The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Celebrate National Take Your Child To The Library Day At The Grafton Community Library

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The Grafton Community Library invites you to bring your children and grandchildren to the Library from 10 am to 1 pm on Saturday, February 1, to celebrate national Take Your Child to the Library Day.

Children can sign up for a library card, participate in story time and craft activities, enjoy snacks and discover all of the amazing resources that are available to everyone at the Library, all the time, free of charge. Come celebrate with us and discover how your local library empowers the individual, builds community and supports literacy and lifelong learning. It all begins with a child’s first library card!

Book Club

On January 29 at 12:30 pm the Grafton Community Book Club will discuss The Richest Woman in America by Janet Wallach. It is the fascinating story of Hetty Green, America’s first female Wall Street tycoon. The Grafton Community Book Club meets on the last Wednesday of every month.

Sheriff Arrests Hoosick Falls Teenager

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submitted by Yvonne Keefe

On January 16, at approximately 2:34 am, the Rensselaer County Bureau of Emergency Services received a 911 call from the Town of Brunswick. The homeowner reported that subjects were on his property and attempting to gain entry to his residence. Rensselaer County Deputy Sheriffs arrived on the scene within minutes and two suspects were taken into custody hiding in nearby bushes on the property.

An additional two suspects fled the scene on foot. Later in time one of the subjects reported his vehicle stolen but later admitted to officers he was a participant at the scene and was taken into custody.

The homeowner later found a “self defense” pistol in the bushes behind his residence where two of the suspects had been standing. The pistol fires less lethal pellets but has the appearance of a semi-automatic Glock pistol.

Arrested for Attempted Burglary 2nd, a felony, and Criminal Mischief 4th Degree, a misdemeanor was Keith A. Hughes Jr.,  18, of Hoosick Falls, and the two other teenagers.

Investigators are still trying to locate a fourth suspect – Luis Rosa, 17 years old, of Troy. If anyone has any information regarding Rosa’s whereabouts, they are urged to contact investigators at 518-266-1983 or the Tip line at 518-270-0128.

Adult Game Night At PVMCC

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The Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center will have an adult game night on Friday, February 7, from 5 to 8 pm. Bring a covered dish or snack at 5 pm if you wish to share a meal. Otherwise drop in anytime.

After the meal there will be corn holing (beanbag toss) games and card games of your choice. There are quite a few people who are planning to play pitch. Last month the domino game Mexican Train was popular. Bring other games if you wish. There is no charge to attend. Call Mary Lou Walters with any questions at 518-658-0136.

Girl Scouts’ NYC Charter Bus Trip

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submitted by Kristi Culbertson, Troop #1070 Leader 

Girl Scout Troop #1070, Berlin, is sponsoring a Charter Bus Trip to NYC on Saturday, April 26. The Bus leaves Walmart in Brunswick at 7 am with a stop at Bryant Park with a return at approximately 7 pm. Tickets cost $40 per person and include snacks on the bus. For tickets or questions please contact Kristi Culbertson at 207-5957. Paid spots are due by March 1. All proceeds benefit the girls Costa Rica Trip 2016. Thank you for your support!

Change Of Venue For EBooks At The Grafton Community Library

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Did you receive a Kindle®, Nook® or other ereader over the holidays? Already own an iPad®, iPod®, MP3 or other portable device? Join us at the Grafton Library on Thursday, February 6, at 6 pm as we learn how to borrow digital content from the library system. Jo-Ann Benedetti of the Upper Hudson Library System will lead us through the process of downloading books, audiobooks and video to various devices. Bring your device to the program to follow along.

Pre-registration is requested by calling the Library at 279-0580 or by stopping by in person at 2455 NY Route 2. Visit the Library’s website at www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org to keep up with what’s new at the Grafton Library and “like” us on Facebook® too.

Please note that the venue has been changed from the Everett Wagar Senior Center to the Library.

