Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
submitted by Sue Brissette
Girl Scout Service Unit 154, comprising seven local girl scout troops, worked with community organizations throughout the month of December to collect food for food pantries in Berlin, Grafton, Petersburgh and Stephentown and at the Berlin Elementary School. Their efforts resulted in 500 pounds of donated food and several generous donations of cash. [Read more…] about Girl Scouts Collect 500 Pounds Of Food For Local Food Pantries
On Saturday, January 31, from 11 am to 12:30 pm, the Grafton Community Library and Grafton Historical Society will team up to offer a free workshop taught by local expert Anne Kiely that will address the care and conservation of scrapbooks and photo albums.
The workshop will be held in the Library’s program space. It will cover topics including identifying problems with the items and how to rectify them, proper handling, use of archival products to conserve photos and other ephemera, storage and use of fasteners. This is a beginners’ workshop. No prior knowledge of these procedures is necessary.
For more information and to sign up, contact the Grafton Community Library at 279-0580 or email director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org.
Thanks to a grant from Upper Hudson Library System, the Grafton Community Library will be offering eight free programs this spring designed to help local residents find and apply for jobs online, strengthen their resumes and their interview techniques and learn important computer skills that are essential for job seekers today. The Grafton Library staff will also be trained to assist patrons one on one with their online job searches, as well as with creating resumes using free resume software available at the Library.
The Library will also be training Workforce Development Volunteers to assist patrons, by appointment, with the basics of online job searches and applications, as well as basic computer skills, including creating an email address and word processing. Volunteers will need to attend a 1½ hour training session and then be available as the need arises to assist patrons. For more information on all aspects of this program contact Library Director Christian Collins at 279-0580 or director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org.
To the Editor:
I do not agree with the rationale of some local citizens who, in defense of an employee of HFCS, chose to label and denigrate a couple of primary school children on social media.
The mob mentality that felt it prudent to do so was unfortunate, as was my private response to one such person that is now well known about town.
I am grateful for the opportunity to confront such behavior and will likely do so again if necessary. Also, I don’t believe I have surrendered my right to free speech, nor been committed to the righteous school of political correctness since becoming a Town Councilperson. I will remain the same person born here 50 years ago, regardless of petitions.
Why is our school and community always fair game for attack with so few willing to defend them? Both belong to us. Our school specifically is currently as good, or better, than it has ever been!
I understand that we have a lot of poverty in our community. I don’t believe that has to translate into a lot of ignorance.
Some people like to run our town down. We certainly have challenges.
Some days we can all relate to despair, but this is not our future unless we agree to it. Unless we don’t fight for it. So many are right now working, fighting and rejoicing in our future. These people need to be supported.
When you look in the mirror tomorrow morning, please consider, which type of these people are you? Which of these do you want your children to be?
If you are disenfranchised, get involved, ask for help, seek a friend. There is no better place to have a friend, receive help or have an opportunity to build, than here and now!
That 200 people signed a petition to oust me [from the Hoosick Board] because I swore is understandable. That none of them reached out to me to hear my side of it is pathetic. Since when have my countrymen surrendered to apathy?
Call me. Give me both barrels. Don’t be afraid of debate, dialogue, I will respect you. Apathy is not an option. Call me at 518-605-4604, night or day.
Dave Sutton
Hoosick Town Councilperson
To the Editor:
I have correspondence and documents to show proof of just about everything I will be addressing in this letter to the Editor. I will be more than happy to share it with anyone.
The [Grafton] Town Supervisor has stated that he has removed the Town Clerk personnel from the voucher process because there are too many late bills. First I will state that we are not incurring late charges. The bill paying process of a municipality is very lengthy and bills/checks do cross in the mail many times due to the process not any one person.
When I took over the bill paying some time in July an email was sent to the Town’s attorney on 8/4/14 describing how as of July 4 different independent companies had bills dating back to 3/14 which I was working on getting paid. One vendor no longer allowed the Town to charge. The Supervisor’s response was “I didn’t get the bill.” This vendor faxed their bill to us each week. One of our County Waste accounts is billed through their website. I had to email the Town Supervisor 4 times asking him to either open up and print out the bill or give me the information so I could. Finally I gave up and called County Waste, explained the situation and reset the contact information so I was able to access the bill myself. Is this cooperation?
