The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Hoosick Falls

Local Primary Results

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by David Flint

Roy McDonald easily won his bid for the Republican nomination to replace Joseph Bruno as New York State Senator for the 43rd District, taking 83% of the vote in Rensselaer County. In the Eastwick Press area he did even a bit better than that in three of our towns, with 95% in Berlin, 90% in Grafton and 89% in Petersburgh. 

McDonald will face Michael A. Russo who served as District Manager for U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand. In the Democratic primary Russo beat out Brunswick lawyer Brian Premo in Rensselaer County with a margin of 57% to 43%. Eastern county results generally reflect that margin with the notable exception of the towns of Grafton and Hoosick where Premo was the victor winning by 18 and 6 percentage points respectively.

Tony Jordan, who was the choice of the Republican Party leadership to replace McDonald as representative of the 112th Assembly District, won the Republican Primary election against Chris Laing, a builder and developer from Northumberland. Jordan, a partner in a Greenwich law firm, won overwhelmingly in Washington County and took 67% of the Rensselaer County vote. He did not do as well in Grafton, Petersburgh or Stephentown where Laing spent a lot of time in door to door campaigning and defeated Jordan with 47%, 52% and 46% respectively.

Senate Results

                                            Republican Senate 43rd                      Democrat Senate 43rd

                                             Seney             McDonald                     Russo             Premo

Berlin                                       3                        59                             15                   13

Grafton                                  10                        93                             28                   31

Hoosick                                 32                      151                             43                   61

Petersburgh                            5                         42                            25                   12

Stephentown                         15                        63                             38                   31

Rensselaer Cnty                  617                    2914                         2473               1873

St. Mary’s Academy Celebrates 117 Years Of Catholic School Education

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The first day of school finds Drew Phillips and Mary Peters hard at work in the science lab and happy to be back at St. Mary’s Academy.  This year St. Mary’s Academy welcomes 165 students, which represents a 6.5% increase in enrollment from last year. St. Mary’s Academy has expanded the Pre-k 4 program in partnership with the Hoosick Falls CSD and the Universal Pre-kindergarten (UPK) program funded by New York State.  In addition to welcoming our students, we also welcome our newest staff members, Mrs. Melissa Cleary – grade five, Mrs. Gretchen Ruebel – grade four and Mrs. Phyllis Chapman – Art.  If you are interested in enrolling your child at St. Mary’s Academy, please contact Mrs. Martin at 518-686-4314.

It’s A Whale Of A Class

Fifth grade students at St. Mary’s Academy proudly show off their Kindergarten Science Fair project to their new teacher, Mrs. Melissa Cleary.  The whale was designed and labeled as part of their project during the 2005-2006 school year and has been lovingly moved to each new classroom at SMA.  We know that Mrs. Cleary will grow to love it as much as her new students.

St. Mary’s Academy Golf Scramble A Huge Success

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Kevin Gorman, George Smith, Taylor Bellemare and Brian Wysocki won the Annual St. Mary’s Academy Golf Scramble. In front, Miles and Matthew Smith join in the fun.

Kevin Gorman, George Smith, Taylor Bellemare and Brian Wysocki won the Annual St. Mary’s Academy Golf Scramble. In front, Miles and Matthew Smith join in the fun.

Despite the change of date due to rainy weather, St. Mary’s Academy’s Annual Golf Scramble on Friday, August 22, made over $6,500 for the school. The weather was perfect for the 60 golfers who came out in support of St. Mary’s. Joanie James was a hit at the grill providing everyone with a lunch of burgers and hot dogs in memory of her brother, Bob Burns, SMA Class of 1955. 

The winning team, sponsored by Mahar Funeral Home, was made up of George Smith, Kevin Gorman, Taylor Bellemare and Brian Wysocki. George Smith was also the big winner of $250 in the Ball Drop but generously donated his winnings back to St. Mary’s.

St. Mary’s would like to thank everyone who helped in any way to make our annual event so successful. We couldn’t have done it without the help of Mike Baratto, Scott McCart and George Smith at the Hoosick Falls Country Club and all those who sponsored a hole, donated prizes for the raffle, made food or supported the Ball Drop and raffle.

