The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Holiday Gathering At The Grafton Library

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On Saturday, December 6, at 11 am, local children’s book author William Middleton will be reading from his books as part of Grafton Community Library’s Holiday Gathering. Parents are invited to bring their children to celebrate the holidays with friends, enjoy cookies and refreshments, make an ornament for the Christmas tree and hear Middleton read from some of his books, like Gordon the Goldfish, the Autumn Ball, Chipmunk Jamboree and more.

The Holiday Gathering will start at 10:30 am and go until 1 pm. For more information visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

Caroling For Cans Drop-Off Locations

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Girl Scouts are sponsoring Caroling for Cans and special collections to help feed families this winter. Local Girl Scout Service Unit 154 is organizing a special holiday food drive to help food pantries and Berlin Elementary School meet a growing need for food supplies.

More families than ever are turning to local food pantries in Berlin, Grafton and Stephentown for help.  The need for supplemental food has become so great that Berlin Elementary School (BES) is supplying food directly to families for weekends and during holiday periods. These organizations are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked.

The community is invited to Caroling for Cans, a Christmas carol sing along on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30 to 6 pm at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Berlin. You can help by attending this important holiday event and bringing a non-perishable donation for the food pantries/school.

Many local organizations are asking their members bring a food donation to their next meeting and we have learned that several groups have already taken up collections of food or money to donate; thank you to every person and organization that is extending a helping hand.

The following locations will host food drop-off boxes throughout the month of December: Berlin Elementary School, Gardner’s Coffee Shoppe, Grafton Library,   Grafton Town Hall, Petersburgh Post Office, Petersburgh Town Hall, Stephentown Library, Stephentown Town Hall, Stephentown Trading Post with more locations to come.

Please consider making a food donation at one of these many collection sites. If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact Girl Scouts at 279-3772 or 733-6488.

The Everett Wagar Senior Center Festival Of Trees

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To participate in the Tree Festival at the Everett Wagar Senior Center, just decorate a 2 to 5 foot Christmas Tree for the Festival of Trees in Miniature.  Trees will be displayed from Sunday, December 7, through Sunday, December 21. Trees may be traditional or completely original, no taller than five feet and should be in place by December 7.

Local businesses, organizations and individual community members are invited to participate. Prizes will be  awarded.  Categories for prizes will be – Business or Organization, Adult Group, Adult  Individual, Child Group, Child Individual, Most Original and Open House Best Traditional.

Open House 

An open house  will be held on Saturday, December 13, from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be entertainment and a visit from Santa. Refreshments will be served.  Judging will take place before the open house   If you are interested in displaying a tree, please call Donna Walker at 279-3275 or the Senior Center at 279-3413.

Veterans Of Stephentown Texas Hold’em

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The Veterans of Stephentown  will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, December 6, 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 6,000 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,000 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 Tom MacVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Take The Plunge At GLSP

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Registrations are now being accepted for participants in the Polar Plunge at Grafton Lakes State Park. The Winter Fest is in its 30th year with events occurring all day on January 24. The plunge happens promptly at 1 pm with check-in beginning at noon by Long Pond beach. This event is open to the first 50 people who pre-register. The fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt and a hot drink. Heated changing areas are available nearby but bring warm clothes for before and immediately after.

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Richard N. Hosterman

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Buskirk – Richard N. Hosterman , 77, of Buskirk, NY, went home to be with the Lord on December 1, 2014, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, VT.

Born in Akron, OH, he was the son of the late Harry and Daphna Moran Hosterman. He was raised and educated in Akron and Randolph, OH, graduating from the Randolph High School as the Salutatorian and earning a Navy ROTC scholarship to Cornell University, from which he earned his BEE and became a NYS Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer. As such, Rich held numerous patents in engineering and eventually retired from Trans Tech Systems in Schenectady, NY, in 2010.

Rich had been a member and Past Commander of the Lake George Power Squadron, where he had taught certified courses in boating and safety. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Island Hill Cemetery Association in Buskirk.

He was a member of the West Hoosick Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher and sang in the choir. He also was an active member of the Rensselaer Camp of The Gideons International, where he was active in Scripture distribution, and he was a Board member of the Hoosick Area Church Association.

He is survived by his wife, the former Dianne Pickering, two sons, Douglas and wife Kandy Hosterman of Clifton Park, NY, and David and wife Margaret Hosterman of California, a daughter, Diane Hosterman of Schenectady, a step-son, James P. Curran of Buffalo, NY, two brothers, William and wife Carol Hosterman of Columbus, OH, and James and wife Deborah Hosterman of Hartville, OH, a sister, Tana Fligor of Wadsworth, OH, two grandchildren, Danielle Hosterman of Clifton Park and Kristen and husband Edward Storms of Brewster, NY, three step-grandchildren, Nolan Curran of Norristown, PA, and Katie and Sullivan Curran of Saratoga, NY, and his former wife, and the mother of their children, Constance Hosterman of Schenectady. He is pre-deceased by a son, Daniel “DJ” Hosterman.

Special appreciation is extended to his dear care-givers, Susan Lillis, Tammy Hudson and Chuck Springer.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, December 5, at 12 noon from the West Hoosick Baptist Church, 1349 Buskirk – West Hoosick Road, Buskirk, with the Rev. Don Childs, Pastor, officiating.

Friends are invited to call for two hours prior to the service, beginning at 10 am. Interment will be in Island Hill Cemetery, Buskirk.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be made to HACA, the Hoosick Area Church Association, (Emergency Fund), P.O. Box 1, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090.

The arrangements are under the direction of the Morris – Stebbins – Miner & Sanvidge Funeral Home, 312 Hoosick Street, Troy, NY.

Charles M. Brownell

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Hoosick – Charles M. (Chuck) Brownell, 84, passed away on Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, NY. He was born in West Hoosick, NY, the son of Ethel and Raymond Brownell. From his first marriage to Ruth Tilley, he had two daughters, Lisa Coluccio and Lorie Hassenpflug, both of Hoosick, and a son, Wayne of Florida.

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James Arthur Cutler

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Hoosick Falls – James Arthur Cutler, 83, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2014, with his family at his side. James was the loving and devoted husband of Evylene (Beagle) Cutler. They resided on Rogers Avenue in Hoosick Falls, NY.

Born on November 25, 1931, in Hoosick Falls, Jim was the son of the late Arthur and Bessie (Carr) Cutler. Jim was very dedicated to his family and passionate about his community, his church and his country. His compassion is evidenced by his countless hours of volunteer service to the Hoosick Falls Fire Department, the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, American Legion Post 40, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the First United Presbyterian Church as a sexton, the Village of Hoosick Falls as a trustee and his work as a Boy Scout Leader and at the local food closet. He was a member of the United States Army serving in the Korean War. Jim and his wife Evylene were constant companions and were often seen together serving a charity or simply walking hand in hand throughout the Village.

Survivors, other than his wife Evylene, include his four daughters, Debbie Lynch and husband Bob of Malta, NY, Linda Reveal and husband Jamie of Hoosick Falls, Carol Gorman and husband Bob of Hoosick Falls and Connie Cutler of Colonie, NY, and one son, James A. Cutler Jr. and wife Liz of Hoosick Falls. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Jim is pre-deceased by a brother, Harold Cutler.

A funeral service was held on Monday, December 1, at 11 am from the First Baptist Church in Hoosick Falls. The burial followed, with Military Honors, at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Hoosick Falls. Relatives and friends called at the Church on Monday from 10 am until the time of the service. The arrangements are under the direction of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Legion or the Karen and Molly McGovern fund through the funeral home.