Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
Petersburgh – Christine Judge Harris, age 107, died Thursday, December 5, 2013, at the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation at Hoosick Falls. Born in Cologne, Germany, on November 17, 1906, she was the daughter of the late Josef and Catharina Schmitz Rymus. She attended Ursula Sister Convent and later the Cologne Conservatory, where she studied music.
by Sherry Bowman-Kluck
Earlier in May of 2013, Donald Jones, a rural carrier for the Petersburgh Post Office, was recognized for his 25 years of federal employment. He received a mounted letter of appreciation and a gold 25 Year Service Award Pin from Postmaster Cindy Page. [Read more…] about 25 Years Of Postal Service Excellence In Petersburgh
submitted by Miss Olivia
Three students from The British School of Ballet in Hoosick Falls auditioned for parts in the Christmas ballet The Nutcracker. All the girls received parts. Over 200 students from different ballet schools auditioned and about 40 students were chosen.
[Read more…] about 36th Year Miss Olivia’s Students Dance In Professional Nutcracker
The Petersburgh Public Library invites the public to decorate cookies on Saturday, December 7, from 10 am to 12 pm. Children of all ages are invited to drop by the Library to decorate holiday cookies to take home. Cookies and decorating supplies will be provided.
On Saturday, December 14, between 10 am and noon everyone is invited to make a Rudolph holiday decoration or pin.
Story Hour
Pre-school Story Hour continues on Tuesdays at 11 am on December 10 when the letter “M” will be featured with stories about manners. On December 17 there will be a holiday story hour. There will be no story hour on December 24 or 31. Story hour will resume on Tuesday, January 7.
Crocheting classes will continue on Tuesday, December 10 and 17, at 2 pm and then will resume on January 7 and will meet monthly on the first Tuesday of the month. Knitting continues Wednesdays at 4 pm, but will not meet on December 25 and January 1. Everyone is invited to join in these activities.
by Alex Brooks
A public information meeting was held on November 18 to tell the public about the project to replace the bridge over the Little Hoosic River at Broken Wheel Road. Presenters were from the engineering firm that is designing and managing the project, Greenman Pederson Inc., known as GPI.
[Read more…] about Information Meeting On The Broken Wheel Road Bridge Replacement
On Saturday, November 30, the annual craft and gift fair at PVMCC will take place from 9 am to 1 pm. There will be many shopping opportunities with jewelry, knitted items, baskets, dried flower arrangements, cards, photos, candles, pottery, artisan breads, baked goods, garlic, wreaths and kissing balls…and more! There will be an auction of great gifts from the vendors. Tickets cost three for $1. Shop locally this year
The End to End, a 29 mile endurance challenge along the Taconic Crest Trail, will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014, as announced by the Taconic Hiking Club. This event pits entrants against 29 miles of unimproved backwoods trails traversing three states – New York, Vermont and Massachusetts. The challenge of this hike is a cumulative total of 7,836 feet of ascent and 9,470 feet of descent to be completed in one day.
In past years, entrants have come from New Jersey, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York to test their stamina against the rigors of a trail that includes Berlin Mountain, the highest point in Rensselaer County.
Those interested in achieving the end reward of a specialized trail patch and a unique certificate of achievement should contact R.J. Hydorn, 2 Miller Avenue, Troy, NY, 12180, or rjhydorn@lycos.com to have the registration form sent. The form is also online at http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com. Completed registration forms will not be accepted until December 1, 2013. An entry fee of $30 is required with each registration. This fee is non-refundable after March 31, 2014. There will be a ceiling of 25 entrants for this event, with each application handled on a first received, first served basis. Additional entrants will be placed on a waiting list in case of cancellations.
All participants in this challenge are expected to arrive in Pittsfield State Park on Friday, May 16, to camp out and be ready for the 5 am wake up and hot breakfast served by the Taconic Hiking Club. Hikers start at 5:30 am, and there are three support sites with water and other supplies along the route. Sweep parties follow the hikers to provide assistance and support as needed. Volunteers will be available to pack the hikers’ camping gear and move their cars to the finish line at Rt. 346 in Pownal, VT. Entrants are encouraged to bring a companion to help with this and to be available to drive a very weary hiker home after the successful completion of this event.
