The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

A Day Of Healthy Outdoor Family Activities At Dyken Pond

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On June 21 “Let’s Move: A Day of Healthy Outdoor Family Activities” will be held at Dyken Pond from  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 is from 10:30 am to 12 noon. Session 2 is from 12:30 to 2 pm. Each session will feature kayak lessons (ages 10 and older), fishing, geo-caching, a nature walk, a fox walk and other nature games.

Bring a picnic lunch. Healthy snacks will be available throughout the day.

Grafton Fire Department Celebrates 70 Years

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by Bea Peterson

On Saturday evening, May 17, the Grafton Fire Department held its 70th Annual Installation Banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy. There was a huge turnout for the event, which included dinner, presentations and dancing. Fire Chief Jim Goyer welcomed everyone with thanks and an Invocation. Pastor Jason White of the Grafton Baptist Church gave the Benediction. Music was by the Cool Cat DJ Services.

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Grafton Planning Board Action – May 2014

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by Alex Elvin

The Planning Board meeting on Monday, May 19, included two orders of business and a casual discussion of the ongoing Time Warner cable work around town. At 16 minutes, it was the Board’s longest meeting so far this year.

Lot Line Adjustments

Rodney Michael, a former Planning Board member and owner of RDM Surveying Consultants in Troy, submitted an application to redefine a parcel of land on Route 2 owned by Mark Gavin but long occupied by the home of James and Deborah Bettie.

Now that the Betties are planning to sell their home, Michael said, they have chosen to work with Gavin to redefine the property boundary. The new boundary will make it so the Betties’ house is not on Gavin’s property.

“Basically this goes back to a story of bad lawyering – of writing descriptions and not knowing what they were writing,” Michael said. The new application will redefine and further describe the Gavin property “so that there is never ever a question about where the westerly line of Gavin was.”

The two parties “couldn’t be happier” about the agreement, Michael said. “I just wish more people could come to that way of thinking instead of having fights and debates and all the rest of that stuff.”

The Board unanimously accepted the application for review, and Planning Board Chairman Thomas Withcuskey set a public hearing for June 16 at 6:50 pm.

Cable Work Moving Along

Diverging from the meeting’s agenda, Michael asked about the progress of TV cable work around Blue Factory Road, where he lives. Although the Planning Board is not directly involved in the work, Withcuskey explained that Time Warner has finished surveying poles and wires in town to determine if any adjustments are needed. Verizon and National Grid will make those adjustments, he said.

Withcuskey was unaware of a timeframe for the rest of the project but noted that “Time Warner got their stuff done pretty quickly” this winter. He added that the Town’s main lines “are pretty much up to code,” but that more work might be needed on the smaller roads.

Further updates on the progress of the work will likely be given by Town Supervisor Frank Higgins during the monthly Town Board meetings, Withcuskey said.

Horses On Kautz Hollow Road

Richard Lundy presented new documents related to his application for a horseback riding business on his property on Kautz Hollow Road. Most of his property, including his house, is in Pittstown, but the barn, from which the horseback riding business will be run and where the horses are stabled, is in Grafton. The Board had approved his application last April, but Lundy had decided not to pursue it right away.

The new documents Lundy presented included registrations for each of his many dogs, a contract with Averill Park Septic Service in Averill Park to have portable toilets on the property and approval from the Town of Pittstown to put up a sign directing traffic to the property. Withcuskey said he had spoken with Pittstown Supervisor Edwin King, who had no issues with the proposal.

Lundy must still present certificates of CPR and first aid training for himself and the two others who will lead the rides, and he expected to do so by Friday. He plans to set up a Facebook page in the near future with information about the rides.

The next Planning Board meeting will be June 16 at 7 pm, preceded by a public hearing at 6:50 on the Beattie lot line adjustment.

Timber Cutting Workshop

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Making the decision to harvest timber on your property can be challenging. It’s a decision that will impact your woods and how your family will use it for many years. It’s often difficult to know where to start or who to talk to. If you’ve been thinking about a timber cut but would like more information before moving forward, then sign up for a workshop presented by a Master Forest Owner (MFO) on Saturday, May 31, at 9:30 am at the Pineridge Cross Country Ski Area on Plank Road (Co Rt. 40) in East Poestenkill.

