The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Stephentown

Stephentown Library News

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Stephentown Memorial Library Board of Trustees invites the public to its Annual Meeting on Sunday, April 13 from 4 pm to 6 pm in the SML Community Room.  A light dinner will be served and all are welcome to attend. Officers will report on events from the past year and discuss the future of the library.  Of particular interest will be discussion of the newly acquired property adjacent to the library and how it will be used.  Public comment and ideas are welcome.  Please join us for this annual gathering.

• Introduction to Zumba – Wednesday, April 16, at 7 pm.   If you have been thinking of trying something new, join us for Zumba at SML!  Zumba is an exhilarating Latin-inspired dance fitness class designed to benefit anyone, regardless of age or fitness level.  Zumba Instructor Kim Conley is also a Certified Kripalu Yoga Teacher, Pilates Instructor and Personal Trainer who works with people of every age and ability all over the Berkshires. She will offer a free introductory Zumba class and kick off an ongoing series of Wednesday night Zumba classes for $5 each here in Stephentown. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.  Zumba is a blast – Come join the party and bring your friends!

• Easter Egg Hunt at the Stephentown Memorial Library on Saturday, April 19, from 10 to 11 am. The Easter Egg Hunt will be held rain or shine. Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Come to the Stephentown Memorial Library for an Easter Egg Hunt.  There will be activities and fun for all ages with Easter games, including a Bunny Hop Race and egg toss, egg coloring and a visit by the Easter Bunny!  Pre-registration is helpful but not required.  This event is sponsored by Town of Stephentown and open to all Stephentown children only.

For more information, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750.  Check our website,www.stephentownlibrary.org  for regular updates.

Beryl Moul Scholarship

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The Beryl H. Moul Memorial Grange Scholarship was established in 1958 by West Sand Lake Grange #949 in memory of prominent Grange Member Beryl H. Moul.  Applicants must be Rensselaer County residents (for at least 4 years) and must be accepted in an accredited 2 or 4 year college program in New York State and pursuing a career in agriculture, home economics, nursing, natural resource management, environmental engineering or pharmacology.

The application includes an official high school transcript, and the deadline is May 1.  The application and instructions can be found at any Rensselaer County High School Guidance Office or at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County website at www.ccerensselaer.org under teen opportunities.  For questions please contact the CCE office of Rensselaer County at 272-4210.

Hoffman’s Fate In Hands Of Jury

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by Thaddeus Flint

The fate of Brendan Hoffman, the 22 year old Stephentown man accused of manslaughter and homicide charges, as well as leaving the scene of a 2012 accident, now lies in the hands of the jury.

The trial, which began on March 25, wrapped up with closing arguments at the Rensselaer County Court House in Troy on Wednesday.

[Read more…] about Hoffman’s Fate In Hands Of Jury

Public Meeting/Forum On Open Meetings Law And FOIL

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submitted by Colleen Teal, New Lebanon Town Clerk

A Public Meeting/Forum will be held at the New Lebanon Town Hall on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 pm on Open Meetings Law and the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, will be directing a public forum, open to everybody, to talk about and answer questions regarding public access to government information in New York State. This is your opportunity to get your questions answered regarding local government, including but not limited to your Town Board, Zoning Board and Planning Board, access to Town minutes and FOIL requests.

This public forum will last as long as is necessary as Robert Freeman is dedicated to staying to answer questions until no more questions remain.

Veterans Of Stephentown Texas Hold’em

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The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, April 5, 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.

No advance registration is required. A donation of $35 per player will be accepted and give the player 6,000 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,000 extra in chip value. This tournament will pay one place for every 10 players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of 9 places.

A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.

For further information, please call Tom MacVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Stephentown Historical Society Program On Herman Melville

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Will Garrison will give an illustrated talk on Herman Melville at Arrowhead to the Stephentown Historical Society on Monday, April 7, at 7:30 p.m.  The meeting will be at the Stephentown Heritage Center on Garfield Road (County Route 26), Stephentown, New York.  The program is free and open to the public.  The building is handicapped accessible.  For directions or information, phone 518-733-0010.

