Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Town Board this week interviewed, in executive session, three applicants who had expressed interest in serving as Town Justice to fill the vacancy created when Frank Higgins was appointed Supervisor last Spring. [Read more…] about Grafton Town Board Action – Pierce Hoyt Appointed Town Justice
Attention high school seniors! Applications are being accepted for the Lillis Bunce Memorial Award. This $200 award is offered by the Grafton Community Library Board of Trustees in recognition of the lifetime community service of the late Lillis Bunce of Grafton. The purpose of this award is to encourage and reward the community service of our youth as demonstrated by the example Mrs. Bunce set throughout her life.
The Lillis Bunce Memorial Award is presented annually to a high school senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the community by performing community service in any of the following areas: library/literacy, gardening, environmental causes or civic/church organizations – all areas for which Lillis demonstrated a personal interest and passion and gave generously of her time and talents.
Any Grafton resident who is currently a senior in high school is eligible to apply, including private and home-schooled students.
Applications may be obtained at the Library, on the Library’s website, www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org, or at the guidance offices of Berlin, Hoosick Falls or Brittonkill Central Schools. Completed applications may be submitted in person at the Library or by mail to the Grafton Community Library, P.O. Box H, Grafton, NY, 12082. The deadline for receiving applications is May 2, 2014 at 7 pm.
High school seniors attending public, private school or who are home schooled and are residents of Grafton who will be graduating this year are invited to apply for The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award.
This award of $300 is given to the applicant who submits the best essay about some aspect of Grafton’s history and his or her relationship to it.
The award is presented annually by the Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society in memory of Ethel N. Simmons, a native of Grafton and, for many years a Grafton teacher, Librarian and the Town Historian.
Both the Library and the Historical Society have resource materials to aid students in their research. Contact the Library during regular hours for their assistance. Please call Anne at 235-8317 for assistance from the Historical Society.
A copy of the application form is available at the Library, the guidance offices of Berlin and Brittonkill Central School or by email at GHS12082@aol.com.
The deadline for submitting applications is 7 pm on April 1, 2014, at the Library.
The Grafton Community Library is pleased to announce the following programs for the month of February. All programs are free and open to the public. They will take place at the Library, which is located at 2455 NY Route 2 in Grafton. For more information contact the Library at 518-279-0580 or email director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org. Stay up to date with everything that is happening at the Library by liking us on Facebook®, visiting our online events calendar at www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org/whats-happening-at-your-library and by signing up for our email newsletter at graftoncommunitylibrary.org.
Grafton Community Book Club
The Grafton Community Book Club meets the last Wednesday of every month. Join us this month to discuss M.L. Stedman’s The Light Between Oceans, a harrowing and lyrical novel about an Australian lighthouse keeper and his wife and the devastating choices they must make when fate brings them the child they have so long wished for in an unexpected way. The Grafton Community Book Club will meet on February 26 at 12:30 pm in the Library.
Weekly Programs
Story Time
There will be story time for toddlers up to school age children on Wednesday, February12, at 10:30 am, Thursday, February 20, at 4 pm and on Wednesday, February 26, at 10:30 am. Bring your little ones to the Library for story time fun including crafts, stories, snacks and more.
We were excited to feature Mary Pierson’s special sing along story time on February 6.
Sit & Knit
The Sit & Knit knitting and needle arts group meets every Saturday from 10 am to 12:30 pm. All skill levels are welcome. Come work on your projects and learn about all the needle arts including knitting, stitching and crocheting.
Game Day
Game Day at the Library is every Tuesday starting at 3:30 pm. Come to the Library to play your favorite board games with friends – Scrabble®, Bananagrams®, Scattergories® and more. Use the Library’s games or bring your own.
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department along with the Grafton Ladies Auxiliary will be serving an All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast on Saturday, February 22, from 8 to 11 am at the Grafton VFW – Fire Hall on South Road (County Route 85).
Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs (made to order), sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk are on the menu. The cost is $9 per adult, $4 for kids 12 and under and free for kids five and under.
Monday, February 17 – Backyard Bird Count at Grafton Lakes State Park at 10 am – Be-A-Bird, Bird Bingo and Bird Watching Fun! Pre-register please. The cost is $2 each or $5 for the family.
Wednesday, February 19 – Animal Tracking with the family at 1 pm at Grafton Lakes State Park. Who has been out in the Park overnight – fox, weasel, squirrel or deer? You’ll see signs of many furry neighbors. Pre-registration is required – space and snowshoes are limited. The cost is $2 each or $5 for the family.