MFO Walter Kersch will introduce landowners to proven management practices for their forests, will help landowners understand the role of a forester and what to do when approached by a logger or timber salesman.

During this hands-on event you will visit a forest plot marked for a timber stand improvement (TSI) cut, learn how to measure trees to estimate the board feet or cords of wood and consider tree conditions for pulp or saw timber. Participants will discuss advantages and expected results of a TSI and gain a better understanding of how to figure out potential returns and when a tree is of most value. The group will also share experiences of management efforts in their own woods.

The program is presented by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance and co-sponsored by the Capital District New York Forest Owner Association with a $10 per person fee to cover costs. Refreshments will be served. Please wear clothing and boots suitable for walking in the woods and don’t forget your insect repellent!

To register for the workshop please visit http://tinyurl.com/jwc8ayg. To learn more about the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance visit http://rensselaerplateau.org.

Grafton Town Board Action – May 2014

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by Alex Brooks

The Grafton Town Board meeting on May 12 began with the highway report. Highway Superintendent Herb Hasbrouck said Babcock Lake Road suffered a lot of damage this past winter. It’s a County Road, and the County has tried to patch it, but apparently they do not have the resources to fully repair it. The County Engineer said he would need an allocation of 600 to 800 tons of asphalt mix to repair it properly. Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey said, “It was very bad this winter. They came out and worked on it and patched some holes, but it still has some bad holes in it.”

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Great Strides Walk At GLSP

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The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will be holding its annual Great Strides Walk at Grafton Lakes State Park on Sunday, May 18, at 12 noon, registration begins at 11 am.  The Kempf Family will be walking in honor of their son Mathew on the team “Miles 4 Mathew.” Call 518-573-9790 for more information. Please come out and support the walk or consider making a donation. Checks made out to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation can be mailed to 26 Snow Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.

Insect Day At The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

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The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering an Insect Program on May 25 from 1 to 3 pm. This program for all ages will take you throughout the fields and forests of Dyken Pond Center in search of interesting insects. We will also make bug hotels for your gardens at home. A $1 suggested donation is asked to cover the cost of materials. A complete list of programs can be found at www.dykenpond.org. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with planning, but not required and can be done by contacting the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or 658-2055.

The Patriot Flight Is This Saturday

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submitted by Tyler Sawyer

The Patriot Flight, Inc. is a local organization that flies local WW II and Korean War Veterans free of charge to visit the respective war memorials in Washington, D.C. The cost for the Guardians who accompany the Veterans is covered by the Guardians themselves.  The cost is $350 per Guardian. The flight departs the Albany Airport this coming Saturday, May 10.  There will be over 50 Veterans on the flight.

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Grafton Historical Society May Meeting

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The Grafton Historical Society will meet at 7 pm in the Grafton Town Hall on May 21. This month’s program is Native American Culture, presented by Lisa Little Wolf.

Lisa Little Wolf will talk about the traditions of different geographic regions, which have changed little over the years and are passed along through families. Lisa Little Wolf is originally from the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Lame Deer, Montana. An educator for many years, she travels the country speaking to peoples of many nations.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served.

Grafton Fire Department And Auxiliary’s 70th Installation Banquet

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The Grafton Fire Department and Auxiliary’s 70th Installation Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 6 pm to 12 am at the Hilton Garden of Troy, 235 Hoosick Street, Troy.

The public is invited to celebrate our 70th year and the installing of new officers. Cocktail hour starts at 6 pm with dinner to follow at 7. The choices are prime rib, lemon chicken and shrimp and crab stuffed filet of sole. It is an open bar for beer for the night, cash bar for mixed drinks. We have a block of rooms reserved for $99 for the night. Cool cats DJ service will entertain.

Please invite some friends and make it a great time. We have a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. You don’t need to be part of the fire department to come. The price is $35 for a single ticket and $60 per couple. RSVP to 279-3670 with your dinner choice by May 12.