The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Letter To The Editor – Making A Difference

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To the Editor: 

My name is Ayla Graney and I’m currently working on my Girl Scout Silver Award which is the highest award you can earn in my age group. To successfully complete this award, I must do six badge projects, complete fifteen hours of volunteer service and do a 40-hour project for my community. 

One of the badges I have chosen has to do with making a difference in people’s lives. I chose “In the Pink,” which is a Breast Cancer badge. 

In honor of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I’d like to share with the community what I’ve learned to increase awareness and encourage healthier living.

A small portion of our genes are directly involved in maintaining normal cell growth. If mutations occur within these genes they can eventually lead to cancer. If anyone in your immediate family has had breast cancer, your risk is increased. Most inherited causes of breast cancer have been associated with two genes: BRCA1 and BRCA2 (Breast Cancer 1 and 2). Women with breast cancer who have an abnormal BRCA gene often find a family history of breast/ovarian cancer.

There is no way to prevent breast cancer, but you can reduce the risk of getting it. By avoiding alcohol, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight, your risk will go down. It’s also a good idea to fill out a chart with the food content you’ve eaten for one week. By taking this chart to a doctor or nurse, you can learn what foods are healthy for you and may help prevent cancer and which foods you should be avoiding.

One of the most important things to do is to get a mammogram! It can save your life. Men should be following all of these healthy practices as well, because, contrary to popular belief, men can get breast cancer, too.

Please do your part to join the fight against cancer! To learn more, visit www.cancer.org.

 

Thank you,

Ayla Graney

Hoosick Falls, NY

Art And The Naturalist At Dyken Pond Center

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On Sunday October 12, from 9 am to 2 pm, the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center will hold an Art and the Naturalist program offered to the public.  The program will be run by Dan Yacobellis.  Yacobellis is a local naturalist who conducts many wilderness education programs in the Capital District.

All participants will have the opportunity to learn how to extract the subtleties contained in the subject matter, from animal signs to landscapes and the relationships they have with each other.  All skill levels and ages are welcome to attend this program.  There is a $20 fee for adults and a $10 fee for each child accompanied by an adult. If you have any questions please contact Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center 518-658-2055 or  dykenpod@fairpoint.net.  

Full Harvest Moon Paddle

Paddle into the stillness of the night under a full harvest moon on Dyken Pond.  A guided paddle will be held on  Tuesday evening, October 14, from 6 pm until 8 pm.  We’ll look for beavers and other wildlife on the lake. Pre-registration is required for this program as space is limited.  Canoe and kayak rentals are available for $10.   You can register by contacting the Dyken Pond Center 518-658-2055 or by email, dykenpond@fairpoint.net.

Fire By Friction

Have you ever wondered how to start a fire without matches? On Saturday, October 18, there will be a fire building program taking place at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center.  This program will be conducted by Jim Bonesteel and concentrates mainly on the bow drill method of building a fire with friction but will still encompass a wide range of fire building techniques.  This is an all day program (9 am to 4 pm) where pre-registration is required.  There is a $20 fee for non-members and a $15 fee for members.  Registration can be done by either calling Jim Bonesteel at 766-5354 or emailing him at jim@jbonesteel.com.

Dyken Pond Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing and non-motor boating. Call 658-2055 for directions and a complete schedule of our fall and winter events.

Rufus E. Hall

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Hoosick – Rufus E. Hall, 83, of Petersburgh Junction Road, Hoosick, NY, passed away Thursday, October 2, 2008, at the Centers for Living & Rehabilitation in Bennington, VT. He had resided in Hoosick with his wife Janet (Bain) Hall.

Born in Shaftsbury, VT, on June 1, 1925, Rufus was the son of the late William and Gertrude (Bump) Hall. He was employed at Stanley Tools in Shaftsbury for over twenty-five years. After retiring he had a small greenhouse business at his house for about twenty years. He enjoyed working outdoors, especially in his flower and vegetable gardens.

Survivors other than his wife Janet include his children, Janette Galusha and husband David, Robert Hall and wife Rosalie, all of Hoosick Falls, William Hall and wife Lorrie of Chantilly, VA. He is also survived by brothers, William “Stub” Hall and wife Ida of Cambridge, NY, and Richmond Hall and wife Mary of Shaftsbury, sisters, Donna Pradon of Maine, Marilyn Harrington, Helen Squires and husband William and Roberta Reynolds, all of Shaftsbury, grandchildren, Jennifer, Matthew, Dachia, Bryan, Deidra, Andrew, Eric and Zachary, great-grandchildren Rachel, Jeffrey and Branden. Rufus is pre-deceased by a sister, Fabiola Gills.

