The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Memoir Writing Workshop

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The Brunswick Community Library is thrilled to present a five session Memoir Writing Workshop led by Susannah Risley, author and teacher of creative non-fiction. The sessions will be held at 1 pm on the following five Saturdays – January 11, 18, 25 and February 1 and 8.

Please contact the Library to sign up; space is limited. Our website is www.brunswicklibrary.org.

This event was funded in part by Poets & Writers, Inc., with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.

Yule Log Tradition At Dyken Pond

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Celebrate the outdoors this season by enjoying the annual Yule Log Event at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center on Sunday, December 15. Beginning at 1 pm, the story of the Yule Log and the Winter Solstice will be shared, followed by a search for the hidden Yule Log. Guests can then enjoy this informal day at the outdoor campfire or make holiday crafts for the season. There will also be a children’s scavenger hunt as well. People of all ages are encouraged to come out to this free program, and don’t forget to bring your sleds! Hot chocolate and light snacks will be provided. Feel free to bring your own snacks to share.

Dyken Pond Center is located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville. Contact the Center at 658-2055 or dykenpond@fairpoint.net or visit our website at www.dykenpond.org for a complete schedule of our winter events.

Grafton Trail Blazers Logo Contest

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The Grafton Trail Blazers snowmobile club is looking for a new logo. We are opening a logo contest to high school students from Tamarac High School and Berlin High School.

A finalist will be picked from each school by the Club. Each finalist will be awarded a $50 prize, and each school will receive a $100 donation to the art department.

The two finalists will have their submissions posted to our Facebook page and the public can “like” the logo of their choice. The logo with the most likes will be the winner of the Facebook contest and will be awarded an additional $100 prize and an additional $150 will be given to that school’s art department.

The contest entries must be submitted to the Grafton Trail Blazers snowmobile club no later than December 1, 2013. The schools will be notified by December 9 of their finalist and their logos submitted to our facebook page (GRAFTON TRAILBLAZERS) for the winner to be determined. The logo with the most “likes” by January 1 will win the contest.

Letter To The Editor – The Benefits Of Community

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To the Editor:

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Buckley and Reinhard children for their generous donation to the Grafton youth. Your presentation was something special to witness. It was symbolic of how children can bring a community together and restore faith in our future. My hope is these funds will aid Grafton youth to become positive role models and active participants in Grafton volunteer organizations.

In our fast paced world, it is very easy to overlook the benefits of community based volunteer services and the need to recruit new members. All too often our youth are dismissed as potential future members because they don’t fill an immediate need or the belief is their participation will be short-lived. I say, “What about our children’s needs?” And the need for them to experience first hand what it is like to become actively involved in their community or grow to appreciate those who serve in these organizations or decide on a career path. Our youth programs offer that fundamental opportunity and exposure. We may discover there is a budding librarian, historian, firefighter-paramedic or public servant living in Grafton after experiencing one of many volunteer organization programs.

It is reassuring to know the Grafton Fire Auxiliary will be sponsoring one of these programs on December 1, 2013. The description of the event at the November 18 Board meeting was enlightening. It represents a coming together of the community at large and an opportunity to reconcile our differences. There is no doubt the event will bring a smile to those who participate.

Barbara J. Messenger,

Grafton Town Board Member

The End To End Challenge

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The End to End, a 29 mile endurance challenge along the Taconic Crest Trail, will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014, as announced by the Taconic Hiking Club. This event pits entrants against 29 miles of unimproved backwoods trails traversing three states – New York, Vermont and Massachusetts.  The challenge of this hike is a cumulative total of 7,836 feet of ascent and 9,470 feet of descent to be completed in one day.

In past years, entrants have come from New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York to test their stamina against the rigors of a trail that includes Berlin Mountain, the highest point in Rensselaer County.

Those interested in achieving the end reward of a specialized trail patch and a unique certificate of achievement should contact R.J. Hydorn, 2 Miller Avenue, Troy, NY, 12180, or rjhydorn@lycos.com to have the registration form sent. The form is also online at http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com.  Completed registration forms will not be accepted until December 1, 2013.   An entry fee of $30 is required with each registration. This fee is non-refundable after March 31, 2014. There will be a ceiling of 25 entrants for this event, with each application handled on a first received, first served basis. Additional entrants will be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.

All participants in this challenge are expected to arrive in Pittsfield State Park on Friday, May 16, to camp out and be ready for the 5 am wake up and hot breakfast served by the Taconic Hiking Club.  Hikers start at 5:30 am, and there are three support sites with water and other supplies along the route.  Sweep parties follow the hikers to provide assistance and support as needed.  Volunteers will be available to pack the hikers’ camping gear and move their cars to the finish line at Rt. 346 in Pownal, VT.  Entrants are encouraged to bring a companion to help with this and to be available to drive a very weary hiker home after the successful completion of this event.

It should be noted that this is not a timed event and entrants only compete against their own clocks, not each other.  This unique event has been held for over 30 years and has attracted attention in both Backpacker and Adventure magazines. For more details see the Taconic Hiking Club website, http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com.

Grafton Town Meeting: And The Children Shall Lead Them

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by Kieron Kramer

The highlight of the Grafton Town Board regular meeting on Monday, November 18, rescheduled from Monday, November 11 – Veterans Day, was the presentation of an $800 donation to the Grafton Youth Committee. The donation was represented by a four foot check facsimile signed by the Buckley and Reinhard family children, Tori, Zachary and Abby. In the context of years of conflict at the Town Board meetings, this was a special moment. It represented everything that is right about community spirit and about the Town of Grafton, in spite of the negativity expressed for so long in these meetings. [Read more…] about Grafton Town Meeting: And The Children Shall Lead Them

Correction To The November 15 Grafton Budget Story

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by Alex Brooks

In last week’s story on the Grafton Budget, the Code Enforcement Officer was reported to be getting a raise of $1,500 from his 2013 salary to his 2014 salary. Although it is true that his salary will be $1,500 higher, there is more to the story. Several years ago in a tight budget year, Code Enforcement Officer Tom Withcuskey was asked to accept $1,500 less salary on a temporary basis to help the Town get through a lean year without a big tax increase. He agreed, and his salary was reduced for a few years. The increase from 2013 to 2014 could therefore more accurately be termed a restoration of his previous salary than a “raise.”

Grafton Library Welcomes New Director

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The Grafton Community Library invites the public to welcome newly appointed Library Director Christian Collins and to participate in an ornament craft session. Stop in on Saturday, November 23, anytime from 10 am until 1 pm to create an ornament to decorate the Library’s entry for the Festival of Trees. Join the fun and make an ornament to celebrate your favorite book, author or genre.  Light refreshments will be served, and raffle tickets for the festive Holiday Cheer Basket will be available.  Visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org or call 279-0580 for further news of Library events.