The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Grafton Historical Society April Meeting

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The Grafton Historical Society will meet at 7 pm in the Grafton Town Hall on April 16.

Researching Local History Online

Bob Mayo will give a presentation on how digitized New York State newspapers available on the internet can be used to research local and family history.  He will discuss some of what he learned about Taconic Lake history and his own family history in the process.

Bob lives year round on Taconic Lake in the Town of Grafton, where he is President of the Taconic Lake Association.  He worked for over 20 years at IBM and is currently the Director of the Libraries at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  Bob blogs on local nature and other subjects at http://rensselaerplateaulife.blogspot.com/ and maintains a weather station that provides a feed to the internet and local TV station WNYT (Channel 13).

The program is free, and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

HAYC3 Twirlettes Celebrate The Wizard Of Oz’s 75th Anniversary

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The Twirlettes invite family, friends, relatives and community members to join them for a performance celebrating the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. Under the direction of Ms. Davia Plusch, the girls mix the original beloved characters and story of the movie with contemporary pop, country and rock songs and coordinated baton twirling routines to re-tell it in what can be described as a typically creative Twirlettes interpretation.

[Read more…] about HAYC3 Twirlettes Celebrate The Wizard Of Oz’s 75th Anniversary

St. Mary’s Academy Builds The Eagles Nest Summer 2014

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St. Mary’s Academy is excited to announce the formation of “The Eagles’ Nest” Summer Program. Our summer program will offer weekly themed programs in which students will be challenged to continue to enrich their academic knowledge through hands on activities, crafts, and play. The programs will group children by age and encourage them to continue growing in their ability to work with one another, assuming responsibilities, and to follow the Catholic faith.

PreK-2nd Grade (Beagles-“Baby Eagles”) – Continue to provide enrichment in letter and number recognition, hand writing, sight words, fluency in reading, etc. Children will participate in circle time, games, crafts, exercises, nap/rest (PreK), story time, and hands on activities.

3rd-5th Grade (Eagles) — Continue to provide enrichment in math (multiplication, division focus), reading fluency,hand writing, science and social studies topics through hands on activities, games, crafts, exercise, and story time.

The program will be offered from 7:30 to 4:30 daily beginning June 23 and ending August 22. Registration will be offered on a weekly, daily and hourly scale. Afternoon snacks will be provided and campers should bring their own lunch.  The cost for five full days a week is be $120.

Please contact Principal, Maureen Daurio at 518-686-4314 or mjdauriosma@gmail.com for more information.

Some April Events At The New Lebanon Library

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Doug Schmolz

Berkshire musician Doug Schmolze will be performing at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, April 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public, although donations for the performer are appreciated.

Schmolze’s program will include traditional folk songs and sing-along favorites as well as songs from the American songbook from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s from composers such as Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein. He will also perform solo guitar pieces from Latin American and Spanish composers including Flamenco.

Doug Schmolze studied guitar and composition at the Berklee School of Music, classical guitar with Alexander Bellow and voice with Virginia Berry, Michael Diesen-Barrow, Diane Ingraham Barnes and Frank Kelley. He has sung with the Pro Art Choral, the Lorien Ensemble, the Berkshire Bach Singers, Berkshire Choral Festival, Berkshire Opera, and the Cantilena Chamber Choir.

Father And Son Author Team 

Local authors Michael and Diego Mongue will appear at the Library on Friday, April 18, at 3:30 pm, to talk about their quarterly comic book series, “Awesome Robot Science Fiction Action Comix.” The talk will be followed by Q&A and discussion, after which Michael and Diego will sign copies of the latest issue.

Awesome Robot started as letters left in Diego’s school lunches. Messages of encouragement like, “Have a great day at school” or “Eat your lunch and work hard” soon morphed into stranger missives, such as “Don’t eat cake from the cafeteria garbage pail.” These notes were accompanied by illustrations that eventually became the Awesome Robot series, the story of  Dennis the Robot and his misadventures.

