by Bea Peterson
At St. Mary’s Academy Tuesday morning students heard from Siena College Men’s and Women’s basketball players about the perseverance necessary to practice basketball many hours a week, play in basketball games and find time to study and keep up good grades. The players answered students’ questions, ran through some drills with them and then had a breakout session with girls and boys from grades three to eight. The visit ended with an autograph session for all the students, from kindergarten through grade eight.
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Local News
Hoosick Planning Board Meeting Dates Changed Because Of Holidays
In January the Town of Hoosick Planning Board will meet on Monday, January 28, at 7 pm instead of January 21 because of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
In February the Planning Board will meet on Monday, February 26, instead of February 18 because of the Presidents’ Day holiday.
The Town of Hoosick Planning Board customarily meets in the Armory on the third Monday of the month at 7 pm unless, as noted, a holiday falls on that Monday.
HFCS PTA January Family Movie Night
Hoosick Falls Central School PTA announces its January family night film series co-sponsored with the Hoosick Federal Credit Union. Here’s an opportunity for families to enjoy an outing free of charge. The movie scheduled is Dolphin Tale, described by film critic Roger Ebert as “a sweet, feel-good film about a boy who helps save a dolphin and how the dolphin then helps save him.” The film airs on Friday, January 25, at 6 pm in the High School auditorium. Doors open at 5:30 pm and drinks, popcorn and pizza will be for sale in the Elementary Cafeteria with the proceeds going to the Hoosick Falls PTA. This movie is rated PG (for some mild thematic elements).
The event is open to the general public, and school spirit items will be available for sale.
Book Discussion At The Grafton Library
The book discussion group of the Grafton Community Library will be discussing The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho this month at their meeting on Wednesday, January 30, at 12:30 pm at the Library. Copies of the book are available for anyone interested in joining the discussion. The group meets monthly on the last Wednesday of each month to discuss the chosen book. New participants are always welcome.
This timeless and entertaining story, exotic yet simple, is about the faith, power and courage we all have within us to pursue the intricate path of a Personal Legend, a path charted by the mysterious magnet of destiny but obscured by distractions. The reader learns how along the way we learn to trust our hearts, read the seemingly inconspicuous signs and understand that, as we look to fulfill a dream, it looks to find us just the same, if we let it.
Author Paulo Coelho is a Brazilian lyricist and novelist. He has become one of the most widely read authors in the world today and is the recipient of numerous prestigious international awards, amongst them the Crystal Award by the World Economic Forum and France’s Légion d’honneur.
Irish Basket Bingo
The Hoosick Falls St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee will host Irish Basket Bingo on Saturday, January 19, at 12 noon. Come take a chance on winning twenty great basket prizes. Doors open at 11:30 am in the basement of the Immaculate Conception Church in Hoosick Falls.
Cards, card markers, raffles and food will be available.
If anyone would like to donate a basket to support the St. Patrick’s Parade, contact Marie O’Neil at 518-686-4829. Each year the operating cost of running the annual parade exceeds $7,000.
This year’s parade is on Saturday, March 16, at 1 pm.
HAYC3 Is Planning Hoosipalooza 2013
Hoosipalooza is a community celebration to support the Hoosick Falls Food Pantry on February 2. This day long, spirited celebration will provide our community with a full itinerary of events, activities, music and food for all ages provided by local clubs, organizations, churches, teams and community members. All events are free, but donation jars will be present at each location with all proceeds benefiting the Hoosick Falls Food pantry. Last year’s Hoosipalooza raised over $2,000.
Last year’s highlight was the Hoosipalooza Bed Race where Hoosick residents watched their fellow community members jump on the sheets and push their crazy homemade bed mobiles down Main Street. Each team was sponsored by a business, group, organization or family. There was no limit to the amount of decorations or spirit each team boasted, and that rule still applies this year!
What Are The Bed Race Rules?
• Teams must construct their bed mobile from a twin size bed.
• The bed mobile must have four wheels.
• At least one team member must be on the bed during the race.
• The team name must be proudly displayed on the mobile.
• The bed pushers (during the race) must be 15 years of age or older.
• There is no set price to enter the race, only a donation.
