The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

No One Marches Alone!

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Ruck March Is On September 20 From Poestenkill To Grafton And Back

submitted by Gail Smith

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are 52,000 Veterans living in Rensselaer County and the surrounding five counties. Members of the military, from World War II to the War on Terror, experience a myriad of challenges, including post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, substance abuse and mental health problems and problems associated with reintegration, such as finding employment and stable housing.

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Wild Grafton! Natural Diversity In Our Backyard

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How much do you know about the ecological systems in your backyard? Did you know we live in one of the largest and most ecologically intact native habitats in New York State? On Friday, September 12, at 7 pm, the Grafton Community Library will provide the chance to learn a whole lot more with a free, informative program featuring local experts David Hunt and Rachel Riemann from the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance. They will be demonstrating their recently completed, multi-year GIS mapping project that provides an in depth look at the ecological communities of Grafton and other towns on the Rensselaer Plateau.

Come learn about Grafton’s ecological features such as stream systems and forest interiors that are home to populations of fisher, bobcat, bear, moose, porcupine, hermit thrush and black throated blue warbler, as well as many rare plants. Hunt and Riemann will present the data and the maps and use them to offer a personalized ecological analysis of the local areas where you live.

For more information contact Grafton Community Library at 279-0580 or graftoncommunitylibrary.org

Wire Wrapping Workshop In Grafton

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Wire wrapping of beautiful stones has been around for centuries, and the simple beauty of a wire wrapped pendant is a piece of jewelry anyone would love. The Grafton Community Library will present an introductory Wire Wrapping Workshop on Saturday, September 27, from 11 am to 2 pm. Instruction will cover basic wire wrapping techniques using sterling silver wire to frame a cabochon and at least one pendant will be finished and ready to wear by the end of class. Suggested minimum age is fifteen. Class size is limited, and advance registration, along with a twelve-dollar materials fee, is required.

Born in Berlin, NY, instructor Sandra Vincent Haggett has had a lifelong passion for the visual arts. She began her artistic journey with instruction in tole and decorative painting and taught classes locally for several years. After an introductory metalsmithing and jewelry-making course at the Arts Center in Troy in 2004, Haggett began creating unique pieces of jewelry. Her work encompasses gold, silver, brass and copper as well as found objects. She continues to teach at the Arts Center.

Register at the Grafton Community Library, located at 2455 NY Route 2, during open hours on Monday, Tuesday 3-7 pm, Thursday, Friday 3-8 pm, Wednesday and Saturday 10 am – 1 pm. Connect with the Grafton Community Library by phone at 279-0580, or visit www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

This project is made possible in part through a Community Art$ Grant, a program funded by The Arts Center of the Capital Region through the NYS Council on the Arts.

Feed Sacks In Poestenkill

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Got any old feedsacks?  Once an indication of poverty, feedsacks are now gold to whomever owns them.  What was a feedsack and how was it used?  Learn about these wonderful reflections of America’s rural past.  Expect to see and touch great examples of quilts, clothing, dolls and other items made from feedsacks.

All this is going to be made possible by coming to the Poestenkill Historical Society meeting on Tuesday, September 23, at 7 pm at the Town Hall.  Kris Driessen, who will be the speaker, is an accomplished quiltmaker, quilt historian, author, researcher and lecturer.  Come and listen to all she has to offer – and if you should have any feedsacks, or items made from them, please bring them and share with us.

As always, refreshments will be served.  Any questions, please call Gail at 283-4890.

Pets In The Park At GLSP

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Grafton Lakes State Park will host the third annual Pets in the Park day on Saturday, September 20. The event will take place at the Deerfield Pavilion from 10 am to 2 pm and is free with Park admission. Local pet rescue agencies will be in attendance with adoptable dogs. There will also be food, raffles and vendors of pet goods.

The day will begin with a guided hike at 10 am led by one of the Park Naturalists. At 11 am there will be an open hour with an adoption clinic featuring Pepper Tree Rescue, Mohawk Hudson Humane Society and Out of the Pits. Then there will be an agility course demonstration at 12 pm and the Pooper Scooper Race at 12:30 pm. To round out the day there will be a Doggie Dress up/Owner Lookalike Contest at 1 pm and a Search and Rescue demonstration at 1:30 pm. Ongoing attractions include a doggie play area, llamas from Windy Ridge Farm, live music from the Stray Dogs, the Brown Bagger food truck, a donation only bake sale, a raffle and pet food vendors. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the rescue agencies in attendance.

This event is free with Park admission of $6. For more information about Pets in the Park, please call the Park office at 518-279-1155.

