The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Opportunities For Youth At Dyken Pond

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Scholarship applications are now being accepted for the Summer Outdoor Learning Adventure, a summer nature day camp at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. This popular one week nature program is for youth ages 6 – 13.

The Forest Conservation Corps, for teens aged 14 -16, will reconvene for its third year at the Dyken Pond Center. The program runs from June 29th – July 3rd from 9am – 3:30pm.  FCC crews work on valuable conservation projects while developing job skills, personal values and knowledge of the environment. This experience and the skills gained can enhance your education, leadership and future job opportunities.  Participants work on conservation projects and participate in environmental education for a one week session. There is no cost to participate in FCC and students who attend can gain community service hours. Applications can be found on our website at www.dykenpond.org.  If you have any questions please e-mail us at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or call (518) 658-2055.

Spring Home-School Series

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Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering a Series for students 3rd grade and up every Tuesday for five weeks May 19 until June 16. Each Tuesday covers a different special habitat and run from 1 pm to 3 pm. Cost is $5 per student or $15 per family. More infomation is at www.dykenpond.org. Pre-registration is encouraged.Contact the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or (518) 658-2055.

Senator Kathy Marchione Names Dr. Catherine Allain of Grafton As Her 2015 “Woman Of Distinction” For The 43rd Senate District

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Senator Marchione praises Dr. Allain’s lifelong dedication to the cause of education 

Senator Kathy Marchione (R,C,I-Halfmoon), Chair of the Senate’s Local Government Committee, recently proudly announced Catherine Allain, Ph.D. Edu, of Grafton as her 2015 New York State “Woman of Distinction” for the 43rd Senate District. The 43rd District includes parts of Rensselaer, Saratoga and Washington Counties, and all of Columbia County.

[Read more…] about Senator Kathy Marchione Names Dr. Catherine Allain of Grafton As Her 2015 “Woman Of Distinction” For The 43rd Senate District

Boy Scout Troop 222 Petersburgh Teams Up With Cub Scout Pack 911 Stephentown For Community Service At Grafton Lake State Park

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submitted by Andrew Zlotnick

Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and their families put in a little community service time at Grafton Lake State Park on Saturday, May 2. Nineteen members of the Troop and Pack met at Deerfield Pavilion on Saturday morning to sign in and get their marching orders. [Read more…] about Boy Scout Troop 222 Petersburgh Teams Up With Cub Scout Pack 911 Stephentown For Community Service At Grafton Lake State Park

Storyteller Gil Payette Presents Night Sky: Native American Sun Worshipers, Moon Watchers And Stargazers

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On Saturday, May 9 at 10:30 am, local Storyteller Gil Payette will present the latest installment in his multimedia program series on Native American culture and folkways. This month he will focus on how Native Peoples saw the Night Sky. Native Americans have always wondered about the hows and whys of the Sky Land. They talked of the light and dark and had stories to explain the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. They spoke of the Spirit Path, of Falling Stars, of Father Sky and of the Night. This program is free and open to everyone. It is a fascinating story that will appeal to young and old alike. For more information visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

“Acing Your Job Interview”  Interview Clinic at Grafton Library

Landing the job you want can depend on making a good impression in your interview. On Thursday, May 14 at 4 pm, professional employment counselors from Rensselaer County One Stop will be on hand at Grafton Community Library to provided individualized coaching and advice on the ins and outs of how to ace your job interview. Sign up in advance is required. Contact the Library by phone (279-0580) or email director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org to get on the list. This program is part of Grafton Community Library’s “Skills for Job Seekers” program series. Upcoming programs include “Skype Skills for the Job Interview & Beyond” on May 29th. Visit the library’s website for more information.

Letter To The Editor – Losing Helen Ellett

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To The Editor:

Losing Helen Ellett was a heartbreaking event in the lives of Helen’s family. Reading the article submitted by the Grafton Trail Riders was also heartbreaking. In recent years they pursued a lawsuit against Helen and her family. I believe their sorrow should have at least extended to the family with a simple sympathy card or maybe a phone call to her daughter Connie, but instead they made no effort to extend any “deep sorrow” as they wrote. On their own website they make absolutely no mention of Helen and how she had a great vision to start a riding club that she has now left to them.

Personally, I don’t believe that “Helen will be riding with them in spirit” as they wrote. She was discouraged, confused and heartbroken that a club she founded in 1947 was now sending her legal documents to appear in court over a land dispute. It was us, the family that held her hand as she read through the thick stack of legal documents, attempting to understand the reality of how The Grafton Trail Riders, what was once her passion, turned into her nightmare.