Hubbard Hall Production of Parallel Lives Is Poignant And Funny

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Review by Alex Brooks

Hubbard Hall has opened a new production of the 80s feminist show Parallel Lives in their small black box theater

A series of loosely related vignettes about the dilemma of being a woman in the modern world, faced with the conundrums of religion and sex, clueless men, capricious supreme beings, and over-the-top feminists. Although at times it feels a bit dated, this show has moments of poignancy and hilarity that are worth the wait.

Two actresses, Jeannine Haas and Julie Waggoner, handle all the parts in these two-person sketches, and they are accomplished actresses who make the most of the material. They play young and old, male and female. Haas in particular is good at transforming herself into a male character, not with elaborate costuming, but just by the way she speaks and acts.

The script was written and first performed by Kathy Najimy (co-star with Whoopie Goldberg of Sister Act) and Mo Gaffney in the 1980s. Haas and Waggoner originated this version of the show in 2009, when they performed it in a variety of venues in and around Northampton, MA.. The current Hubbard Hall production, co-produced by Haas’ company Pauline Productions, is a reprise of that show. These are characters they know well, and they are able to play them with great assurance and panache. Although the culturally specific references are aimed more at a Northampton audience than an Eastwick audience, the charm of the show does not rely on its specific context as much as it does on the chemistry between Haas and Waggoner, the way they are able to create unexpectedly deep moments in the midst of short comic sketches.

Remaining performances are Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm Jan. 24-25 and Jan 31-Feb 1, and Sundays at 2 pm Jan 26 and Feb 2 in the small Freight Depot Theater behind Hubbard Hall.

For more information, call Hubbard Hall at 518-677-2495 or visit their web site at www.hubbardhall.org. Hubbard Hall is at 25 East Main Street in Cambridge, NY.

HACA Free Tax Service Opens

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submitted by Dianne Hosterman, Executive Director, HACA

The Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA), for the tenth year, is offering free assistance to the public in preparing income tax returns through the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance or VITA program. The VITA site is located at the HACA Center at 26 John Street, Hoosick Falls. The office will be open each Saturday beginning February 1 from 10 am to 3 pm and on Thursday evenings from 6 to 9 through February. In March and April, offices will be open on Saturdays from 10 am to 1 pm and on Thursday evenings by appointment. Office hours have been scheduled for evenings and weekends to accommodate people who find it difficult to take time off from work. The service is free and is provided by IRS Certified VITA/TCE Volunteer Preparers. To help accurately prepare their returns, taxpayers should bring the following:

• photo identification;

• valid Social Security cards for the taxpayer, spouse and dependents;

• birth dates for primary, secondary and dependents on the tax return;

• current year’s tax package, if received;

• wage and earning statement(s) Form W-2, W-2G, 1099-R, from all employers;

• interest and dividend statements from banks (Forms 1099);

• a copy of last year’s federal and state returns, if available;

• bank routing numbers and account numbers for direct deposit;

• other relevant information about income and expenses;

• total paid for day care, and

• day care provider’s identifying number.

Call Alison at Hoosick VITA 518-686-9491 to make an appointment.

Volunteer positions at the site such as reception, filing, photo copying or hostess are also available.

The VITA program offers free assistance to those with low-to-middle incomes (wage earners who make $51,000 or less) who file Form 1040EZ, Form 1040A or a basic 1040 Federal tax return. Most returns for both Federal and State (including Vermont and Massachusetts) can be filed electronically and upon request, refunds can be deposited electronically into a checking or savings account.

GLSP 29th Annual Winter Festival This Saturday

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Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 29th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 25. The Winter Fest will feature winter exhibits, vendors and family-friendly and recreational activities. The event is free of charge and main events run from 10 am to 4 pm.

The Winter Festival offers a variety of free, active and entertaining activities, both indoors and outdoors. Indoor offerings will include nature crafts and exhibits, including Five Rivers “Wheel of Wildlife” and fly-tying with Trout Unlimited. Out of the Pits will offer its very popular kissing booth with charming, adoptable pitbulls on hand. Ford’s Falconry will bring native birds of prey for the public to meet and learn about these fascinating creatures from wildlife rehabilitator Richele Ford. The Rensselaer Land Trust will bring its Enviroscape, giving children a hands-on experience of watershed health. Tamakoce Wilderness Programs will offer nature awareness games as well as a hike to discover animal signs in the woods and fields near the exhibit building. Face painting, hot food and many other exhibits will also be available indoors.

