The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

The Stephentown Historical Society Presents The American Chestnut

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Kenneth James will give a talk about efforts to bring back the American chestnut tree at the Stephentown Historical Society meeting on Monday, March 3, at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road (County Route 26) in Stephentown. The program is free and open to the public. The building is handicapped accessible. For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.

When Europeans began to settle the American colonies, they found a tree that possessed very useful properties growing throughout the forests. The American chestnut tree had high tannin levels that made its wood rot resistant and valuable for homes, outbuildings, fence posts and poles, and, eventually, railroad crossties. In the forest it grew straight and tall, making excellent lumber and beams. Its nuts were an abundant and nourishing food for both wild creatures and a farmer’s pigs and family. However, in the early 20th century Asian chestnut trees were imported, and they carried a blight to which the American species had no resistance. By 1940 the American chestnut was destroyed as a commercial species and no cure has yet been found.

Ken James is one of many searching for a disease resistant strain of American chestnut. He moved to southwest Stephentown in the 1970s and planted 200 small trees thirty years ago. He has been growing them and grafting the most promising scions onto root suckers, looking for the strongest and healthiest results. His largest tree is now 60 feet tall. He will tell about his quest for a disease resistant variety as well as some history of this tree.

Hoosick Grange News

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The weather was good but cold on February 1-2, and Hoosick Grange had its first meeting of the year. Master David Cornell conducted the business part of the meeting. The Lecturer presented her program. She had several Grangers read about famous African-Americans like Frederick Douglass, Shirley Chisholm, Thurgood Marshall, Wilma Rudolph and Garrett A. Morgan, who invented the three-way automatic traffic light. Do you know if the green is on the top or the bottom of the light? The Lecturer read about Martin L. King Jr., born January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia. He had simple beliefs – that all people should be kind to one another and no one should be denied the right to fair treatment. After Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person, she was arrested. Dr. King organized a bus boycott, that no black people would ride the buses. After many problems the rule about black and whites sitting together on buses was changed. Dr. King taught the principle of peaceful resistance instead of arguing. The Lecturer read about “The Buffalo Soldiers.” These soldiers were African-Americans who distinguished themselves in battles. They marched with George Washington and fought with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans and also the Civil War. Over 33,000 gave their lives during the Civil War.

The Lecturer talked about Abraham Lincoln. Born on February 12, 1809. He loved to read. He had about one year of formal schooling and didn’t go to law school. He didn’t have military experience but did serve as a volunteer in “The Black Hawk War.” He passed the Illinois Bar. It required only evidence of moral character, though Lincoln was well read in the law. He became the sixteenth President. He freed the slaves in the Confederate Territory, not under Union control, with the Emancipation Proclamation. Full emancipation came in 1865 with the passage of the 13th Amendment. Abraham Lincoln’s simple rule, his wish: “Die when I may, I want it to be said of me, by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.”

The Lecturer read about St. Valentine and “Is It Love or Infatuation?” She told about George Washington, the Father of Our Country. He was a redhead and covered his head with a powdered wig. Some say he had false teeth. He was a farmer ahead of his time in rotating crops. He was shy and had a bad temper. People tried to make him king. His reply was “Banish the thought from your minds.” He submitted to the Constitution, and, with Congress, launched a republic Under God, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The Grange had delicious refreshments by Berta Burr. Our next meeting is March 12 with David Filkins in charge of the program, and Helen Filkins in charge of refreshments. It is also Photo Contest Night and Apple Pie Contest. Let’s have lots of entries.

Stephentown Library Events

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• Movie Night – Friday, February 28, at 6:30 pm in the Stephentown Memorial Library Community Room. Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Come to the SML for a movie. This month we are showing a newly released film about a god with a hammer and his devious brother. The movie is rated PG-13, and the running time is 112 minutes. Free popcorn and drinks will be served.

• Computers for Beginners Series – on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm – March 5, March 26 and April 2. Farid Gruber will help new computer users understand how to use a computer and get connected to the internet. This class is for anyone just beginning to learn how to use a computer. We will briefly go over the physical computer parts, how to turn the computer on and off, the desktop, start menu, and how Windows® works. We will also spend time learning how to use the mouse. Depending on time and interest, the class may move forward to internet use and email. If you know someone who will benefit from this class, help spread the word and invite them to join. Attend one session or all three! Farid Gruber is a retired early childhood educator and administrator with a new career as a technological consultant. He combines his patience, honed through working with preschoolers, and his many years of experience working with computers and various media, to offer quality support. Please call ahead to register, as space is limited. If you have your own laptop computer, please bring it along to the class. Laptops will be on hand for those who don’t have their own. This program series is made possible through an Outreach Mini-Grant from the Upper Hudson Library System.