The majority of members never even had an opportunity to meet Helen as she wasn’t one of the land owners that they invited to their annual fall pig roast. She was ignored by the club’s members until this article of last week. Helen never believed in riding, camping, and campfires as they wrote – she believed in riding!

She will be missed, she will be missed by many acquaintances and by the many close friends she made and most of all by her family.

Linda Laveway

Granddaughter of Helen Ellett

Lots Going OnAt Dyken Pond

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Ephemeral Ponds Sunday, May 17  1 to 3 pm

This free program focuses on the importance of seasonal ponds and the life cycles of amphibians and plants that inhabit them.  We will use nets to catch varius herpetofaunal species and microscopes to get a close up look.  Rubber boots recommended but not necessary.  You can bring your own frog catching nets.  Pre-registration is encouraged.

Newcomb Pond Fundraiser at the Lucas Confectionery 

Wednesday, May 20  6 to 9 pm

Join us at the Lucas Confectionery in Troy to raise money to protect 56 acres of land on Newcomb Pond, home to moose, river otter, great blue herons and more.  The Lucas Confectionery Wine Bar has agreed to donate 20% of all beverage sales from 6 to 9 pm on Wednesday, May 20; additional donations will be accepted.  It is also Artisanal Grilled Cheese Night. Donations may also be accepted through our website.

Bird Club

Wednesdays at 7:30 am

We are big fans of birds up here at Dyken Pond Center and enjoy bird watching when we can.   We invite you to join us in our birding adventures throughout our 500 acres of forested land, home to many different birds.  This club is informal and free.

Wildflower Walk Saturday, May 23, 10 am to 12pm

Join us for a leisurely walk on  Center’s trails focusing on the identification and folklore of wildflowers. Free.

Volunteer Tuesdays

Every Tuesday is volunteer day beginning at 9:30am. This is a drop-in day, but please let us know if you plan on coming out so we can plan accordingly.  Feel free to call the center for information on what projects we are currently working on or if you can’t make it by 9:30.  We appreciate all of you and your help!

Events At Grafton Lakes And Cherry Plain State Parks

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Friday, May 15 –  Star Watch, 8:45 pm.  Enjoy a free tour of the night sky led by Albany Area Amateur Astronomers. Telescopes provided. Please enter park via Winter Entrance on Long Pond Road and follow signs to program. Cloudy skies may cancel so contact Bernard Cognon to confirm: 658-9144.

Saturday, May 16 – Spring Fungi Walk 10 am to 12 pm. Please join Mycologist, Sue Van Hook for the first morsels of spring fungi.  We will walk the loop around one of the lakes in appreciation of all fungi, and will hope for a morel or two, oyster mushrooms and perhaps a fresh Dryad’s saddle. Bring a hand lens if you own one. Sue will provide them for the group otherwise. Children make excellent mushroom hunters, so please bring them.  $10/person or family donation requested.  Pre-register: 279-1155. Event meets at Shaver Pond Center, 194 Shaver Pond Road in Grafton.

Saturday, May 16 – No One Left Behind 5k and Children’s Obstacle Course, 10 am to benefit Heroes at Home Rensselaer County.  Obstacle course is free! To register, visit www.heroesathomerensco.com.  Questions: call 518.279.7861

Sunday, May 17 – Trail Work Gathering at Cherry Plain State Park. 9 am to12 pm. Cherry Plain State Park has beautiful trails and is surrounded by over 4000 acres of the Capital District Wildlife Management Area. Join a group of trail enthusiasts to spruce up state land and learn more about this vast trail system. Bring clippers, water and work gloves. Meets at Cherry Plain State Park Entrance: 26 State Park Rd, Cherry Plain. For information, please call Fran Egbert: 674-3214.

Sunday, May 17 –  Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis. 3K walk to Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  Check-in 11 am and Walk at 12 pm. Call (518) 453-3583 for registration information.

Saturday, May 23 – Grafton Lakes State Park Beach Opens for the Season.  Open daily 10 am to 6 pm through Labor Day. Gate fees are now $8 per vehicle.

Call Grafton Lakes State Park for more information: 279-1155.

Fire Department Community-Wide Recruiting Day Was A Success

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submitted by Bob Adler

For the first time, Stephentown, Berlin and Grafton fire departments combined efforts in their annual April recruitment drive.

Since the recruitment target is the generation now coming of age, the firemen focused their publicity efforts on Berlin High School, in addition to publicity in The Eastwick Press.  [Read more…] about Fire Department Community-Wide Recruiting Day Was A Success