Au Sable Forks, NY, as the Town’s Assessor.
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