• Parenting Support Class – Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) method of parenting with Bruce Weiner. Classes will meet on Tuesday evenings – April 1, 8 and 22 and May 6, 13 and 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Participants should plan to attend all sessions in the class cycle.The course will consist of the basics tenets of Parent Effectiveness Training, the positive character education focus on problem solving with children and other issues brought up by parents during the course. Bruce Weiner is the head of Psychological services for the Berlin School District and an experienced parent educator. He lives with his wife in Hancock, MA, and is the parent of two grown sons. The only cost will be $15 for course workbooks and this can be waived for those with financial need. Stephentown Memorial Library invites you to join us for this helpful class. All are welcome! Reservations are required, as space for this class is limited. Please call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 518-733-5750 to reserve a space.

For more information, call the SML at 733-5750, or check our website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.

Brunswick Library Digital Workshop

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Do you have a Kindle, Nook, iPad or other e-Reader? Come and learn how you can check out digital books, audiobooks and movies from the Library. Join us on Tuesday, March 4, at 6:30 pm at the Brunswick Community Library, 4118 State Highway 2, when Jo-Ann Benedetti of the Upper Hudson Library System explains it all for you.

Vegetable Gardening For Beginners At The New Lebanon Library

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John Senger, New Lebanon resident and proprietor of Windswept Farms, will conduct a workshop on vegetable gardening at the New Lebanon Library on Thursday, March 6, at 6:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.

Gardening topics discussed will include benefits and rewards of starting plants from seed, how to select plants when seeds are not an option, necessary equipment and soil and site requirements. This workshop will help both novice and experienced gardeners start planning their best gardens ever.

A graduate of the Stockbridge School of Agriculture, John Senger has amassed more than forty years of experience in gardening. Since 1986, he has run Windswept Farms in New Lebanon with his wife, Amy, and before that managed Senger’s Nursery in Pittsfield.

For further information on this free event, please call the New Lebanon 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.

Cheney Library Book Sale

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The Cheney Library will be having its monthly book sale on March 1 from 8 am to 1 pm in the Library. There is a large selection of books, and we have donations of new materials that are in great condition. Cheney Library is located in Hoosick Falls on NY 22. Our phone number is 518-686-9401.

Berlin Fire Department Monthly Breakfast

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On Sunday, March 2, from 7 to 11 am, the Berlin Fire Department will be holding its monthly breakfast. Breakfast includes all-you-can-eat pancakes, French toast, biscuits with homemade sausage gravy, bacon and sausage, home fries, toast and eggs (sunny side, over easy or over hard, scrambled). Beverage choices are of coffee or tea (both available as decaf), hot chocolate, milk and orange juice.

Prices are $7 for adults, $4 for children ages 5-12 and no charge for children under 5.

Harold J. Jones

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Hoosick Falls – Harold J. Jones, 56, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2013, at his residence after a brief illness. He was the husband of Cindy Lou (Wilson) Jones.

Born on May 14, 1957, in Cambridge, NY, Harold was the son of Howard B. and Blanche (Sherman) Jones of Buskirk, NY. He graduated from Cambridge Central School. Harold was employed by the Hoosick Falls Central School as a bus driver. He also drove bus for the Green Mountain Express and was formerly employed at Oak Mitsui in Hoosick Falls, NY. Harold was a member of the Vermont Army National Guard, the Cornerstone Fellowship Church and the North Hoosick Fire Department. He was a former member of the Hoosick Falls Fire Department and the Buskirk Fire Department. Harold enjoyed camping, Sunday rides with his wife Cindy and the time spent with family.

Survivors, other than his wife Cindy, include his daughter, Katrina Jones Inigo of Hoosick Falls, his sister, Lynn Jones of Buskirk, three brothers, Howard Jr. of Palatka, FL, Paul of Hoosick Falls and Doug of Stephens City, VA, three grandchildren, Jaylen Michael, Jenny Grace and Jane Addaline, his father and mother-in-law, Skip and Jackie Wilson, his sister-in-law, Bonnie Lee, his brothers-in-law, Clinton Jr., Wayne and Eric Wilson, and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services are on Thursday evening, February 27, at 7 pm from the North Hoosick Fire Department on Route 22, North Hoosick, NY. Relatives and friends may call at the Fire House on Thursday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the North Hoosick Fire Department. Arrangements are under the direction of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls.