The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Lots Going On At Dyken Pond

By

Almost Full Moon Walk

Saturday, May 2 at  7 pm

Join Leonard Tremblay (President of the Friends of Dyken Pond) on this laid back stroll through our trails the evening before the Full “Flower” Moon. Bring a snack for a campfire afterwards. Free.

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.

Let’s Move: A Day of Healthy Family Activity

Saturday, June 27,

10:30 am to 2:30 pm

All activities are free, family-friendly and for the beginner.

Activities will be held in two sessions,

Come for one or both!

Session 1: 10:30am – 12 pm

Session 2: 12:30pm – 2 pm

Activities Included: Nature Walks, Fishing, Fly tying instruction, casting, Kayak Lessons*, Nature Games, Geocaching

*Kayak Lessons for ages 12 and up

co-sponsored by CDPHP and Friends of Dyken Pond

 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!

**Kayaks available for rent beginning May 16th from 9am – 3pm.

$10 for an hour and a half, $20 for 3 hours.**

475 Dyken Pond Rd.

Cropseyville, NY 12052

518.658.2055

E-mail: dykenpond@fairpoint.net

Web: www.dykenpond.org

 

Friends of Dyken Pond Center

475 Dyken Pond Rd

Cropseyville, New York 12052

Sullivan Jones VFW Post Breakfast Buffet And Bake Sale

By

Join us at the  Sullivan Jones VFW Post 7466 in Poestenkill  on May 10, 8 to 11 am. Enjoy our regular buffet including scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, home fries, pancakes, homemade French toast, Country Style Sausage Gravy-n-Biscuits,  fruit, juice, tea and coffee.  “Build your own Omelets with ham, bacon, sausage, cheeses, mushrooms,  peppers and onions.

Adults – regular buffet $8; with Omelet $10; Children 6 to 12 $4 and under 5 free.  The Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting a “Mother’s Day Bake Sale”.  Treat Mom to breakfast and homemade baked goodies to bring home.

Stephentown, Berlin, Grafton Fire Department Open House And Recruiting Day April 25, 2015

By

Three valley Volunteer Fire Departments will hold a coordinated open house and recruitment drive at their fire stations Saturday, April 24.  The event will allow the fire departments a chance to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer.  We’ve increased our recruiting footprint by adding recruiting information at Berlin High School.   Junior members can join at age 16-17.   With no upper age limit, retirees can be a huge asset for our emergency services, especially as drivers.

Volunteer departments respond to all types of emergencies including fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous materials, rescue and emergency medical.   Our members are able to choose specialties, and can be trained as interior firefighters, scene support personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, drivers, or fire police who assist at traffic control at many of our incidents.  Free training is provided in all these specialties.

Every member of these departments is a volunteer. Filling the ranks with volunteers keeps taxes low for the entire community.  We’re all neighbors helping neighbors.

As volunteer firefighters we learn to do dangerous things safely.  We weigh risks and benefits.  We proudly serve our community.  We’re the solution to all manner of emergencies.  Sometimes a crew of two suffices, other times the emergency grows so we need every member in the valley.  Fielding a larger crew resolves the emergency quickly and safely.  Some benefits of volunteering are scholarships for higher education and income tax credits.  We need new recruits to continue to serve our community.

This drive is part of RecruitNY, sponsored by the Firemen’s association of the State of New York, which is coordinating statewide recruiting.  Numerous other departments are also holding open houses.   Check recruitny.org  or  www.svfd1.org  for more information, or phone Bob Adler at 733-5749, or just stop by your local station for some refreshments and see what we do and how you can contribute to our community.

The hours when the local stations will be open are: Stephentown 10 am to 2 pm; Berlin 9 am to 3 pm; Grafton  10 am to 2 pm. Come say hello! For more information contact Bob Adler, Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, at 733-5749.

Grafton Reads Author Talk

By

Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Book Club are excited to present the inaugural “Grafton Reads” community-wide read. On Wednesday, April 29 at 7 pm, acclaimed novelist and Troy resident Dennis Mahoney will be at the library for a discussion of his debut novel Fellow Mortals. The goal of “Grafton Reads” is to get as many people in the community as possible reading and talking about the same book. Fellow Mortals is a poignant story of how people rebuild their lives in the wake of tragedy. Pick up their copy at the library, and join the discussion with the author on April 29. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact the library at 279-0580.

Two Defensive Driving Courses

By

Two AARP Defensive Driving Courses for Seniors will be offered this Spring: at the Hoosick Falls Senior Center on Thursday, April 30 from 9 am to 3:30 pm, and at Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, in Grafton.

The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members.   Call 686-7561 to reserve a seat in Hoosick Falls. Call Penny at 279-3413 or stop by the center to reserve a space in Grafton.

Spaces are limited, call now.

Animal Stories With Gill Payette

By

Gil Payette will be with us at Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, in Grafton, on Friday, May 8, 2015 for more storytelling about Native Americans.  This month Gil will be covering “Hidden Animals” Native American Myths, Legends and Monsters at 1 pm.

Join us for lunch at noon for a suggested donation of $2.00, with an entrée of Macaroni & Cheese Casserole.  For more information or to make reservations for lunch please call 279-3413.

Upcoming Events At GLSP

By

Please Pre-register for all events: 279-115; Visit Us On Facebook

Saturday, April 25 at 10 am–Mycorrhizae and the Rhizosphere: The World Around Roots: The harmony of mushrooms and plant roots is critical to feeding the world and saving the environment. Explore this critical and active underground ecosystem on an interactive hike.

Saturday, May 2 from 9 am to Noon–Third Annual I Love My Park Day: Help your favorite park spruce up for Spring! Join us for a morning of projects on playgrounds, trails and in the beautiful outdoors! Scout groups welcome!

Sunday, May 3 from 10-11:30 am–Vernal Pools, Pollywogs and Other Ponderings: Why is a vernal pool so needed for the survival of our local amphibians? What do they look like and who lives there? Join Jorel Spain, a naturalist fascinated by vernal pools, and explore of one of the park’s best pools. Meets at Shaver Pond Center.

Thoughts On The Passing Of Helen Ellett

By

She was a diminutive woman with a pixieish quality about her, and a knowing twinkle in her eyes. Yet she was a strong, determined, resilient individual. She was possessed of a sharp wit that came through with her pointed observations about local characters and politicians, but she also had the capacity for self-depreciation. At heart she was a country girl, who reveled in the natural world. [Read more…] about Thoughts On The Passing Of Helen Ellett