He [the Supervisor] stated that he receives no cooperation from the Deputy Town Clerk. I have asked him a question on a certain voucher and his response was “You are handling the bills, do whatever you want.” Is that cooperation from him? That is just one example. He states I posted the Standard Work Day resolution for 120 days. Actually he tried to get me to sign an affidavit stating the resolution had already been posted. No one had recollection of when so I chose to post the resolution. I dated it when I posted it (9-29). I removed it when I returned from vacation in early November which means it was not posted for 120 days as the Supervisor stated.
I was accused of changing vouchers after they were signed by the Board. One voucher was signed by the Supervisor and Councilwoman Messenger. The other Board members questioned one of the charges on the bill. The vendor agreed to drop that charge. Now the Supervisor and Councilwoman Messenger refuse to sign the lower bill. They prefer to spend more of our tax dollars just because it was I who got the bill lowered.
Yes, when Joe Allain told me he now had to count the recycle cash before it could be given to the Clerk’s office, I did use profanity in making the comment “This is bull s—-.” Then I picked up the money on the table that he had just taken out of an envelope. Is that “attacking Mr. Allain?” Joe Allain made a complaint that I used profanity; odd that a highway employee said exactly the same thing in the conference room in Joe’s presence a few days earlier. Joe made no complaint about that. That leads me to believe that it is alright for a man to use profanity at the Town Hall but not a woman! I never “attacked” Joe Allain nor did I rip money from his hand. Another lie told by our Town Supervisor. I will no longer take the recycle cash from the Supervisor’s office because it has gone through too many hands before I would see it. That is not a “proper procedure” as he put it.
There is a limited amount of petty cash in the Town Clerk’s office. I can’t always reimburse every receipt he gives me. He turned in 2 receipts, and I wanted to pay out the one but was told “if you aren’t going to fill both then you can’t do any”.
He complained that I haven’t gone for the DEC training. I do not get paid for this job. I choose to spend as much time with my family as I can. Before he complains a deputy clerk isn’t spending enough time or going for training maybe he should look at the pay scale. I consider myself as doing as much as I can when I can.
As far as threatening the Supervisor, he is right on that count. I threatened to seek legal action against him if he didn’t stop harassing me.
The Supervisor is very good at conning people into believing he is a victim in all these situations, that he hasn’t had a functioning Town Clerk since he started. The Town Clerk has many job functions and has to almost daily keep the Town Supervisor at bay because he is constantly trying to undermine everything coming from the Clerk’s office. He fails to admit he has bullied our Town Clerk to the point of tears, stood in the Clerk’s office yelling, “I don’t care about the law” and on occasion has said, “I have Barbara right where I want her, I knew exactly what I was doing when I made her Deputy Supervisor.”
I could go on and on with more underhanded deeds and comments, but I stand with the law which is why I have won every battle I have had with the Supervisor. Again he fails to talk about that!
The Eastwick Press keeps interviewing the Supervisor after each meeting and puts in print all these negative things, but no one from the Press has ever asked for the other side of the story.
Cathy Goyer
Deputy Town Clerk
Berkshire musician Tor Krautter will perform at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, January 30, at 6:30 pm. With the use of a looping unit, Rev Tor creates tasty yet infectious grooves and performs a large repertoire of well crafted original tunes and classic rock/folk covers. The performance will be inside the library. This event is free and open to the public, although donations for the performer are appreciated.
Krautter (aka Rev Tor) is best known as front man for the popular Rev Tor Band. Since the early 90s he has been a powerful presence on the east coast club and festival circuit, performing in venues from Maine to Florida. Rev Tor has worked with members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Allman Brothers and New Riders Of The Purple Sage and has performed at concerts with The Jerry Garcia Band, Los Lobos and Leon Russell. He has toured regularly with Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten.
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.
Paws To Read
And don’t forget Paws-to-Read on January 24 at 9 am. Therapy dogs come to the Library and children read to their furry friends. And, of course, the dogs listen! Please call to register at 518-794-8844.
The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, January 31, in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and close at 6 pm. Play begins at 6:15 sharp. No advance registration is required.
A donation of $35 per player will be accepted and give the player 7,500 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,500 extra in chip value. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of nine places.
A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.
For further information, please call John Linton at 518-733-0469.
Come out with family and friends and enjoy the great outdoors with competition. The Petersburgh Rod & Gun Club will host its Fourth Annual Ice Fishing Derby on February 7 from 6 am to 3 pm. There will be cash prizes for perch, walleye and pickerel and many other prizes.
The entry fee is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 12 and under. Participants can pre-register at one of the following local sponsors – Papa’s Pizza, Rt. 2 Petersburgh (658-2700), Hewitts’s Market, Elm Street, Berlin (658-2801) or Vonadeau Wine and Spirits, Main Street, Berlin (658-2450) or register at the dam at 5 am on the morning of the event. Parking is available at the Dyken Pond Environmental Center.