Relatives and friends called at the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls on Sunday, October 5, from 2 to 4 pm. Funeral services and burial will be at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Southwestern Vermont Cancer Center through the funeral home.

Schuyler A. Bink Jr.

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Hoosick Falls – Schuyler A. Bink Jr., 78, of the Danforth Adult Home in Hoosick Falls, NY, formerly of Dyken Pond Road, Petersburgh, NY, died on Sunday, October 5, 2008, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT, after a long illness. 

Born in Poestenkill, NY, he was the son of the late Schuyler Sr. and Alice Kaiser Bink and husband of the late Amanda Yerdon Bink. Schuyler was a lifelong resident of the area and was retired from Al-Tech Specialty Steel in Waterviliet, NY, where he was a cutter. Schuyler’s greatest passion in life was to spend his time fishing, hunting, trapping and camping.

Survivors include his children, Schuyler Bink III, William Bink, David Bink and Sharon Merrills, a brother, Robert Bink, his sisters, Doris Lewis, Patricia Miller and Linda Smith, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Relatives and Friends were invited to call at the Perry-Komdat Funeral Chapel, 2691 NY 43 at Glass Lake, Averill Park, NY, on Wednesday from 4 to 6 pm. A graveside service was held on Thursday at 10 am at the Woodside Cemetery, 56 Road, East Poestenkill, NY.

High Speed Police Chase In Stephentown Ends In Crash

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At the end of a police chase last Friday afternoon, Christopher Beckwith’s pick-up is torn apart after slamming into a tree on Black River Road. A State Trooper prepares to extricate him from the vehicle. (David Flint photo)
At the end of a police chase last Friday afternoon, Christopher Beckwith’s pick-up is torn apart after slamming into a tree on Black River Road. A State Trooper prepares to extricate him from the vehicle. (David Flint photo)

by David Flint

People who stopped at an accident last Friday afternoon in Stephentown Center were left wondering what was going on when two State Police cars came speeding down Route 43 but whizzed right by the accident and sped down Newton Road toward Black River Road. Turns out the State Troopers were involved in a pursuit, and the woman whose car spun out on Route 43 at the same time had nothing to do with it. 

The Troopers were chasing Christopher Beckwith, 24, a former Stephentown resident, now residing on Miller Hill Road in Sand Lake. 

According to Trooper Maureen Tuffey, Public Information Officer for Troop G, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Department had put out a radio broadcast about a reckless driver in a red pickup truck in the Stephentown area. A trooper caught up with him and attempted to pull him over, but he refused to stop. The chase continued up Route 43, over Newton Road to Black River Road. Beckwith struck the Trooper’s car before heading west onto a trail that runs below the nationalgrid power lines. The Trooper then proceeded back up Route 43 and around to Calvin Cole Road thinking to catch Beckwith when he came out of the trail onto that road. He was joined by another trooper at that point. It is not clear what happened then but it seems Beckwith must have turned back down the trail toward Black River Road and the troopers seeing this rushed back down Route 43 to Black River Road. It was at this point that they whizzed past the spin out in front of the Stephentown Center Community Church. 

The troopers arrived at the entrance to the power line trail and attempted to stop Beckwith there, but Beckwith was not to be stopped. He came barreling out of the trail onto Black River Road coming close to running down one of the officers. He swerved left and headed down Black River Road. The astounded trooper then jumped in his patrol car and continued the chase. Less than a quarter of a mile down the road, however, Beckwith lost control of his truck and crashed into a tree and the chase was over. The troopers suffered minor injuries trying to extricate Beckwith from the crash, and Beckwith had some minor injuries but miraculously no one was seriously injured from Beckwith’s recklessness. Tammy Madden, who stopped to direct traffic at the spin out accident said she had a close call a little earlier when Beckwith, pursued by a trooper, came charging out of Staples Road onto Route 43 without slowing down and headed up the road directly in front of her. 

Tuffey said the chase covered five miles  at an average speed of 60 miles per hour. Beckwith was charged with DWI, assault and numerous vehicle and traffic violations. He was remanded to Rensselaer County Jail. 

Beckwith was involved in another high speed pursuit in the Town of Berlin back in 1999. At that time he was driving an ATV and refused to stop for a Trooper. He ended up in a ditch across the road from the Berlin Community Cemetery with serious head, shoulder and spinal injuries. Beckwith said the trooper tapped him with his patrol car from behind causing his crash. Four years later, despite being charged with operating the ATV in a dangerous and reckless manner and failing to comply with a lawful order of a police officer, he won a judgment against the trooper in the New York State Court of Claims.

Moose Hit By Car In Hoosick Falls

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The dead moose, still on the side of River Road on Thursday morning, September 25, had been put out of its misery by State Police after it was struck by a motor vehicle. Photo by Rick Ferrannini.
The dead moose, still on the side of River Road on Thursday morning, September 25, had been put out of its misery by State Police after it was struck by a motor vehicle. Photo by Rick Ferrannini.

by Bea Peterson

 

According to Hoosick Falls Police Chief Robert Whalen a bull moose was allegedly struck by a car on River Road about 4 am Thursday morning, September 25. The injured animal dragged itself to the edge of the road and then back across the road. Nearby residents told police they could hear the moose moaning. The NY State Police were called and Chief Whalen said, “They dispatched the animal.” 

The moose was estimated to be a three year old male weighing between 750 and 900 pounds. After daylight it was moved to the Hoosick Falls highway garage where portions of the animal were taken by the Department of Environmental Conservation to test for heart or brain worm and to assess the overall health of the moose before its death.

Not The First Moose

Chief Whalen said other moose have been seen in the area. “Last year we escorted a mother moose with her baby off of Main St., and they wandered away toward Wood Creek.” He said that another time traffic was tied up on NY Route 7 and County Road 79 as cars pulled off the road to observe a large bull moose clearly visible on the top of the hill.

In Friday’s case, the Chief said they located the driver that struck the animal and passed the information on to DEC.  

DEC Warns Motorists

Motorists should be alert for moose on roadways in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas at this time of year – a peak of moose activity – the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) cautioned last week.

Early fall is the breeding season for moose in northern New York. During this time moose are wandering to look for mates, leading them to areas where they are not typically seen. 

While this improves the opportunities for people to enjoy sightings of a moose, it also increases the danger of colliding with one on the roadway.

DEC estimates that New York has a population of approximately 500 moose in the Adirondacks and surrounding areas. Over the past couple of decades the moose population has increased mainly by entering the state from Vermont and Canada. Now the increase in population is mainly due to the birth of moose calves here in New York.

Moose are much larger and taller then deer. Their large body causes greater damage, and, when struck, their height often causes them to impact the windshield of a car or pickup truck, not just the front of the vehicle. Last year, 10 moose-vehicle accidents were reported in New York. However, there has not been a human fatality from an accident with a moose – a record DEC hopes to retain.

Moose are most active at dawn and dusk, which are times of poor visibility. Moose are especially difficult to see at night because of their dark brown-to-black coloring and their height – which puts their head and much of their body above vehicle headlights.

DEC advises motorists to take the following precautions to prevent moose-vehicle collisions:

ź Use extreme caution when driving at dawn or dusk, especially during September and October.

ź Reduce your speed, stay alert and watch the roadsides.

ź Slow down when approaching moose standing near the roadside, as they may bolt at the last minute when a car comes closer, often running into the road.

ź Moose may travel in pairs or small groups, so if a moose is spotted crossing the road, be alert for others that may follow.

ź Make sure all vehicle occupants wear seat belts and children are properly restrained in child safety seats.

ź Use flashers or a headlight signal to warn other drivers when moose are spotted near the road.

ź Motorcyclists should be especially alert for moose.

If a moose does run in front of your vehicle, brake firmly but do not swerve. Swerving can cause a vehicle-vehicle collision or cause the vehicle to hit a fixed object such as a tree or pole.

If a moose is hit and killed by a vehicle, the motorist should not remove the animal unless a permit is obtained from the investigating officer at the scene of the accident.

DEC expects the moose population to increase rapidly over the next decade. Drivers will likely be encountering moose on the roadway and need to become accustomed to practices that will help avoid collisions. DEC continues to work with the Department of Transportation to identify and place signs in areas where moose are present along roads.

Native American Gallery And Meditation Center Opens In Stephentown

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This traditional tipi was set up at the Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival organized by Fidel Moreno and Susan Jameson, part of the Rock, Rattle & Drum Powwow held in August at Eastover in Lenox, MA. Photo by Marc Manoli.
This traditional tipi was set up at the Spirit on the Mountain Music Festival organized by Fidel Moreno and Susan Jameson, part of the Rock, Rattle & Drum Powwow held in August at Eastover in Lenox, MA. Photo by Marc Manoli.

by David Flint 

Visitors can partake of complimentary Buffalo Chili and Indian Corn Chowder at the official opening of the White Eagle Gallery and the White Eagle Meditation Center and Sanctuary next weekend in Stephentown Center. Open House is on Saturday, October 11 from 1 to 5 pm. The center is located at 910 Route 43 between Fiske Lumber and the Stephentown Center Community Church.

There will be Native American storytellers and re-enactors, native arts & crafts demonstrations including

An Indian woman doing a native american dance. Photo courtesy of Fidel Moreno.
An Indian woman doing a native american dance. Photo courtesy of Fidel Moreno.

traditional tipi and wigwam building, a Native American dance and regalia exhibition, a Sanctuary tour and much more. 