It should be noted that this is not a timed event and entrants only compete against their own clocks, not each other. This unique event has been held for over 30 years and has attracted attention in both Backpacker and Adventure magazines. For more details see the Taconic Hiking Club website, http://taconichikingclub.blogspot.com.
by Alex Brooks
The Petersburgh Town Board passed the 2014 budget at its regular monthly meeting on November 18. The tax levy will be $705,719, about 6.5% higher than last year. General Fund appropriations are about $54,600 lower than last year, and General Fund budgeted revenues are $3,600 higher. Highway appropriations are about $14,000 higher than last year, and highway budgeted revenues are $10,600 higher.
[Read more…] about Petersburgh Town Board Action – 2014 Budget Adopted With 6.5% Increase
Join us for the longest Black Friday special in Petersburgh history. On November 23 through December 7 the Petersburgh Library will be giving away hundreds of books, audios cassettes and videos. Since the book sale in May 2013 the Library has received numerous donations of used books, etc. We now need to clean our vestibule, so for two weeks we are offering everything in the vestibule free to the public. Take advantage of this opportunity to find a good book to read, or, if you have an older vehicle, pick up some books on audiocassette to listen to as you travel.
Cash Donations Needed
The end of the year is approaching, and the Library is in need of funds to purchase new books in 2014. The Town of Petersburgh has found it necessary to cut the contractual portion of the Library budget by $1,450. Since this portion of the budget includes items which cannot be reduced, such as telephone bills, internet charges, post office box rental and charges related to our participation in the Upper Hudson Library System, etc., this means the book budget is being reduced by $1,450. To make up this deficit the Library is requesting cash donations to buy new books in 2014. The Library is a non-profit organization and you may receive a tax deductible receipt for your donation. You may want to consider making a donation in memory of or in honor of a friend or loved on this holiday season. All donations of any size will be greatly appreciated by all the Library users in the coming year.
Holiday Cookies
On Saturday, December 7, from 10 am to 12 pm children of all ages are invited to drop by the Library to decorate holiday cookies to take home. Cookies and decorating supplies will be provided
Story Hour
Pre-school Story Hour continues on Tuesdays at 11 am. On November 26 there will be a special Thanksgiving story hour.
Learn To Crochet
Tuesday, November 26, at 2 pm we will hold our final Tuesday Learn to Crochet session. If you are interested in future classes please contact the Library.
Knitting
Knitting continues Wednesdays at 4 pm. Everyone is invited to join.
Petersbugh/Berlin – Stephen J. Gaj, Sr., 57, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2013, surrounded by his family at Holyoke Medical Center in Holyoke, MA. Steve was born on April 12, 1956, to the late Walter and Stefania Gaj. He grew up in Granby, MA, and started his own family there in 1978. In 1989, he moved to Petersburgh, NY. He remained in the Petersbugh/Berlin, NY, area for the rest of his life.
Steve was a racing and classic car enthusiast spending most of his life as an auto mechanic as well as an employee at Lebanon Valley Dragway where he could often be seen on the starting line. If he wasn’t at the track, he was enjoying the simple life that he loved, which mostly included spending time with his friends and family in a garage or next to a campfire. Over the years he also enjoyed hunting, played in several horseshoe, dart and softball leagues and was well known for his pig roasts.
Stephen is pre-deceased by his son, Stephen J. Gaj, Jr, his parents, Walter Gaj and Stefania Gaj (Gondek), and his brothers, Paul Gaj, Frederick Gaj and Walter Gaj, Jr. Survivors include his children, Paul F. Gaj and wife Jillian of Orange, MA, and Charlene M. Millias and husband Michael of Johnstown, NY, the mother of his children, Linda Larose, his grandchildren, Stephen, Tristen and Alivia Gaj and Maya and Eryn Millias, his siblings, Dorothy Bycenski and husband Joseph, Phyllis Horoszewski and husband Thomas, Richard Gaj and wife Cynthia, Peter Gaj and wife Robyn, Gail Holt and husband Frederick, David Gaj and Diane Lemire and husband Arthur, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
Services were held Monday, November 18, at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home in Petersburgh. Calling hours were from 10 am until 12 pm with a memorial service at 12 pm. Burial followed at the Meadowlawn Cemetery in Petersburgh.