Junior Golfer Wins 2008 Men’s Hoosick Falls Country Club Championship

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Three weeks after winning the HFCC Junior Club Championship, sixteen  year old Taylor Bellemare overcame a four shot deficit with a one under par 67 on Sunday. Bellemare’s thirty-six hole total of 143 was three shots better than two time Club Champion Kevin Gorman, Sr. Gorman held the first round lead with a four over par 72. Joe DuBuke finished third in the Championship Flight with a 77 – 72 total of 149.

First Flight winner Steve Wilson’s scores of 79-77 (156) put him three shots ahead of Josh Wysocki’s 80 -79 (179).

Other Winners

Third Flight, Kurt Landry 81-85 (166)

Men’s Senior – Mike Shea 74 – 77 (151)

Men’s Super Senior – Leo Bartoski

Ladies Club Champion – Peg Crossman 

Over All Net Winner – Kurt Landry (60-64) 124

Hoosick Falls Soccer Club to Host Adult Soccer Games

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The Hoosick Falls Soccer Club will be hosting Adult Soccer Games through the Fall. Games will be played every Sunday at 5 pm at the George Helft Soccer Complex on South Street in Hoosick. Directions can be found online at http://www.hoosickfallssoccer.org/directions.html.  

Teams will be selected each week based on experience. Club Trainer Gareth Isaac will be overseeing the program and help organize the weekly teams.

No experience is necessary. The intent of this program is to provide the community and surrounding areas an outlet to enjoy a physically enriching activity. Adults are encouraged to learn the beautiful game while enjoying the benefits of exercising and meeting new people in a great atmosphere.

To learn more about the Hoosick Falls Soccer Club or our Adult Soccer Games call Gareth Isaac at 518-686-9505.

Fighting Irish Dominate Again In 31-0 Win Over Schuylerville

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Running back Mark Hackett escorts quarterback Willy Bradley through the Schuylerville defense for a gain. Photo by Steve Bradley.

Running back Mark Hackett escorts quarterback Willy Bradley through the Schuylerville defense for a gain. Photo by Steve Bradley.

 

The coaches of the Hoosick Falls Fighting Irish have really got their team clicking on all cylinders at this point of the young season. After a first week 56 – 6 victory over visiting Hoosic Valley, the Irish traveled to Schuylerville Sunday to take on a team coming off a 68 – 0 win the previous week. Hoosick Falls wasted little time in letting their opponents know they came to play. With an overpowering offense and a smothering defense, the Irish got out to a big first quarter lead and never looked back.

Sunday, Sept. 21, the Irish will host Vermont at 1 pm at HFCS. If you want to see some exciting live football, come on over and watch this team in action. Admission is free and there is food and drink sales.

Norman L. Bentley Sr.

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Pownal – Norman L. Bentley Sr., 66, died Wednesday, September 3, 2008, at his residence on Rt. 346 in Pownal, VT, after a courageous battle with cancer. He resided there with his wife Edna (Hurley) Bentley.

Born on December 29, 1941, in Hoosick Falls, NY, Norman was the son of the late Ernest and Lydia (Thomas) Bentley. He attended school in Hoosick Falls and was a veteran of the United States Army. Norman worked at the Bigelow Farm in Crown Point, NY. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, working on cars, surfing the web and spending time with his family.

Survivors other than his wife include two sons, Norman L. Bentley Jr. and wife Bonnie of Pownal and Leo Bentley of Bennington, VT, and his daughter, Cherie Bentley and friend Shane of Pownal. He is also survived by four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Norman is pre-deceased by a daughter, Brenda Bentley, a son, Ernest Bentley, a brother, Robert Bentley, and a sister, Ruth Shaw.

Funeral services were Monday, September 8, at 12 pm from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Committal services will follow at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Pownal.

Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Monday from 10:30 am until the start of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwestern Vermont Cancer Center through the funeral home.

Going Green

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by Bea Peterson

The Riverside Laundromat & Car Wash on Church St. has ten solar panels on the roof of the car wash. They began hooking the system up for the laundromat in October 2007 and finished in January 2008. “Since January we’ve saved 1,100 gallons of propane,” said Bill Wyman. He and his wife Kristen have owned the facility for nine years. “We’ve been saving money for this for five years. Luckily we hit in front of the curve.”  During those years Bill read all he could on solar panels then perused the internet for a contractor. Pete Skinner of E2G Solar in West Sand Lake emailed and offered to set up a system for them. The Wymans looked at panels he had put together on a goat farm in Shushan and were impressed. 

