by David Flint
Seven candidates have submitted the necessary petitions and been certified to run for the seven seats on the Board of Trustees for the proposed Stephentown Memorial Public Library. This Board will replace the current Library Board should the Special Legislative District be approved by Stephentown voters on March 19. Election of the new Board of Trustees is Proposition #2 on the same ballot. The candidates were asked to share information about their work, education, family, length of time in Stephentown and also to indicate why they want to be a Board member and why they believe the Stephentown Memorial Library is important to this community.
Sue Brissette (Cass), Dave, Libby and Annie have lived in Stephentown for 16 years. Sue has been Library Board President for this past six years of intense renovation and program building. Her grant writing has yielded over $120,000 in additional funds for the Library and community during this time. Sue has worked in healthcare for over 30 years. She operates a Stephentown-based business consulting company that helps businesses and government agencies manage their healthcare programs. She is also a local Girl Scout leader and enjoys family time, movie going and gardening. She holds a Bachelor’s in biology and chemistry from Northeastern University and a Master’s in health policy/management from the Harvard School of Public Health.
Sue wants to remain on the Library Board to continue offering the community cultural and economic growth through library resources. She sees the Library as an important part of Stephentown community life and is committed to keeping it strong.
Kristin Crouch has been a Stephentown resident for eleven years. She and her husband, a lifelong resident, have two teenage daughters.
Kristin graduated from Russell Sage College with a degree in Elementary Education and went on to obtain her Master’s Degree in Literacy from SUNY Albany. While in the Master’s program, Kristin was awarded the Stella R. Pietryzk Scholarship in recognition of her knowledge of and appreciation for children’s literature. Kristin has been teaching in the Rensselaer City School District for over eight years.
Kristin is running for the Stephentown Memorial Library Board because she is eager to serve her community, hopes to introduce more Stephentown residents to the Library and believes that a library is a community treasure. If elected, she promises to support the wonderful programs the Library currently offers, work collaboratively to anticipate and address future needs and ensure that funding is utilized efficiently.
Janet Ivory entered rural life in 1982 as a partner on a Delaware County dairy farm. In 2001 she and Frank May married and moved to Stephentown. Janet has served on the Stephentown Memorial Library (SML) Board of Trustees and the Upper Hudson Library Board since 2008. She earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration at SAGE Graduate School. Janet’s career, volunteer and Board service has focused on program development and advocacy in occupational health and safety for rural populations, locally, statewide and nationally.
Janet Ivory views SML as an example of a successful community-based initiative of which she is a strong proponent. She is concerned about the quality of life and the property values in this town. She feels a responsibility to assure that SML continues to contribute to that end. Janet Ivory believes she can contribute her expertise and commitment to rural communities as a Board Trustee of the new Stephentown Memorial District Library.
Pam Kueppers moved to Stephentown in 2001 from Houston, Texas, where she owned her own business for over 20 years. She has been a Board member of the Stephentown Memorial Library for six years and is currently the Treasurer. Pam graduated from Louisiana State University in 1968. She has two grown children, one son-in-law and one soon to be daughter-in-law and one perfect grandson. Pam feels that serving on the Library Board has been very rewarding over the years and that many positive things have been accomplished during her tenure such as helping the Town of Stephentown purchase the property directly behind the Library and expanding the annual book sale. She believes that the Library has brought many wonderful opportunities to the community through employment, learning and entertainment – DVDs, musical CDs as well as live music – to name a few.
Thom Pecoraro has been a full time Stephentown resident since 2003. He graduated from Queens College of the City University of New York with a BA in accounting and was awarded his CPA license in 1991. In 2008, he founded a community garden in Pittsfield, MA, and then, in 2010, the Wyomanock Center for Sustainable Living (WyoCenter.org), an educational non profit based in Stephentown. He lives on Wyomanock Road where he is also developing the Wyomanock Farm CSA.
Thom’s concerns are focused on the creation and implementation of measures to build on the long term viability of our town. Many services and conveniences of small town living have disappeared over the past decades – except our library. In the face of this attrition, the Stephentown Memorial Library has grown due to the needs of the Town and the dedication of volunteers. With the Library’s recent purchase acquisition of adjacent property, Thom would like to contribute his expertise in the site development.
From the age of three, when Judith Pierson was first permitted to select her own books, libraries have been an essential part of her life. Since that time, she has never been without a very active library card. When she moved to Stephentown in 2000, she became a member of the Library and joined the monthly book group that meets there. Each month that group suggests other good reads which she forwards to the librarian who secures enough copies for the members.
Since the Friends of the Library formed, Judith has participated in their various activities to raise money to support the Library. These funds have been essential in funding new and continuing programs. She would like to take part in the development of a special legislative district library which would be funded by tax dollars, have elected trustees, allow library employees to become civil servants and keep the library open more hours for the service and benefit of our community.
Tom Quimby moved to Stephentown in 2010 after retiring from Cornell University and starting Strategies Unlocked, a consulting company. He and Anita were attracted by the well kept homes, the good Town roads and the beautiful scenery. As a resident, Tom realized the Library‘s importance as a service provider, gathering place and focal point. Tom believes a robust library will attract new residents and businesses to Stephentown and create a thriving community and a broader tax base. As a Library Trustee, Tom will use his experience as a mediator, negotiator and consultant to help the Library attract new residents and businesses to the Town and to serve as many residents as possible. Tom has a bachelors degree in economics and a masters degree in industrial and labor relations. He is also an associate member of the New York State Economic Development Council and a Community Stephentown member.