 

All are invited to view the Native American arts and crafts in the Gallery and learn about what the Resource Center has to offer, such as access to an archive with over 1,000 hours of interviews with Native American leaders, elders, teachers and spiritual healers from all over North America.

Fidel Moreno, Co-Director of the Gallery and Center along with his partner Susan Jameson, explains that the focus of the Meditation Center is “Understanding energy, its soul origin and flow to and from our human experience and its impact on our natural world, human relationships and earthly mission.” The Center will employ North American indigenous models as well as Eastern disciplines for relaxation, focus, grounding, chronic pain management, emotional clarity and personal harmony. There will be individual and small group meditation classes and meditative nature hikes. Natural and herbal applications will also be offered by an accredited herbalist and integrative bodywork and massage will also be available by appointment. 

Fidel Moreno is past President of the American Indian Chamber of Commerce of New Mexico and a filmmaker with award winning productions such as “The Peyote Road” and “Wiping the Tears of Seven Generations” to his credit. Information on Moreno’s documentaries, some of which have influenced US Congressional legislation, can be found at www.seektv.tv. 

For more information on the White Eagle Gallery and Meditation Center and the open house, please call 518-733-9227 or email humanityinconcert@earthlink.net.

Public Hearing Scheduled For Stonybrook Subdivision

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by Alex Brooks

The Grafton Planning Board held a Special Meeting on October 1 in which they accepted the Draft Environmental Impact Statement from Stonybrook Properties for a 26 lot subdivision proposal involving about 141 acres on land between South Long Pond Road and the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, with frontage on South Long Pond. The project includes construction of a new road 4000 feet long.

The board passed a resolution declaring the Impact Statement “complete and adequate for public review,” and scheduled a Public Hearing on it for October 20 at 6 pm.

The impact statement is a lengthy document with several documents, exhibits, and maps appended. It is available for public review at the Grafton Town Hall. Town Attorney Sal Ferlazzo told all present that if they would like him to send an electronic copy of the document in PDF format, they may email him at sdf@girvinlaw.com and he will send a copy by email. Grafton Town Supervisor Allison Kirchner said she would try to put the document on the Town of Grafton web site so it can be downloaded from there, but she wasn’t sure when or if this could be accomplished. This site is at www.graftonny.org.

When asked if there will be limits on how long someone can speak at the public hearing, members of the Planning Board said that no formal limit has been established, but in general a comment of about 5 minutes or so has been the norm, and the board hopes that comments won’t go too much longer than that.

Ferlazzo encouraged people with detailed and lengthy comments to put them in writing and submit them that way, so the Board could review them thoroughly and respond to their contents. Written comments on this subdivision proposal will be accepted from now until November 7, 2008.

The Petersburgh Rod And Gun Club Turkey Shoot

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The Petersburgh Rod and Gun Club Turkey Shoot was a huge success, especially for those sharpshooters who won turkeys: (left to right) Tom Bierwirth, Scott Bentley Jr., Justin DeFilippis, Roger Bubie, Elizabeth Bubie (father and daughter) and John Blowers. Missing were Vern Bentley, Scott Bentley Sr., Tom Bull (2 turkeys), Charles Saunders and Adam Stevens. Turkey Shoot photos by Mary Lou Walters.
The Petersburgh Rod and Gun Club Turkey Shoot was a huge success, especially for those sharpshooters who won turkeys: (left to right) Tom Bierwirth, Scott Bentley Jr., Justin DeFilippis, Roger Bubie, Elizabeth Bubie (father and daughter) and John Blowers. Missing were Vern Bentley, Scott Bentley Sr., Tom Bull (2 turkeys), Charles Saunders and Adam Stevens. Turkey Shoot photos by Mary Lou Walters.

 

Jason Crandall of Petersburgh helps support the rifle as his daughter Madison, 6, takes a shot for a turkey. Children 14 or younger are allowed to take a free shot at the end of the shoot.
Jason Crandall of Petersburgh helps support the rifle as his daughter Madison, 6, takes a shot for a turkey. Children 14 or younger are allowed to take a free shot at the end of the shoot.

Hoosick Falls Irish Football Still Undefeated

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With the official watching it all, Mark Hackett winds his way through the Schuylerville defense. Steve Bradley photo.

 

The Hoosick Falls Irish football team ran their record to 4 – 0 after a hard hitting victory over the Schuylerville Horses on Sunday. The Irish scored twice in the first half then held their opponents scoreless to keep the winning streak alive. Next week, the Irish face a big test when they face undefeated Cambridge. The contest will be held in Cambridge at the high school field. Game time is 1 pm.