The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Local News

Letter To The Editor – Not A Letter Of Intent

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To the Editor:
I read in the March 29th edition of the Eastwick Press that I was one of the seven people applying for the job of Supervisor of the Town of Grafton. Although I did write a letter and care about the Town and its future, I did not write a letter of intent to apply for the top town job.
Instead I wrote a letter, imploring the current Board to work together and appoint one of the Councilmembers as Supervisor for the good of the Town, putting aside politics. The only way that could have happened is if the remaining councilmembers agreed to back the Councilperson who stepped down from the Board to be appointed Supervisor.
Sincerely,
Jan Shields
Babcock Lake, Grafton
Editor’s Note: As it happened the Councilmembers withdrew their names from consideration and the Board chose one of the remaining people who were interested in being Grafton Town Supervisor – Frank Higgins.

Berlin Library Maple Syrup Sale

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The Berlin Free Town Library will be holding a Maple Syrup Fundraiser running through Tuesday, April 30. All grades of syrup, light, medium and dark amber will be available for purchase in plastic jugs and fancy glass bottles. Jug syrup will be priced at $6 per pint, $12 per quart and $24 per half gallon. All proceeds will go directly to the Library.
Stop in and pick up a jug of 2013 maple syrup produced by Acer Ridge Maple Syrup right here in Berlin. What a sweet way to support the Library.

Early May Events At The Stephentown Memorial Library

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• Bag Sale and Something Extra – Saturday, May 4 (one week before Mother’s Day), from 10 am to 4 pm in the Stephentown Memorial Library (SML) Community Room. The sale will feature totes, purses, clutches and vintage handbags, computer and Mommy Bags and hand baskets – new or gently used. Everything is priced for student budgets.
Select a Book for a Buck from gently used and recycled hard cover, paperbacks and DVDs. We are also offering an assortment of hand knit shawls – elegant warmth for prom night.  Reusing and Recycling are the themes of the day. On May 4 at SML come find a gift for mom or bag for the prom, stash some extra cash and be kind to our planet. Put a book in a bag and take your mom or grandma two gifts in one pretty bundle.
All donations for this benefit sale were carefully selected for quality and condition, and we are accepting more. Proceeds will help support the Library’s summer programs. The Stephentown Memorial Library is a nonprofit 501c3 organization.
• Exceptional Perennials for Every Season Program – Tuesday, May 7, at 6:30 pm in the SML Community Room.
Spring has sprung!  If you are eager to do some gardening, join us for this fabulous program with writer, lecturer and Marketing Director of Faddegon’s Nursery, Kerry Ann Mendez.  You will be thrilled to discover beautiful perennials that enjoy little hand holding on your part. They will save you time and money.
Kerry Ann Mendez is dedicated to teaching the art of low-maintenance perennial gardening and landscaping. As a garden consultant, designer, writer, teacher and lecturer, she focuses on time-saving gardening techniques and workhorse plant material as well as organic practices. She has been in numerous magazines including Horticulture, Fine Gardening, Garden Gate and Better Homes and Gardens’ Garden Ideas & Outdoor Living. Mendez was a featured guest on HGTV and hosted Capital News 9’s In the Garden television segment as well as information segments for Channel 13. She is a garden columnist for Capital Region Living and Today’s Garden Center magazines and writes freelance pieces for regional and national magazines.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during our Library hours.  Also check our website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.

The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award – An Invitation To Grafton High School Seniors

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High school seniors attending public or private school or are home schooled, who are residents of Grafton and will be graduating this year are invited to apply for The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award.
The Ethel Simmons Memorial Award is presented annually by the Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Historical Society in memory of Ethel N. Simmons, a native of Grafton and, for many years, a Grafton teacher, Librarian and Town Historian. The award is $300.
A  copy of the application form is available at the Library, at the  guidance offices of Berlin and Brittonkill Central School or by email at GHS12082@aol.com. The deadline for receiving applications is May 15.