For more information please contact Jason at 518-658-2446. Participants are required to follow all New York State Fishing Laws.
Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 30th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 24. Despite last weekend’s thaw, Grafton Lakes State Park has ample snow and ice for their annual celebration of winter. The Winter Fest will feature outdoor events along with indoor exhibits, food vendors and family-friendly and recreational activities. The event is free of charge and main events run from 10 am to 4 pm.
New offerings this year include free snowmobile rides, a kid-friendly ice skating rink along with a designated ice hockey oval and several new exhibitors. Demonstrations of geocaching and loom weaving, local conservation efforts from birders and animal tracking volunteers and a rare chance to view the sun with a solar telescope are among the new exhibits at the Festival. For the kids, Winter Fest offers its popular snow bowling hill, snowshoe races and a snowball toss, fun kids crafts, as well as rides with the charming Northland Newfoundlands. Adults can join in a guided snowshoe or cross country ski outing or borrow snowshoes for a free demo around the park. Fans of four-legged creatures will enjoy the horse drawn carriage rides from Indian Creek Farms, a guided morning walk for dogs, as well as the tail wagging canines from Rensselaer County Search & Rescue and Out of the Pits Pitbull Rescue.
The 8th Annual Polar Plunge benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation charges into Long Pond at 1 pm. This year the Plunge includes a playful prize for the silliest costume offered by the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park so plan your best beach attire! To pre-register for the Plunge, please call Margaret Philips for more information at 479-3739 or call the Park office.
Visitors who need to warm up can savor some hot food from Brunswick Barbecue and the local Our Lady of the Snow Parish while enjoying indoor exhibits. Live birds of prey, kids’ nature crafts and a variety of regional community and conservation organizations will entertain patrons.
The annual ice fishing contest draws several hundred anglers and will run from 5:30 am to 3 pm on all the ponds in the Park except for White Lily. Participants can register starting at 5:30 am until 11 am the morning of the event at the Park’s pole barn, accessible via the Park’s main entrance. A $10 entry fee for adults 16 and older is required to participate in the fishing tournament. All first place adult winners will receive a $300 cash prize this year, awarded for the longest length catch of trout, walleye/chain pickerel and yellow perch. Children may enter at no charge and winning entries will receive gift certificates and other prizes. Last year the Park gave out over $1,500 in cash and prizes, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors. Please remember that all participants 16 and older must have a New York State fishing license to fish in the Park at any time.
Please use the Park’s main entrance on Grafton Lakes State Park Way for this year’s event and pick up event information at the ticket booth as you enter. There is no entrance fee for the Winter Festival. For more information about this event, please call the Park at 518-279-1155. A full schedule of events is available at www.nysparks.com/parks and on www.facebook.com/GraftonLakesStatePark.
The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center, the Friends of Dyken Pond, Tamakoce Wilderness Programs and the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance have teamed together to begin wildlife tracking surveys of mammals. There is an interest in documenting distribution and abundance of fisher, bobcat, coyote, grey fox, otter, bear and moose among other mammals. In order to do this, there is a need to train volunteers who have the knowledge and skills to help with monitoring surveys.
The goals of the wildlife survey are to:
• record the presence and abundance of these species: black bear, fisher, gray fox, coyote, bobcat, moose and otter;
• identify patterns of travel;
• identify core feeding, denning/resting, mating and birthing areas, and
• develop a sense of the relative abundance and distribution of wildlife populations and to provide the public with an opportunity to be involved in monitoring our forest mammals.
In 2015, plans are underway to monitor a 40 acre parcel at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. As we gain more volunteers, more area can be monitored. Our ultimate goal is to monitor the entire Rensselaer Plateau.
To participate, you will be expected to attend tracking training provided by Tamakoce Wilderness Programs and agree to complete three surveys in one season following guidelines and submit your findings. There is a fee of $250 for this training. The training will give you skills that will last you a lifetime.
Training Schedule
January 31 – Field Day, 10 am to 3 pm
February 11 – Evening slideshow/data collection, 6 to 9 pm
February 28 – Field Day, 10 am to 3 pm
March 8 – Field Day, 10 am to 3 pm
March 21 – Field Evaluation, 10 am to 3 pm
May 9 – Field Day, 10 am to 3 pm
Become a Tracker and Citizen Scientist! For more information and to pre-register, contact Dan Yacobellis at info@tamakocewildernessprograms.com.