Skinner, who has more than 30 years of experience in the field, knew NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) was offering a half million dollars to ten small NYS businesses that wanted to convert to solar energy. He wrote a grant for the Wymans that was accepted by the Authority. He designed the laundromat system with input from RPI students and NYSERDA. The total cost of the project was $44,000. The Wyman’s investment was $27,000 and the NYSERDA grant covered $17,000. The couple saved close to $3,000 on the project with the help of Kirsten’s father Bill Grennan, Bill’s brother Don Wyman and the Wyman’s neighbor Steve Bellemare. “Pete thought we would get three panels up in a day. With the help of Bill, Don and Steve, we got all ten up in one day,” said Bill. After that Pete would leave them a list of things he wanted completed before his next visit, and Bill would see they were done. “It was a lot of work because we had to do everything after hours, after we closed, but it was worth it.”

The energy from the solar panels heats three 110 gallon water tanks and one 120 gallon tank off the furnace for a capacity of 450 gallons. The average water temperature is 150 degrees. “The system shuts off for safety at 170 degrees,” said Bill. NYSERDA monitors the temperature and humidity of the tanks at all times. 

Two years ago the Wymans replaced the 1968 steam boilers, which had been converted to oil,

Four hot water storage tanks and the Munchkin furnaces take up less space than the former heating system. (Bea Peterson photo)
Four hot water storage tanks and the Munchkin furnaces take up less space than the former heating system. (Bea Peterson photo)

and replaced them with two Munchkin propane heaters that are as small as their name implies. The system was designed and installed by Joe Magisano and JP Conway. “When the State boiler inspector came in, he said he’d never seen such a clean job,” said Bill. He added, the new system is very efficient. “It used to cost us $4,000 a month for heat and hot water. Now our propane bill is cut in half.”

 

The water temperature from the storage tank is controlled by the Munchkins. If the water comes in at more than 120 degrees, a valve automatically mixes cold water in with the hot until it reaches the lower temperature. Should something go wrong with the system a monitor on the roof sets off an alarm that goes directly to NYSERDA.

Bill said the solar panel project “was costly, but I’m glad we did it.” His propane price increased 70 cents a gallon this year. “When we began the project, it was estimated it would take five years to pay for itself. Now, with prices going up, they’re saying it may only take four to four and a half years to reach that goal.” He’s glad they started the project last year because he believes they would have a long wait if they wanted to start it now since more companies are trying to cut rising energy costs.

Bill said, “Basically we’ve been trying to go kind of green all along without realizing that’s what we were doing.” Two years ago he replaced all the 20-year old car wash equipment. “With the new system we cut water consumption in half,” he said. 

They recently replaced all the dryers in the laundromat with Swedish made Wascomat dryers. They have two 50 pound dryers for sleeping bags and comforters and fourteen 30 pound commercial dryers. The machines are rated 25 to 28 percent more efficient than the old ones. “They’ve only been in about a month,” said Bill. “We’re down about 80 gallons of propane. It’s hard to tell yet. I’m hoping it will be much more than that.” The price to use the dryers has remained the same.

The next project is to replace the 18 top load 30 to 35 pound capacity washing machines with front load low water usage machines that will hold 30 to 50 pounds. “We can get three larger capacity machines in the space of two we have now,” said Bill. The washers are Swedish made. “I’d like to buy American, but these are better quality. Other countries are so far ahead of us in conserving energy.” The basic cost to use a machine will remain the same for a cold water wash but will increase for warm water and again for hot water wash. 

The solar panels have become a showcase for other businesses. Even more inspiring is the 50 percent tax break the  government

Wet Down Of New Truck

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The Hoosick Falls Fire Department is holding a Hose Down to introduce its latest truck to the community. The 2007 Rosenbauer Fire Engine, number 17-2, has an eight man enclosed cab with five air pack seats. It holds 1,000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of Class A foam. The side mounted pump can put out 1,250 gallons of water per minute.

There will be plenty of activities for the youngsters and hot dogs for everyone. The event begins at 1 pm on Saturday, September 6.

K Of C Soccer Challenge

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Council #11071 of the Knights of Columbus in Hoosick Falls will be holding a Soccer Challenge on Saturday, September 13, at 12 noon at the George Helft Soccer Complex in Hoosick. It is open to all boys and girls 10 to 14 years of age. If you have questions, please contact Rich Dickinson at 686-4870.