Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Thaddeus Flint
The two “big” items on the agenda of the December 2014 New Lebanon Town Board meeting, the appraisal of the Town Gravel Pit and the latest on Covenant Circle, were big letdowns for all those who are interested in such things as neither saw any new action Tuesday night.
[Read more…] about New Lebanon Town Board Action – Going Nowhere
The New Lebanon Library will host a fun filled community holiday celebration on Friday, December 19, from 6 to 8 pm at the Library. The celebration will include music, pot luck, caroling, crafts for kids, tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Participants are encouraged to bring treats or a covered dish to share.
Music will be provided by jazz duo DBX2, which features bassist Dan Broad and pianist David Bartley. Broad, one of the most sought after bassists in Western New England, has performed in nearly every state in the Union and as well as in Europe. Bartley’s musical career included scoring original music for film, video and radio productions, performing in various popular music groups and composing and performing several performance art pieces in association with the Washington Performing Arts Society.
This program is free, and all are welcome. For more information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
The New Lebanon Library will hold the following December events. All of these events are free and will take place at the Library which is located at 550 State Route 20.
December 17 (event is on Wednesday) – Small Wonders Storytime – 10 am. This is songs, movement activities and age appropriate stories for our younger patrons and their caregivers – for toddlers up to 35 months.
December 17 (event is on Wednesday) – Preschool Story Hour – 11 am. Story hour includes crafts, songs and movement activities. For kids 35 months to 5 years.
December 12 – Coffeehouse Night with Linda Worster – 6 pm, an evening of acoustic music with this Berkshire favorite. Donations for the performer are appreciated. December 15 and 29 (event is every other Monday) – Study the Constitution – 7 pm. This biweekly discussion group focuses on the study of the Constitution. Interested participants should bring their questions and be ready to share their opinions.
December 16 – Block Party: Legos in the Library – 4 to 5:30 pm. This is a Lego club for kids. We provide the Legos and will display all creations in the Library until the next club.
December 18 – Holiday Film Night – 6:30 pm. Join us for a screening of the classic holiday musical Scrooge.
December 19 – Community Holiday Celebration with DBX2 – 6 pm. Enjoy pot luck, caroling, crafts for kids, tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Participants are encouraged to bring treats or a covered dish to share. Music will be provided by jazz duo DBX2. All are welcome.
December 28 – David Grover and Linda Worster in Concert Together – 2 pm. Celebrate New Year’s a few days early with these two local favorites.
December 29 – Bingo for Kids – 1 pm. There will be bingo, prizes and fun for kids aged 5-12.
December 30 – Crafts for Kids – 1 pm. Join us and make an adorable snowy owl. All materials provided. For ages 5 and up.
Call the Library at 518-794-8844 for more information on any of these events.
Local favorites David Grover and Linda Worster will be performing together at the New Lebanon Library on Sunday, December 28, from 2 to 4 pm. All are welcome, and the event is free
David Grover has earned countless awards including a Grammy nomination and Artist of the Year. He spent many years as Arlo Guthrie’s lead guitar and band leader. Grover and his Big Bear Band have performed at the White House, opened the Goodwill Games, appeared on The Today Show, performed with the Detroit Symphony for their Youth Series and played for the delegates of the United Nations.
Linda Worster has toured as a solo musician throughout New England, New York and New Jersey, performing in many coffeehouses, colleges, churches, healing centers, cafés and clubs. She has opened for many well-known artists including Livingston Taylor, Harry Chapin, Paul Stookey, Leo Kotke, David Bromberg, Bill Staines, Dave Mallett, Jonathan Edwards, Joan Baez, Richie Havens and Taj Mahal.
For further information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
The Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company, serving Brainard and East Nassau and surrounding community, will hold its monthly Breakfast on Sunday, December 21, from 8 to 11:30 am at their firehouse on Firehouse Lane behind the post office near the intersection of Routes 20 and 66N in the hamlet of Brainard.
Breakfast offers your choice of pancakes or French toast, together with bacon or sausage, eggs cooked to your order, applesauce and an assortment of beverages for your donation of $7 for adults, $4 for children 5 to 12 and free for children under age five.
Santa To Appear?
It is our understanding that Santa will arrive about 9 am to greet breakfast diners, most especially the children. Also available during the breakfast hours will be a cookbook offering the cookie recipes entered into the Village of East Nassau’s recent cookie contest as well as a limited number of the commemorative 2014 Bell Park ornaments.