In 1850 writer Herman Melville purchased the Pittsfield farm that he named Arrowhead.  He was familiar with the land because he had visited his uncle’s adjacent property since his boyhood.  There on rural Holmes Road, with the splendid view of distant and ‘whale-like’ Mount Greylock, Melville completed Moby Dick, as well as several other novels and short works, amid the tumult of his growing family, farming and a multitude of visiting relatives.  Herman Melville and his family returned to New York City in 1863, but Arrowhead remained in the Melville family until the 1920s.

The Melville home was a rambling farmhouse built in 1783.  It now is a National Historic Landmark, the home of the Berkshire Historical Society, and a house museum.

Will Garrison is Curator for the Berkshire Historical Society at Arrowhead.  In addition to telling of the Melvilles’ thirteen years at Arrowhead, he will tell of the house and barn, the restoration projects, and the historical society and their programs and resources.  Garrison has a Masters degree in history museum studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program and previous long experience with the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservation.

Stephentown Library News

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Stephentown Memorial Library Board of Trustees invites the public to its Annual Meeting on Sunday, April 13 from 4 pm to 6 pm in the SML Community Room.  A light dinner will be served and all are welcome to attend. Officers will report on events from the past year and discuss the future of the library.  Of particular interest will be discussion of the newly acquired property adjacent to the library and how it will be used.  Public comment and ideas are welcome.  Please join us for this annual gathering.

For more information, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750.  Check our website,www.stephentownlibrary.org  for regular updates.  We are on Facebook -.  Add us to your friend list for up to the minute news!

Upcoming Event

• Tuesday, April 1, at 6:30 pm – Parenting Course begins. This six week class will meet on April 1, 8 and 22 and May 6, 13and 20. Participants should plan to attend all sessions in the class cycle. Led by Bruce Weiner, the class introduces the Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) method of parenting and will consist of the basics tenets of Parent Effectiveness Training, the positive character education focus on problem solving with children and other issues brought up by parents during the course. The only cost will be $15 for course workbooks, and this can be waived for those with financial need. All parents or other caregivers are invited to join us for this helpful class. Reservations are required, as space for this class is limited. Please call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 518-733-5750 to reserve a space.

For more information, call the Stephentown Memorial Library.

Shatford Little League Sign-Up

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2014 Shatford Little Leasgue registration time is here!

Who can play? Any boy or girl ages 5 and whose parent(s)/guardian(s) reside in the Shatford Little League boundaries – map is available at registation and online.  Children age 4 are welcome if thier parent helps his/her team.

When and where can I register my child? On the internet-Sign up NOW at www.eteamz.com/ShatfordLL/teams/

Or at the New Lebanon Firehouse on Saturday, April 5th from 10am-1pm or  Tuesday, April 15th from 6-8pm

Or at Stephentown Library on Saturday, April 5th from 10am-1pm or Tuesday, April 15th from 6-8pm

Or at the Shatford Little League Park on Saturday, April 26th from 10am -1pm

What should I bring? A parent or legal guardian with a current driver’s license, and an original or state certified copy of your child’s birth certificate  (First time registrants only)

How can I get more information? Please contact Daniel Corbett, League President, at shatfordbaseball@outlook.com

You may also like us on Facebook “Shatford Little League” in groups or at http://facebook.com/pages/Shatford-Little-League/602768553149003

Taconic Valley Soccer Club

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Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Taconic Valley Soccer Club will be held on March 31 at the Berlin Municipal building starting at 7 in the evening.  All coaches, parents and Board members are asked to be in attendance.  Some of the items to be discussed will be how to increase the number of players, inclusion of players from other towns lacking teams, filling open Board member spots, new fundraising activities and developing new fields.

Spring Soccer

The TVSC is currently accepting registrations for its Spring soccer program for boys and girls k-5th grade who would like to play soccer! Opening Day is April 26, at the Berlin Elementary School, starting at 9 am. No registrations will be accepted at Opening Day.

Registration forms are located at local libraries as well as online at taconicvalley.sportssignup.com.

Also, we are looking for volunteers for coaching and participating on the Board.

For further information, please contact Jen Burhans at 658-2096.