The 7th Annual Polar Plunge benefitting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation jumps into Long Pond at 1 pm. Participants can still sign up for the plunge and receive a hot drink after the experience. Please call Margaret Philips at 479-3739 to pre-register.

New outdoor events this year include a dog walk for furry friends as well as an introduction to animal signs. A new primitive skills demonstration will warm visitors with a toasty fire, a snow fort and the chance to learn an ancient form of firemaking with the bow drill. There will be guided outings throughout the Park for all levels and ages to enjoy, on snowshoes if conditions permit or offered on foot along the Park’s trails. Northland Newfoundland Dog Club will give sled rides pulled by their jovial and furry dogs on the beach. Carriage rides with majestic Percheron horses will also be offered by Indian Creek Farm.

The annual ice fishing contest draws several hundred fishermen annually and will run from 5:30 am to 3 pm on all the ponds in the Park. Ice conditions are expected to be more than adequate for the event. Participants can register starting at 5:30 am until 11 am on January 25 at the Park’s pole barn, accessible via the Winter Entrance. A $10 entry fee for adults 16 and older is required to participate in the fishing tournament. The catchers of all first place fish will receive a $300 cash prize this year, awarded for the longest length catch of trout, walleye/chain pickerel and yellow perch. Children may enter at no charge, and their winning entries will receive gift certificates and other prizes. Please remember that all participants 16 and older must have a New York State fishing license to fish in the Park at any time.

For more information about the Winter Festival, please call the Park at 518-279-1155. A full schedule of events is available on the Grafton Lakes State Park’s website (www.nysparks.com/parks) and on www.facebook.com/GraftonLakesStatePark.

Dyken Pond Environmental Center Events

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February 1, Saturday – Snow Shoe Trek – Enjoy the winter by trekking through the forest on a pair of snowshoes  from 1 to 3 pm. This is a free program. Snowshoes may be rented from the Center for $5. Bring any snack or water you may need along the way. Call ahead for snow conditions. Snowshoes may be rented any day with advanced registration for a fee of $10 per day, $5 for half day, and there are special group rates.

February 2, Sunday – Wildlife Tracking Series continues during February. Dan Yacobellis, local naturalist and tracker, will be leading Family Friendly Tracking  from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm or 1 to 3:30 pm. The cost is $15.

February 9, Sunday –  tracking with a focus on fishers will be offered from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. The cost is $20. Both programs offer a $5 discount for members, students and seniors. Winter is more enjoyable when you can discover movements of the animals around you. Common tracks found include red and grey fox, fisher, otter, porcupine and weasels. Pre-registration is required and space is limited.

February 14, Friday – Valentine’s Day Full Moon Trek. Enjoy Valentine’s Day at a free guided cross-country ski and snowshoe trek at the Center from 7 to 9 pm. The trek will cover two miles and is designed for the intermediate skier or snowshoer. No beginners, please. Snowshoe rentals are available for $5. Hot cocoa and chocolates will be shared around a campfire following the trek. Please contact the Center for updated snow conditions.

February 16, and March 16,  Sundays – Nature Writing Workshops.Paying Attention Among the Trees: A Winter Walk and Nature Writing Experience will be held from 1 to 3 pm. Diane Kavanaugh-Black will lead participants on a meditative woodland walk followed by writing with intention in a cozy wood stove heated cabin. This workshop will inspire the creative process whether you are a novice or already working on your own writing project. Sign up for one or both sessions. The cost is $15. $12 for members. Pre-registration is required for both workshops and space is limited, so register early.

The Dyken Pond Center, located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Visit www.dykenpond.org for directions and a complete schedule of our winter events. Call 658-2055 or visit the website www.dykenpond.org.