The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Grafton: Not Just Your Grandfather’s Library Anymore

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by Paul Bouchey

Given the advent of the internet and the proliferation of ever-changing digital devices, now virtually everyone has easy access to an enormous amount of information hitherto available primarily on the written page in the form of books. These developments have led many to predict the inevitable demise of the traditional library. Yet, as Mark Twain once observed, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” The same can be said of libraries.

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Two Art Shows Open And The Doornails To Perform

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HAYC3 announces the opening of two new art shows accompanied by a free performance of The Doornails at The HAYC3 Armory on Friday, December 12.

The 120gallery90 will host two art exhibitions concurrently from December 12 to January 2. Gallery90 will be home to Nature’s Changing Landscapes: A selection of Landscapes, Seascapes and Still Lifes by New York artist Dustin Liebenow. Born and raised in the beautiful Eastwick area of upstate New York, where all of his work is created, Liebenow references the scenery and light that surrounds him to create paintings that explore kitsch, the surreal and people’s perceptions of fine art as well as nature and light. Liebenow received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with a concentration in painting and a minor in art history at Pratt Institute in New York City.  His work is in private collections throughout the U.S. and Canada.

At the same time, the 120gallery will host the Barn Quilt Snowman Project by the HAYC3 Artist Guild.

Featuring 20 hand painted, four foot tall snowpeople, this community art effort brings together a classic symbol of winter and elements of the community Barn Quilt project. Five of the snow people will be available for purchase with funds used to cover the expense of the project. The remaining 15 will be displayed throughout the community beginning January 10. A map of their future locations will be unveiled on January 10 and will be available throughout the community after that time.

Everyone is invited to meet the artists and view both galleries at the Opening Reception on Friday, December 12, from 6 to 8 pm.

At 7 pm a highly regarded musical group in the Capital Region, The Doornails, will deliver a memorable collection of  “tongue-in-cheek” originals with obscure covers and a few familiar “warhorses.”  All of their songs come flavored with some twang, a little soul and a lotta chops.  The stellar musicianship of master flat picker Mike McMann and longtime harp blaster/songwriter Ted Hennessy shine when this trio rips through a set. All the while, “Geno” Lemme is on the stand up bass. The event is free and open to the public.

The HAYC3 Armory is located at 80 Church Street. For more information, call HAYC3 at 518-686-9050.

Congressmen Gibson, Maloney Urge Governor To Sign Lyme Bill

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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.

Hoosick Grange News

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The last Grange meeting we had in the Hall was the Rensselaer County Pomona Grange. Martha Babbitt was the delegate at large for the County, and she gave her report on the New York State Grange. Martha attended the 142nd N.Y.S. Grange annual meeting at Onondaga, NY. Martha worked on the Education Committee. She also reported at our meeting in Hoosick on November 12. She told us about the mountain of food given by Grangers. Grangers all over the state bring food for the food closets, and the food is given to the county where the State Grange is held. She attended the banquet on Friday night and reported it was delicious, and they also had a great program. The N.Y.S. Dairy Princess, Casey Porter, was there and spoke. The New York State Commissioner of Agriculture, Richard Ball, gave a great talk. Every day the delegates worked on resolutions sent to State grange from granges across the state. By Monday evening the different committees had acted on them all. Tuesday morning Mrs. Alice Grimsley, from Rensselaer County, was re-elected on the Executive Committee and installed. Business was concluded at 11 am.

Martha ended her program with some readings and jokes. We thanked Martha for a great report.

Master David Cornell had conducted the business meeting before the Lecturer’s report.

Our next meeting is a big night. It’s our Christmas Program with The Mennonite Singers. Many are from the Hoosick area and the Creative Custom Wood- craft Store. They make custom cabinets and furniture. Everyone is invited to come and hear them. Save the date, Wednesday, December 10, at 7:30 pm.

Grangers – bring goodies.

Lebanon Valley Heritage Center Celebrates First Anniversary

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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.

Sixth Annual Hall-A-Palooza Membership Drive

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The Polish Hall, 12 Mechanic Street in Hoosick Falls, will host its Sixth Annual Hall-A-Palooza Membership Drive Weekend on Friday, December 12, through Sunday, December 14.

On Friday the Polish Hall will offer a Fish Fry Sandwich with chips and a pickle for $5 and cheese pizza for $11 or pepperoni pizza for $12 (Shag-A-Val’s) served from 5:30 to 8 pm.

Saturday will feature a variety of snacks beginning at 6 pm with free jukebox from 6 to 8 pm.

On Sunday a Chinese auction will be held; doors open at 12 noon. Items being auctioned will include a basket of cheer and a variety of other gift baskets, lottery tickets, gift certificates, Polish Hall membership and gift certificate, greens fees for four at the Hoosick Falls Country Club plus cart and much more. There will be munchies and raffles all weekend long and drink specials on Friday from 4:30 to 6 pm.

Nothing says “Happy  Hall-I-days” like a  gift membership, gift certificate or drink tokens.  Gift certificates make great stocking stuffers.

Add Whatever You Want Is The Official Cookie Of East Nassau

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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.