Local News
Lions Club Easter Bunny And Penny Hunt
The annual Easter Bunny and Penny Hunt sponsored by the Town of Hoosick Lions Club will take place in its usual spot in Wood Park by the gazebo on Saturday, March 23, at 1 pm. A rain date will be set for the following Saturday, March 30, still at 1 pm.
The Easter Bunny will make a grand appearance and have treats for all the kids. Please support your local Lions Club and remember we will have our solid chocolate bunnies on hand there to sell for $5 to aid our work and causes. Don’t miss this fun event.
SVFD Corned Beef Dinner
by Chuck Riccardi
With generous donations and assistance from Kilventon Fruit & Produce, Hilltown Pork and Jiminy Peak, the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department held its 15th Annual Corned Beef Dinner on Saturday, March 9. Volunteers from Cub Scout Pack 911 and Boy Scout Troop #222 helped out with the dinner, and the Library sold baked goods. [Read more…] about SVFD Corned Beef Dinner
Petersburgh Honor Roll Starts On Phase Two
Plans are underway to construct stone benches, a semicircular patio and a central flower bed in front of the Veterans Honor Roll in Petersburgh.
The monument was constructed in 2007. It was made possible thanks to the generous donations of labor, time and over $10,000 contributed by many people in the community.
For Phase 2, the labor for the benches, patio and flower bed will, once again, be donated by Terry Lamphere and Rebekah Hartman. The Petersburgh Highway Department has agreed to help with the site preparation and use of their equipment to help set some of the large stones. The capstones for the benches are already on hand, but an additional $3,500 is needed to pay for the Goshen Stone for the Patio and the mortar mix.
We hope that The Petersburgh Community will continue to help show appreciation to our veterans by contributing to the Honor Roll Fund. Mail checks to Honor Roll Fund, c/o PVMCC, P.O. Box 516, Petersburgh, NY, 12138.
PVMCC Events
On March 22 the Music and Art Cafe’ will be featuring Tophenjamin with Chris and Ben Lane.
On April 12 the Music and Art Cafe’ will be featuring Bear Bones Project.
Both performances run from 7 to 9:30 pm. The cost is $5 per person and $8 per couple. People under 18 can attend for free under the Stewart’s Grant. Be sure to join us, there will be refreshments.
TVSC Annual Meeting
Taconic Valley Soccer Club will hold its annual meeting at the Berlin Town Library at 7 pm on March 26. All members are encouraged to attend. Any player who is on a Spring travel team and who will need a new uniform needs to get their order to their coach or to Jen Burhans at 658-2096 by March 23.
Berlin Teen Night Kick-Off Event
Youth 2 Youth Berlin will be hosting a Spring Fling Teen Event on Thursday, March 21, at the Berlin Middle/High School from 7 to 10 pm. Berlin teens have a night of games, music, dancing, Wii and other activities planned.
There will be music, games, prizes and raffles. Tickets cost $3 in advance, $5 at the door. The ticket includes snacks and beverage.
Tickets can be pre-ordered through the Y2Y Berlin Group, Biffy Cahill, the Main Office at the Berlin Middle/High School. Email Biffy Cahill at BiffyCahill@gmail.com or call her at 518-733-9031.
Celebrating the Revolutionary War At The Grafton Historical Society Meeting
The Grafton Historical Society will meet at 7 pm at the Grafton Town Hall on March 20. At this month’s program the Society will host Marvin Bubie discussing his third book, Celebrating the Revolutionary War, which is an accumulation of seals from places involved in the Revolutionary War. This book is a celebration of the American Revolution, of the unique freedom that resulted from it and of how Americans view civic identity.
Bubie not only shows the seals but recounts interesting and funny stories related to each one. These seals are official and can appear everywhere from welcome signs in our communities, to the podiums from which our officials speak, to identifying municipal buildings, vehicles, etc. Some seals are self explanatory, but many are not. In Bubie’s book, he tries to uncover those meanings and to celebrate the events behind the seal. Marvin’s book takes us through the Revolutionary War using symbols found on municipal seals.
Copies of the book will be available for purchase after the program. The program is free, and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be served. Contact Allison at 518-279-3565 or email historicgrafton@aol.com for more information.
Poestenkill Historical Society Program On Indian Lore
The Poestenkill Historical Society will hold its March meeting at the Poestenkill Town Hall on Rt. 351 on Tuesday, March 26, at 7 pm. Shirley Dunn will present “Mohican Indian Lore.”
The history of this area usually centers on Dutch/English settlement and very little has been published about the Mohicans who occupied this land long before Henry Hudson’s exploration in 1609. Dunn has changed all this through her research of Indian deeds and her publication of two books, The Mohicans and Their Land,1609-1730 and The Mohican World 1680-1750.
The Mohican name means “from the waters that are never still.” Historians say that the original group came from the North and West across the water to settle around the Hudson River. The Mohicans were first encountered by Henry Hudson in 1609.The story of the Mohican Indian is one of a great people who, like other Native Americans, were exploited by the early settlers and eventually ended up on reservations in Wisconsin.
Dunn has worked as a teacher, museum interpreter and historic preservation consultant, member of the Board of the “Friends of Fort Crailo” and was a founder of the Dutch Barn Preservation Society. The public is warmly invited. Refreshments will be provided after the program. For directions, call Patricia at 518-283-5223.
Poestenkill Corned Beef And Cabbage
The Men’s and Ladies Auxiliaries of the Sullivan-Jones VFW Post in Poestenkill are having a Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner on March 16 at 6 pm for one serving. The cost is $12 per person, and children 8 years and under eat for free. For tickets call the Post at 518-283-4661.