Mongue is an artist residing in Williamstown, MA. His work has been shown at the Left Bank Gallery in Bennington, the Arts and  Crafts Guild in Dalton, the Flatiron Gallery in North Adams, the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York City, and the Deborah Davis Fine Art in Hudson, the Firehouse Cafe in Adams. He is the author of M.Mongue: Acrylic Paintings from a Berkshire Artist, as well as the Awesome Robot series which he writes with his son, Diego, who attends the fifth grade.

All are welcome at this free event, which is most appropriate for school aged children although interested patrons of all ages are welcome.

An Evening Of Jazz And Swing With The Limb Shakers 

Berkshire band The Limb Shakers will be performing at the Library on Friday, April 18, at 6:30 pm.  They will perform a program of old time jazz and swing music at this event, which is free and open to the public although donations for the performers are appreciated.

The Limb Shakers have played swing dances at Club Helsinki and given concerts throughout Western MA and New York.

The band features Allen Livermore on saxophone and clarinet, bassist Seth Travins, and Alfred Brewer on trombone. Allen Livermore has performed at clubs, restaurants, resorts, colleges and arts spaces throughout New England and New York. “Sauerkraut Seth” Travins has toured extensively as bassist for Hudson Valley band The Wiyos. Berkshire-based Alfred Brewer performs on alto, tenor and bass trombones and euphonium. He currently studies with Norman Bolter at New England Conservatory.

Grains on the Brain 

Today tremendous attention is being paid to the impact of wheat on the human body. Join Kelly Crine, licensed occupational therapist, for a spirited discussion on this subject on Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 pm at the Library. This program is free and open to the public.

Crine, who has been studying nutrition for the past decade, will share what she has learned about how the consumption of grains can impact health. She will discuss and demonstrate methods for traditional preparation of grains to improve their digestibility

The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.

St. Mary’s Academy Fish Fry Fridays Are Back

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St. Mary’s Academy is once again holding its famous Fish Fry Fridays. Every Friday through Lent you can buy a full fish fry dinner with a bun, French fries, homemade coleslaw and a homemade dessert for just $9. If you would prefer, we also have a macaroni and cheese dinner with the same delicious sides for $5.

Dinner is served at the Immaculate Conception Church Hall in Hoosick Falls every Friday from 5 to 7 pm, and this year, we have added a lunch time option beginning at noon. All proceeds go to benefit St. Mary’s Academy. Thank you in advance – your continued support is greatly appreciated.

Lions Penny Hunt

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The Town of Hoosick Lions Club will hold its annual Penny Hunt in Wood Park on Saturday, April 12, at 1 pm. The Club will also have chocolate bunnies for sale for $5.

Road Race

Just a reminder that the Lions Club 5k Road Race will be held on Saturday, May 17. It’s never too early to sign up!

Blood Drive at Southern Vermont College

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Southern Vermont College will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday, April 9, from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm in the Mountaineer Athletic Center gymnasium. Donors are required to be at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds. The College invites and encourages community members to participate in the Blood Drive.

For more information or to sign up to donate blood, contact SVC’s Civic Engagement Coordinator Corie Steinke at 802-447-4667 or csteinke@svc.edu. Individuals may also contact the American Red Cross directly at 800-RED-CROSS or www.redcrossblood.org.

Letter To The Editor – What Happened To Thank You?

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To the Editor:

I would like to publicly thank Tom Berry for his presentation and educational handouts provided to Ray Harrison, Highway Superintendent, and Town Board members at the March 17 Petersburgh Town Board meeting.

Mr. Berry presented the Town with informational handouts on gravel specs, road building materials and various workshops offered at minimal or no cost to the Town.

Supervisor Krahforst was clearly not happy with Mr. Berry’s presentation. Krahforst was defensive and rudely interrupted Berry twice during his presentation. At the closing of Berry’s presentation Krahforst’s’ only response was “we can access that information from the internet!”

