The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

County Legislators To Ask State For Road Repairs On Route 22, Route 20 And Route 150

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 submitted by Rich Crist, Majority Legislative Liaison
Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature are hoping to get the attention of State officials to have three State highways in the County reviewed for much needed repair work.
[Read more…] about County Legislators To Ask State For Road Repairs On Route 22, Route 20 And Route 150

Battle Of Bennington Commemoration

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The Battle of Bennington, fought on August 16, 1777, will be commemorated at the New York State Bennington Battlefield Historic Site on Friday, August 16, starting at 7 pm. The ceremony will be conducted by members of Chapters of the Empire State Society Sons of the American Revolution, The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and other local historical groups in cooperation with the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.  [Read more…] about Battle Of Bennington Commemoration

The Knickerbocker Mansion And The Witneagemot Oak Peace Tree

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Stana Iseman will give a talk, “Four Centuries of Knickerbocker,” at the Stephentown Historical Society meeting on Monday, August 5, at 7:30 pm.  The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road in Stephentown.  Iseman will be talking about the history of the area, Native American tribes and the Witneagemot Oak Peace Tree, the history of the Knickerbocker Family and the story of the Knickerbocker Mansion restoration. The program  is free and open to the public.  The building is handicapped accessible.  For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.
The Knickerbocker Mansion, the most significant historic building in upper Rensselaer County, is located in an area of the Hoosic River Valley near Schaghticoke known as the Vale of Peace.  The Mansion was built by Johannes and Elizabeth Knickerbacker in the 1780s using a rare Middle Age architectural style.  The Mansion presides over the remains of the historic Witneagemot Oak Peace Tree, which was planted in 1676 to commemorate a peace treaty between the Native Americans and the European settlers. The Mansion’s quiet agricultural setting has been unchanged for centuries.
The building fell into disrepair over the centuries, and major restoration began in 1991.  It remains a restoration work in progress but is open to the public every Sunday and during special monthly events such as the September Harvest Festival and the October Knick at Night ghost tours or by appointment.
Iseman is Project Director for the Restoration Projects, Tour Guide and Treasurer for the Knickerbocker Historical Society, Inc.  She has volunteered for the Knickerbocker Mansion for 25 years.  She lives in Cambridge, NY, and is a retired teacher.  She was recently honored by NYS Senator Kathleen Marchione in her Women of Distinction program for the 43rd. Senate District.
The mission of the Knickerbocker Historical Society, Inc., is to preserve and maintain the Knickerbocker Mansion, the Knickerbocker Family Cemetery and the remains of the Peace Tree, as well as working to interpret the history of the Mansion property, develop educational programs concerning the history of the Mansion and the surrounding area, and promote community awareness and appreciation of local history.

Take A Bahamas Cruise In December To Help The Honor Roll Fund

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Go on an awesome vacation and make a donation in the process.  Yankee Trails has partnered with the Petersburgh Veterans Memorial Community Center in its fundraising efforts for the Veterans Honor Roll Memorial. They are sponsoring an eight day cruise to the Bahamas from December 3 to 11. For every eight cabins filled Yankee Trails will cut a check to PVMCC for the cost of a ninth cabin traveler.
This trip will include Cruise Express Shuttle to and from the cruise ship in New York City, a $50 onboard credit per stateroom, cruise accommodations, all shipboard meals and activities and all taxes and fees. The cost per person (with two persons in each stateroom) will be $649 for interior, $709 for ocean view and $859 for balcony. The cost will be $407 for the 3rd and 4th person in any class rooms. There are also large discounts for veterans.
What’s more – if more then twenty people sign up they will bring a bus out from Rensselaer to pick up travelers in Petersburgh at no extra cost.
There are flyers at PVMCC, and more information can be obtained by calling Walter Walters at 658-0136 or Erin Tobin at 286-2400, ext 206.

Atwater-Donnelly To Perform And Teach At New Lebanon Library

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Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly will perform at the New Lebanon Library Friday, August 9, at 7 pm. The highly acclaimed husband-wife duo will present a delightful program of traditional American and Celtic folk songs, a capella pieces, old time gospel songs, dance tunes and original works. [Read more…] about Atwater-Donnelly To Perform And Teach At New Lebanon Library

Letter To The Editor – The Martinezes Make A Difference

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To the Editor:
How do you compile a letter of sincere appreciation and thanks to a couple who have made such a huge impact on this community?  How do you possibly put into words how much Dr. and Mrs. Martinez mean to all they have treated, the many families they have delivered a child for, saved a loved one, held a hand and wiped a tear over the countless years of their practice?
We all have stories we could tell of the way this wonderful couple have changed our lives, saving my son, Matt, as a baby during birth, saving my daughter, Stephanie, three times during her childhood, and I’m sure there are many in the community who have similar stories.  They say behind every man is a good woman. In this case beside this great man is a great woman with a kind word and that beautiful smile.  What a perfect team they have made and continue to make.  Thank you doesn’t seem enough, but please know for all you do, have done and continue to do for all of us, you are appreciated and highly thought of. It is only fitting that this honor [Health Care Leadership by SWVTMC] is bestowed upon you.
Our community is a much better place for having the privilege of Dr. and Mrs. Martinez amongst us.  They will never have to ask the question of themselves that many of us do, “Did we make a difference?”  Absolutely, they did, beyond a shadow of a doubt.
We are most fortunate and blessed to have you.  Thank you.
Respectfully,
Stan and Robin Brownell