The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

An Illustrated Talk About Stephentown Schoolhouses At The Stephentown Historical Society

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Pat Flint and Marilyn Osgood will give an illustrated talk about Stephentown Schoolhouses at the Stephentown Historical Society meeting on Monday, September 9, at 7:30 pm. The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road (County Route 26), Stephentown. The program is free and open to the public. The building is handicapped accessible. For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.
The Town had as many as sixteen school districts up until the consolidated Berlin Central School District completed Stephentown Elementary School in 1948. Some of the schoolhouses are gone, but many have been put to new uses as homes, the Town Hall and the Stephentown Memorial Library. Several former students at these schools will attend to share their experiences. One is bringing a school bench to show. The Heritage Center houses a large blackboard from School No. 4.
Pat Flint is Town Historian for Stephentown, and both women are past presidents of the Stephentown Historical Society and active explorers of the Town’s past. Flint has researched and prepared the program; Osgood assisted with photography and in the presentation.

Grafton Community Co-Op Accepting New Members

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Are you interested in purchasing a wide variety of gluten and dairy free products, grains, coffee, tea, bulk organic nuts, baking supplies or spices? If so you may enjoy becoming a member of our community buying club. By doing so, you support your local community, get to know your neighbors and get great access to natural and organic products without driving all the way to Albany to shop.
Our group orders on a monthly basis from United Natural Foods National Products companies. Currently ten families participate, and we are looking for a few more members to join our group. The monthly job is simple – roll out of bed early Saturday to meet the delivery truck at the Grafton Community Library on Rt. 2 in Grafton, help unload and divide members’ products and gather up your order that you placed online prior. It usually takes less than an hour.
Our co-op also has access to personal care items, cleaning products and pet supplies. Also, we can introduce you to the local farm community. If you have family, buying in bulk is a great way to get your products economically. Members can share products that are available only in bulk through our order splitting process. To find out more, please contact Maureen Gallagher, Coordinator Grafton Community Co-op at 518-279-1498.

Letter To The Editor – Unwarranted Political Agenda Or Bona Fide Concerns?

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To the Editor:
In reading a letter to the editor of The Eastwick Press by the Petersburgh Town Supervisor on August 30, there was some concern as to whether “statements about the Highway Department and other offices were made public just for the sake of elections.”
Statements about townspeople made publicly by Town officials and reported in news media in a Town Board Meeting can always be tricky, particularly when it involves a local business owner who finds out there are concerns that have not been directly addressed.
It is wise to discuss issues with your elected officials as suggested in the Petersburgh Town Supervisor’s letter to the editor. In fact, I met with Siegfried Krahforst earlier in August to discuss my thoughts, concerns and desire to run for the Town Highway Superintendent. I shared with him many of the concerns addressed to me by Petersburgh residents while campaigning for the position.
One such concern I addressed was why the Petersburgh Highway Department is purchasing material from other places when we have a local supplier. As a long time heavy highway superintendent, I have had the pleasure of working with many municipalities across the state. The process is simple – requests for bids are publicly advertised, competing companies submit bids for specific projects and/or materials and the lowest bidder is given the contract. Most municipalities also request pricing for specific equipment and hourly labor rates pertaining to emergency or unforeseen circumstances.
It is my understanding that our local supplier was the lowest bidder and was awarded the contract to supply the sand, gravel and stone for Petersburgh. Ethically speaking, this low bidder protocol should be followed eliminating any bias or personal preferences.
As a community, we all need to work together to ensure that we are spending our limited tax dollars responsibly. Asking questions and being informed while attending the Petersburgh Town Board Meetings the third Monday of each month is a great way to reinforce this process!
Gene Kluck
Johnnycake Hill Road, Petersburgh

Cheney Library Summer Reading Program Ends Successfully

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The Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls finished the 2013 New York State Summer Reading program. Twenty children recorded the amount of time they spent reading this summer for a total of 16,536 minutes. There were eight programs in which the children participated, including one presented by the Tang Museum from Skidmore College.
[Read more…] about Cheney Library Summer Reading Program Ends Successfully

Sunday Night Bowling Teams Wanted

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The Barbecue Recreation Sunday Night Mixed Bowling League is looking for new teams to join. Teams are made up of two men and two women. The League bowls at the Barbecue Recreation Lanes in Hoosick on Sunday nights at 5 pm starting September 8.
If you are interested in joining or would like more information, please contact Jack at 518-686-5751 or Brandie at 518-686-0723.

Hoosick Grange News

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Hoosick Grange had election of officers on August 28. David Cornell was elected Master. Carleton Philpott was elected Overseer. Corinne Philpott was elected Lecturer, David Schmidt – Steward, Omer Brenenstuhl – Assistant Steward, Norma Brenenstuhl – Assistant Steward, Marion Cipperly – Chaplain, Helen Filkins – Treasurer, Martha Babbitt – Secretary, Roberta Burr – Gatekeeper, Louise Ciuk – Ceres, Marion Hynick – Pomona, Mary Remancus – Flora, Executive Committee – 3 years – Omer Brenenstuhl, 2 years – Marion Brenenstuhl, 1 year – Ralph Philpott, Flag Bearer – Marion Brenenstuhl.
During the business meeting the charter was draped for Arba Brenenstuhl. The Secretary handed out sections on the New York State Handbook, for the different departments for 2014 – 2015. After the business meeting the Lecturer had a game on Presidential Firsts. One question was who was the first president born in a hospital. Take a guess. Answer will be on the bottom. The Lecturer had some jokes and a little saying. She read a short story on “Stumped by a Stump,” how two boys found something and the results. The grangers sang “In The Good Old Summer Time” and “Daisy.”
The Lecturer shared with grangers “Slow Moving Vehicles Signs.” These signs are not for driveway markers. They are to be used on equipment on the road. Signs are to be mounted on the back of the tractor, wagons, implements, buggies, road construction and maintenance. These are to warn car and truck drivers that the vehicle bearing that sign is moving less than 25 MPH and should be approached with caution. People misusing SMV signs could be ticketed and fined up to $150 or up to 30 days in jail. She had a closing thought. She announced that September 11 is a planning meeting and a memorial to remember 911. Marion Brenenstuhl is in charge of refreshments.
President Jimmy Carter was the first president born in a hospital.

Hoosick Republican Committee Giffy’s Bar-B-Q

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The Town of Hoosick Republican Committee will host a Giffy’s Bar-B-Q on Thursday, September 19, at the Liporace Getty Station on Route 22 in Hoosick Falls.  Meals will include a ½ chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, roll, dessert and beverage.  Pick up will be 4 to 6 pm.
Tickets cost $10 each and can be purchased from any Committee member or by calling 518-322-8685 or 686-5992.
A limited number of tickets will be available on the day of the Bar-B-Q.
We have always sold out early, so be sure to call and get that one last Giffy’s Bar-B-Q Chicken dinner in before the leaves turn and the snow begins to fall.