Mountain Road School Open House

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Parents and children in grades pre-k through eighth are invited to Mountain Road School on Tuesday, April 30, from 9:30 to 11:30 am for its monthly “Tea and Tour Tuesday.” Prospective families can enjoy a cup of tea, learn about the school, tour the classrooms and campus and meet with teachers and current parents.
The Open House is also an opportunity to view Mountain Road School’s new home in the lovingly-restored 1788 Hand House, situated on 20 acres of fields, woods and streams.
Mountain Road School is located at 4565 County Route 9 in New Lebanon. For additional information, visit the School’s website at www.mountainroadschool.org. or contact Cynthia Gray, Admissions Director, at cynthia@mountainroadschool.org, or 518-794-8520.

Stephentown VFD Texas Hold’em

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The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department  will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, April 27, in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and close at 6 pm. Play begins at 6:15 sharp.
A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.
No advance registration is required, and a donation of $35 per player will be accepted. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 1,000 extra chips. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of nine places.
For further information, please call John Linton – 518-733-0469.

Malden Bridge Comedy Show

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Join with family and friends for an evening of enjoyment at the Malden Bridge Community Center by attending the Not Too Far From Home Comedy Tour on Saturday, May 11, at 8 pm. The evening will feature a ninety minute show in a cabaret setting with three professional stand-up comedians, Aaron David Ward, Deric Harrington and Frank Gentile.
Light refreshments will be served and tickets may be purchased or reserved prior to the night of the show for $15 by emailing maldenbridgecc@gmail.com or calling 518-766-3815.    Tickets will be available for $20 on the evening of the show.

April And May Programs At The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

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• Friday, April 26 – Full Moon Sounds of the Night. This is an easy twilight hike to listen to spring peepers, wood frogs, barred owls and other sounds of the night as we watch the full moon rise over the lake; 6:30 to 9 pm; free; family friendly. No pre-registration is needed.
• Saturday, May 4 – Bird Walk with Mary Batchellor from 8 to 10 am. Look for the earliest spring migrants including the black throated green warbler, black throated blue warbler, scarlet tanager and more. There is a $2 suggested donation. No pre-registration is needed.
• Sunday, May 12 – Wild Edible Plants with Lee Wilson from 9 am to 4 pm. Identify plants, learn edible parts and poisonous look-a-likes, foraging etiquette, preparation techniques and gather plants that will be prepared and sampled later in the day. The focus will be on spring shoots and greens. The cost is $15, $12 for members. Pre-registration required by contacting the Center; limited to 15 adults.
• Saturday, May 25 – Birding for Beginners. Let’s start at the beginning! Learn how to identify birds by field marks, use binoculars and learn to identify birds by their song. Leave being able to identify at least 10 birds or more. This event is free.
A full list of our spring programs can be found on our website at: http://www.dykenpond.org. To register for programs or for more information, please contact the Center at (518) 658-2055 or dykenpond@fairpoint.net

Barbara A. Jeskie

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Hoosick Falls – Barbara A. Jeskie, 66, passed away on Friday, April 19, 2013, at the The Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls, NY. She had resided on Burchard Avenue in Hoosick Falls.
Born on September 11, 1946, in Cambridge, NY, Barbara was the daughter of Geraldine Kirk of Cambridge and the late George Burch. She was educated at Cambridge Central School and Mildred Elley College. She was employed at Tyco in North Bennington, VT, in the Shipping and Receiving Department. Barbara enjoyed being outdoors, going to the ocean, knitting and, especially, spending time with her family. She was a communicant of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls.
Survivors other than her mother, Geraldine, include her daughter, Amy Sutton and husband David of Hoosick Falls, her son Joseph Jeskie and wife Jennifer of Cambridge, her sister, Laura Porter and husband John of Cambridge and two grandchildren, Ryan and Ehan Jeskie. She is pre-deceased by a son, Christopher Jeskie, and a grandson, Devon Jeskie.
Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions may be made to the Karen McGovern Memorial Fund through the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090, who are handling the arrangements.