We would like to invite anyone interested in an afternoon of Christmas music to come join us for the presentation of a Christmas Cantata. The choirs from the Immaculate Conception Church in New Lebanon and the Stephentown Federated Church in Stephentown, under the direction of Bev Westfall, Choir Director at the Stephentown Federated Church, have joined forces to produce a Christmas Cantata of music and readings.
[Read more…] about Christmas Cantata In New Lebanon And Stephentown
Congressmen Chris Gibson (NY-19) and Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) are calling on Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to sign into law the Lyme disease bill that passed both chambers of the New York State Legislature earlier this year.
The bipartisan legislation, the Patients’ Rights/Doctor Protection Bill, provides that physicians who treat Lyme and other tick borne diseases according to medically recognized standards of care shall not be subjected to arbitrary and capricious investigations of their medical licenses by the Office of Professional Medical Conduct.
“Because there is more than one medically recognized standard of care for Lyme disease,” said Congressmen Gibson and Maloney in a letter to the Governor, “physicians should be enabled to use whichever evidence based diagnostic and treatment options provide the best benefit to their patients.
“The Patients’ Rights/Doctor Protection Bill makes common sense improvements to State regulations, putting treatment decisions in the hands of physicians and instituting guidelines to help our State fight this public health scourge,” said Congressman Gibson. “I respectfully call on Governor Cuomo to sign this bill into law.”
“Lyme Disease is an epidemic across the Hudson Valley that’s hurting our kids, loved ones and neighbors. This bipartisan legislation would ensure our friends and families in the Hudson Valley can receive the proper diagnosis and treatment of this debilitating disease,” said Congressman Maloney.
Congressman Gibson is the author of the Vector-Borne Disease Research Transparency and Accountability Act of 2014, which was co-sponsored by Congressman Maloney and passed the House of Representatives this year. Both Congressmen are enlisting support for that bill among their Senate colleagues.
submitted by Max Gitter
The Lebanon Valley Heritage Center announces that it will celebrate its first anniversary, with an open house and refreshments, on Saturday, December 6, from 10 am to noon, in the Valley Plaza Mall, Routes 20/22, New Lebanon.
The Center’s mission is to showcase the rich 250 year history of the Town. Using photographs, books, periodicals, pamphlets, artifacts, maps, furniture and other antiques and displays. The Lebanon Valley Heritage Center features the Mohican era and its legacy, the Mt. Lebanon Shaker Society – the first and most important Shaker community in the US, the world famous Lebanon Springs warm water spa, the great Governor and almost-President Samuel J. Tilden, the pioneering Tilden Pharmaceutical Co. and much, much more.
The Center also serves as a tourist information bureau. It created and distributed widely the handsome “Historic New Lebanon Map & Guide,” and it provides maps, guides and information on local events, historical and recreational attractions, businesses, restaurants and lodging.
The Heritage Center is a collaboration of the New Lebanon Economic Development Committee, the Lebanon Valley Historical Society and dozens of dedicated volunteers.
submitted by Elizabeth M. Hurley, member of the Bell Park Committee
The recent Cookie Contest and Chinese Auction held by the Village of East Nassau to fund the Bell Park, former home of the Brainard United Methodist Church on Route 20, was a great success with twenty-seven cookie entries.
First place winner was Kim Curtiss of Brainard with her “Add Whatever You Want” cookie which is now the official cookie of the Village of East Nassau for 2015. All contest cookie recipes will be available in the form of a cookbook.
Also available is a limited edition commemorative Bell Park ornament at a cost of five dollars each. The ornament and the cookbook may be purchased at the December 7 breakfast at the Hoags Corners Firehouse, the December 10 Village of East Nassau Board meeting and the December 21 breakfast at the Tsatsawassa Firehouse in Brainard. You can also contact cookies@villageofeastnassau.org to request these items.
The Bell Park Committee expresses sincere thanks to the businesses and area residents who supported our first Cookie Contest and Chinese auction, and we look forward to making this an annual event.
Special thanks go to the Hoags Corners Fire Company whose newly renovated hall provided a wonderful venue for our event.
On Saturday, December 13, from 12 to 2 pm, Berkshire County author Jeanne Bogino will sign copies of her book, Rock Angel, at Barnes and Noble in Pittsfield, MA.