As a Town leader, Supervisor Krahforst should at the very least show some respect. Mr. Berry obviously spent hours on researching data. Krahforst and Harrison should be appreciative and thankful that a Town resident has taken the initiative to provide valuable information.

The old adage is “Knowledge is Power.” No one is beyond room for improvement.

Thank you Tom Berry for your efforts and time spent.

Respectfully submitted,

Priscilla Maxon

William Jones Road,

Petersburgh

Letter To The Editor – Preventing Substance Abuse

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To the Editor:

As Principal of the Junior/Senior High School in New Lebanon I am thrilled to know that there is a local community initiative aimed at preventing substance abuse in our township. I learned of the group after speaking with Matt Larabee at our annual soccer tournament this fall. Immediately, we sought to connect TRACS with our existing Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) coordinator, Lenny Brown. Additionally, I contacted Biffy Cahill in January with the goal of establishing a relationship between the school and TRACS.

The school’s ongoing efforts toward our common mission of preventing substance abuse include the posting of TRACS monthly meetings on Mr. Brown’s school e-board. I was pleased to learn that one of our students took the initiative to attend last month’s meeting as a result of this effort. New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School addresses the threats posed by substance abuse in many areas, which include:

• having our health classes target the dangers associated with substance use;

• participation in Red Ribbon week (alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention awareness);

• participating in Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness week;

• providing character education programming that supports leading a healthy life;

• re-establishing and maintaining an active SADD program (going on 3 years);

• seven years of inviting the Columbia County Sheriff’s K-9 unit into our building (multiple times per year), and

• utilizing the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for presentations, including drug identification for faculty and staff.

I am proud of our young adults and believe in their ability to make sound choices. We will continue our programming initiatives and will work in partnership with the New Lebanon community to address any issues should they arise.

Matthew R. Klafehn, NLCS Principal

Letter To The Editor – Donating Heirlooms

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To The Editor:

I just realized that it’s been twenty years since I first began donating family heirlooms and historical items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society. Since the old vacant garage on Main Street in Berlin was burned to the ground by arsonists, how safe is the old, vacant “cracker box” building where some of my donations are stored. Also, someone entered one of the homes where my donations are and walked out with one of the books I wrote for children, which was illustrated by Randi Bentley. 1 had to purchase another one to replace it.

I thought when I donated items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society: family heirlooms, two theatrical posters of my grandparents (cost $500 to restore), an original leather bound book by Emma Willard, books written by my great grandparents, and cannot be replaced, that these items would be appreciated and kept safe. At the time, a resident of Berlin advised me to donate to the Rensselaer County Historical Society instead, because everything was farmed out in individual homes and some things were reported stolen. Never once did I imagine that it would take twenty years to generate interest enough to provide a building for the society where my family treasures would be safe, and then – wait how long – for these items to be moved inside that building.

I planned to attend a lecture on March 11 in Waterford covering the Irish Revolutionaries. One of these groups was the Clan-na-Gael, of which my paternal great-grandfather was President and is written about in a book I donated to the Taconic Valley Historical Society called My Twenty-five Years In the Secret Service by Henri LeCaron.

It was because these treasures meant so much to me, and because I was proud of my family history, that I donated them to an organization I believed would provide safe keeping for the years to come; a place where my future generations could come to learn about their ancestors’ lives, careers and fame. My parents were life-long residents of Berlin, and I was born in a Berlin landmark. I’ve spent my life trying to restore and preserve – from my apartment buildings, homes (including Moseley’s), to heirlooms and genealogy.

I am hurt that the people of Berlin have this “day come – day go” attitude. I’d hoped to receive an announcement of an opening of the new building where I’d see my Victorian quilt and my family books, etc., displayed. I’ve had two strokes and have health problems and am afraid I’ll never see my cherished donations in a permanent, safe place, visible to all. I almost cry when I think about the lack of concern. I am filled with regret and disappointment. Can you tell me anything to restore my hope?

Sincerely,

Beverly Plank Lettko

Main Street, Mechanicville