Bed Race Prizes will go to the fastest, funniest and most creative beds. Winners will receive fame and glory throughout our community! The Bed Race will begin at noon on February 2. The starting line will be in front of Village Primary Care, and the finish line will be at Wood Park. Contact HAYC3 to register.
HooOwl Hunt
New this year is the HooOwl Hunt. The HooOwl Hunt is a two week Snow Owl hunt in Hoosick. One snow owl will be hidden in a secret location in the Hoosick Community. Each day a riddled clue pertaining to the HooOwl’s whereabouts will be posted on www.HAYC3.org. The first clue will be posted on January 20. The person who finds the HooOwl will win $250. Brush up on your local history, Hoosick geography and rhetoric because January 20 is fast approaching!
If you would like more information regarding Hoosipalooza, the Bed Race, the HooOwl Hunt or adding something to the Hoosipalooza, day-long itinerary, please contact HAYC3 at 686-9050.
Eat More, Weigh Less
Obesity, the leading cause of death in the United States – is the result of poor nutrition and inactivity. What is at the far end of the fork is killing Americans – over 500,000 of us annually. It is setting us up for diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke and even cancer. Two thirds of Americans are overweight, and one third are obese. The epidemic of obesity can be reversed and more easily than you think. Success is possible! You simply need a realistic, systematic, take charge approach to weight management.
In a dynamic presentation on Thursday, January 17, at 6:30 pm at the Buskirk Better Living Center at the Buskirk Seventh-day Adventist Church, 2176 West Hoosick Road, you’ll learn about how to get to your ideal weight naturally and stay there effortlessly, the eight factors that scientific research associates with increased weight, concrete strategies for reducing fat in your diet and increasing physical activity, coping with stress and creating support systems. This is a free community service supported by your donations. For more information, please call 686-4524.
Robin O’Herin To Perform At The New Lebanon Library
Berkshire musician Robin O’Herin will be performing at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, January 25, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public, although donations for the performer are appreciated.
O’Herin specializes in historically rich, interactive concerts that include original and traditional American music. Her concerts are warm, affirming experiences which explore the music of the Delta and Piedmont regions of the South. Song selections may include Robert Johnson, Blind Willie Johnson and O’Herin’s own original blues and fingerstyle ballads.
Robin O’Herin was a finalist in the 2006 Memphis Blues Challenge. She played in the Tropea Blues Festival in Tropea, Italy, in September of 2006. She was the headlining act in the Resophonic Blues Festival in Pilzen, Czechoslovakia in 2005. She has opened for the Doobie Brothers, Vance Gilbert and Michael Powers. Her music was used in the soundtrack for the PBS “2005 Roadtrip Nations.” She was a Telluride Blues Finalist in 2009. She has shared the stage with Paul Geremia, Andy Cohen and Roy Bookbinder. She is currently working on a new CD.
For further information on this event, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The public is welcome, and the event is free.
The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Alexander Haley Named To President’s List At SUNYIT
Alexander Haley of Stephentown, majoring in Electrical Engineering Technology, has been named to the President’s List for the fall 2012 semester at SUNYIT. A semester grade point average of 3.60 or above qualifies full time, matriculated students for inclusion on the President’s List.
SUNYIT, the State University of New York Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome, is New York State’s public institute of technology, offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs in technology and professional studies.
Wildlife Tracking Field Intensive With Alcott Smith
Experience a full or half day field intensive with Alcott Smith, tracker, naturalist and veterinarian. Three wildlife tracking sessions are offered at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center on Saturday, January 26, from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday, January 27, from 9 am to 12 noon or 1 pm to 4 pm. Sign up for one or all sessions.
From sets of tracks will emerge entire stories in the lives of the animals who traveled, foraged, hunted and interacted with one another. In past programs we have followed tracks to a porcupine in its den, found kill sites with tracks emanating in all directions and have found mouse tracks that end at a set of wing marks. The possibilities are truly endless.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Each session will explore a different area of the Center. Please register by contacting Jim at jim@bonesteel.com or 518-658-2055. There is a fee of $30 for the full day program and $20 for a half day program with a $5 discount for members of the Friends of Dyken Pond. Participants must dress appropriately for being outdoors and must be physically fit.
The Dyken Pond Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Call 658-2055 or visit the website www.dykenpond.org for more information, directions and a complete schedule of our winter events.