Saturday, February 22 – Cherry Plain State Park Outdoor Day from 11 am to 3 pm – snowshoe outings and fun in the Park for all ages, sponsored by Friends of Cherry Plain State Park. Call 279-1155 for more information.
Snowshoe Outings In February
Saturday, February 8, Wednesday, February 12, and Thursday, February 27 – Snowshoe Outing at 10:30 am starting from the GLSP Office. Try out snowshoeing and see what wonders winter has to share on the Park’s trails. Pre-registration is required as space is limited; call 279-1155. The cost is $2 per person.
February 9, Sunday – tracking with a focus on fishers will be offered from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The cost is $20. Both programs offer a $5 discount for members, students and seniors. Winter is more enjoyable when you can discover movements of the animals around you. Common tracks found include red and grey fox, fisher, otter, porcupine and weasels. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.
Tuesday, February 18 – School Break Kids Snowshoe Fun, 1 to 3 pm. Put on a pair of snowshoes, play Eskimo games and have winter fun! There will be hot chocolate for all at the end of the day. The cost is $1 per person. Snowshoe rentals available for $5.
February 14, Friday – Valentine’s Day Full Moon Trek. Enjoy Valentine’s Day at a free guided cross-country ski and snowshoe trek at the Center from 7 to 9 pm. The trek will cover two miles and is designed for the intermediate skier or snowshoer. No beginners, please. Snowshoe rentals are available for $5. Hot cocoa and chocolates will be shared around a campfire following the trek. Please contact the Center for updated snow conditions.
February 16, and March 16, Sundays – Nature Writing Workshops.Paying Attention Among the Trees: A Winter Walk and Nature Writing Experience will be held from 1 to 3 pm. Diane Kavanaugh-Black will lead participants on a meditative woodland walk followed by writing with intention in a cozy wood stove heated cabin. This workshop will inspire the creative process whether you are a novice or already working on your own writing project. Sign up for one or both sessions. The cost is $15, $12 for members. Pre-registration is required for both workshops and space is limited, so register early.
February 18, Tuesday – School Break Kids Snowshoe Fun, 1 to 3 pm. Put on a pair of snowshoes, play Eskimo games and have winter fun! There will be hot chocolate for all at the end of the day. The cost is $1 per person. Snowshoe rentals available for $5.
February 20, Thursday – School Break Winter Survival, 1 to 3 pm. Could you survive in the cold if you had to, start a campfire, build a survival shelter and learn how to survive? The cost is $1 per person.
The Dyken Pond Center, located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit www.dykenpond.org for directions and a complete schedule of our winter events. Call 658-2055 or visit the website www.dykenpond.org.
submitted by Kandis Freer, Resource Educator with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County
Cornell Cooperative Extension’s 4-H Youth Development prides itself on providing youth with exciting real world opportunities. On February 15 Rensselaer County’s 4-H Teen Council will hold Pre-Teen Fun Day at Brittonkill (Tamarac) Middle School which will focus on LEGO WeDo Robotics. Pre-Teen Fun Day is a day of STEM taught by the 4-H Teen Council.
We invite all youth, ages 8-12, to attend Pre-Teen Fun Day, but call soon since space is limited. This program is free to 4-H members and costs $10 for non 4-H youth. Lunch will be provided.
The day will begin at 9:30 am with age appropriate icebreaker activities led by teens to get to know each other and to set goals for the day. From there, youth will dive into a day of LEGO WeDo Robotics which engages youth in technology, engineering and literacy. We will conclude at 1:45 pm with a round up activity. Pick-up will be at 2 pm.
Sign Up Now
Please call Kandis Freer at 272-4210 ext. 106 to sign up by February 7. No one shall be denied the opportunity to participate or receive information based on his or her ability to pay. If you have special needs that we can accommodate, please let us know at the time of your call.
by Kieron Kramer
In response to R.J. Valente’s application to New York State for a modification of the Mined Land Use Plan for its mine in Grafton, the Grafton Planning Board voted unanimously, in a roll call vote, to pass a resolution declaring itself the lead agency in the NYS environmental review process (SEQR) and demanding that a site plan review application be submitted to the Board immediately. [Read more…] about Grafton Planning Board Responds To R.J. Valente’s Change Of Use Plan
by Liz Wagner, Park Naturalist
Sixteen hundred people cured their cabin fever by braving the weather for a day in the outdoors last Saturday at Grafton Lakes State Park.
Fishing Contest [Read more…] about Winter Fest Brings People Out Of Hibernation