The Grafton Community Library Congratulates Its Summer Readers

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The Grafton Community Library would like to say a big thank you and congratulations to the children and families who made the Library’s 2014 Summer Reading Program such a great success! A total of 56 children and teens signed up to log their reading and qualify to win weekly prizes and more. Together they read a whopping 35,362 minutes in six weeks. In addition, more than 300 people attended the Library’s 16 entertaining and informative programs for kids, teens and families that included the Grafton-wide Geocache Treasure Hunt, the stick rocket launch with Empire State Aerosciences Museum, Let’s Drum, Shape-it! Clay Pictures, Live Animal Ambassadors, Bubble Trouble with Jeff Boyer, weekly storytimes and much more.

As always, the success of this year’s program was thanks to the dedication and commitment of the entire Grafton Community and was just one more example of why Grafton is such a special place to live. For more information about the Library’s offerings call 279-0580 or visit graftoncommunitylibrary.

AARP Defensive Driving Course In Grafton

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Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton will be holding an AARP Safe Driving Course on Tuesday, September 30, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, with a break at noon for lunch, available at the Center.

Save up to 10% on your car insurance. The cost of the course will be $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members.   Please call Penny at 279-3413 or stop at the Center for reservations.  Spaces are limited.

Upcoming Programs At GLSP

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Grafton Lakes State Park’s Beach Nature Center is open 12 to 2 pm daily through Labor Day. Come visit some local critters, explore animal tracks and look at our nature artifacts.

August 30, Saturday – Gentle Fresh Air Yoga with Kat Abrams from 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is the last class of the summer. The cost is $12. For more information, call Kat at 233-1717.

August 30, Saturday – Dance in the Park for Summer’s Last Swing, 5 to 10 pm at GLSP. Enjoy live swing music with the Nisky Dixie Cats and dance lessons under the Park’s big sky. Call Laura Sears at 279-1155 for details.

September 1, Monday – Last Day of Swimming for the Summer and the Labor Day Sand Sculpture Contest at GLSP. Registration is at 12 pm, judging at 3 pm. Sign up is free. There will be prizes for all participants, but extra points will be awarded for originality. Join us on Long Pond beach.

September 6, Saturday – Tom Conklin Dedication Ceremony at Grafton Lakes State Park – Grand Opening of Conklin Pass, our new trail and the Conklin Program Tent. The ceremony will be followed by a barbecue and live music from 12 to 4 pm.

September 6, Saturday – International “Observe the Moon” Night. Join people all over the world in looking up at our nearest neighbor, the moon. Bring your binoculars if you have them and come enjoy the glow.

September 13, Saturday – If These Rocks Could Talk Geology Tour with David DeSimone at 10 am at GLSP. Grafton’s original name was Roxborough. Come find out why in a tale that goes back over 500 million years. Pre-register by calling 279-1155.

September 14, Sunday – Love the Lakes Shoreline Cleanup Day from 1 to 3 pm at GLSP. Along with thousands of volunteers worldwide, join in a shoreline cleanup effort sponsored through the Ocean Conservancy and American Littoral Society. Collect data as you go that aids in litter prevention campaigns. Scout troops are welcome. Pre-register at 279-1155.

September 19, Friday – Star Watch at 7:30 pm ay GLSP. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky with the Albany Area Astronomers. call Bernard at 658-9144 to confirm as cloudy skies may cancel. The rain date is Saturday September 20 at 7:30 pm. Please use the Winter Entrance and follow signs to the program.

September 20, Saturday – Pets in the Park from 11 am to 2 pm at Deerfield pavilion at GLSP.

Bring your four-legged friends for a day of pet friendly fun an adoption clinic, vendors, agility course, a costume contest and more. Call for a detailed schedule of events. There will be a Nature Hike at 10 am.

September 27, Saturday – Fall Foliage Hike to the Fire Tower at 10:30 am at GLSP. Pack a lunch and join us for a three mile round trip hike to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. We’ll break for lunch and a view before returning around 1 pm. Please call to pre-register at 279-1155. This hike is part of the region-wide Hudson River Ramble.

For more information check www.nysparks.com.

Grafton Planning Board Action – DEC Issues Draft EIS On Valente Mine Expansion

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by Kieron Kramer

The Grafton Planning Board convened an hour earlier than usual, at 6 pm, on Monday, August 18. Besides the four Planning Board members (there is still a vacancy on the Board) no one was in attendance except surveyor Bill Darling, who represented the applicants in a lot line adjustment on a parcel on Route 2. [Read more…] about Grafton Planning Board Action – DEC Issues Draft EIS On Valente Mine Expansion