Local News
Stanton Burdick
Grafton – Stanton Burdick, 86, died peacefully Wednesday, October 8, 2014, at his home on the hill in Grafton with his family at his side. Born in Grafton, NY, on May 3, 1928, he was the son of the late Edward and Edna Vars Burdick.
Caroline C. Ketchum
New Lebanon – Caroline Clovis Ketchum, 87, passed away peacefully on October 10, 2014, at the Pine Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Philmont, NY. She was the loving wife of the late Melvin “Bud” Ketchum, who died on July 8, 2012. They were married on July 15, 1945.
Born in Stephentown, NY, Caroline was the daughter of the late Caspar and Hazel (Hassen) Rathbun. She was raised and educated in Stephentown and New Lebanon, NY, where she resided for much of her life.
Caroline served as a domestic housekeeper for 40 years to several families in Lebanon, NY, and Canaan, NY. She loved her family and her home and enjoyed gardening, yard work, sewing and her pets.
She was the much loved mother of Nancy and husband William Petersoli and the late David Melvin Ketchum and the dear aunt of Lori Stroehlin.
A private graveside service was held in the Hancock Cemetery, Hancock, MA, on Monday, October 13, at 4 pm.
Arrangements were by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, Stephentown.
John W. Kasavicha
North Hoosick – John W. Kasavicha, 72, passed away on Friday, October 10, 2014. He had resided on Cobble Hill Road in North Hoosick, NY, with his wife Erma (Kelly) Kasavicha.
Born on November 17, 1942, John was the son of the late Francis and Wilma (Ross) Kasavicha. He graduated from the Hoosick Falls High School. John served in the United States Navy from 1984 until retiring in1991. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, baseball and teaching his grandson to drive a tractor.
Survivors, other than his wife Erma, include his son, John W. Kasavicha of Brownsville, TX, his daughter, Kristine Symonds of Hoosick Falls, NY, his brother, Frank Kasavicha of Poestenkill, NY, and his grandson, Justin William Symonds.
The funeral service was Thursday, October 16, at 11 am from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Burial will be at the Gerald B.H. Solomon/Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, NY. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Thursday from 10 am until the start of the service.
Colors Peak
Walking In Remembrance And In Hope
by Bea Peterson
People began to gather in front of St. Mark’s Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls about 5:30 Sunday evening. Some lit luminaries. Others carried candles. Many carried photos of loved ones lost to suicide. They gathered as a reminder that there is help out there for those contemplating the taking of his or her own life.
Anti Gas Pipeline Advocates Schedule A Public Meeting
by Thaddeus Flint
Members of the group Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline (SNYFGP), which is advocating against a new high pressure gas pipeline planned to run through parts of Columbia County, are done waiting for pipeline officials to schedule a public meeting on the subject in New Lebanon and have gone ahead and scheduled their own.
“We are taking the initiative,” said SNYFGP member Bruce Shenker Tuesday. The meeting will take place at the New Lebanon Town Hall on October 29 at 6:30 pm.
[Read more…] about Anti Gas Pipeline Advocates Schedule A Public Meeting
Hoosick ZBA Approves Two Projects
by Alex Brooks
On Monday, October 6, the Hoosick Zoning Board met to consider two proposed projects, and approved them both.
The first to present was Duane Greenawalt, the owner of Hathaway’s Drive-in movie theatre, who is seeking permission to erect a second screen so that he can show two movies simultaneously.
The Life Of A Mill Worker
by Bea Peterson
On Sunday evening, October 4, residents of Wood Park and Woodbridge Heights had an opportunity to step back in time with Phyllis Chapman. Chapman, in period dress, has been portraying historic figures for 16 years, starting at the Bennington Museum. Sunday she appeared as Lucy Larcom, a nineteenth century textile mill worker, author, poet and teacher. According to Chapman Lucy was the second youngest of eight children whose widowed mother came to Lowell, MA, with her younger children to supervise a boarding house for mill workers. Lucy went to school at first but began working at the textile mill in 1837, at age 11, to help support the family.
The Trial Of Whiting Sweeting Of Stephentown – July 1791
by David Flint
Cries of “Appeal! Appeal!” and “Collusion of witnesses!” erupted from the audience following the re-enactment of the trial of Whiting Sweeting at the Stephentown Heritage Center last Monday evening.
Whiting Sweeting of Stephentown, son of a prominent local doctor, was convicted of murder in July of 1791 and was later hanged in Albany. [Read more…] about The Trial Of Whiting Sweeting Of Stephentown – July 1791