The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Stephentown

Rensselaer Land Trust Ingalls Preserve Ribbon Cutting In Stephentown

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On Saturday, July 20, more than 30 community members gathered at the Rensselaer Land Trust’s Robert Ingalls Preserve in Stephentown for an official ribbon cutting ceremony in memory of Robert Ingalls.
During the ceremony, Christine Young, Rensselaer Land Trust’s Executive Director, reflected on Robert Ingalls’ years of dedication to the Land Trust as Vice-President and as a long time Board member who served on multiple committees to aid in the Land Trust’s success. “He touched the lives of many of us through his generous and humble spirit and extensive knowledge of plants and the land of the region – he is greatly missed,” said Young.
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Kay ten Kraft Memorial Service

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A Memorial service for Kay ten Kraft will be held on August 3 at 1 pm at the Stephentown Federated Church. Kay was a dear and cherished friend to many in the community. She was a marvelous fiber artist who loved to share her knowledge with anyone who was interested in the fiber arts. She loved people and animals, and she shared this love by being in several knitting and spinning groups. Her love, laughter, and joy of life was infectious and inspired many of the people who knew her. Her sudden death was shocking to all, and she is deeply missed by all who loved her.
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Irene Walther

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Stephentown – H. Irene McClain Walther, 87, of Newton Road, Stephentown, NY, died on Thursday evening, July 18, 2013, at Samaritan Hospital in Troy, NY, surrounded by her loving family.
Born July 31, 1925, in Washington, PA, she was the daughter of the late Sweeney and Beulah Tilton McClain. She was the loving wife of the late Kenneth G. Walther, who died on October 11, 2004. They were married on September 22, 1946, in Washington, PA. She was a member of the Stephentown Federated Church, where she was once President of the Ladies Aid.
Irene graduated from Washington High School and worked for a shipyard during World War II and for Duncan Miller Glass in Pennsylvania. The Walthers moved to Stephentown in 1956, relocating from East Meadow, LI. After raising her family, she baked cookies for the Pease Farm and worked at the Walter C. Sykes General Store in Stephentown for over 15 years, retiring in the late 1980s. She was an avid rose gardener whose favorite color was pink. She liked growing vegetables, making crafts, quilting and crocheting and model trains. Besides her husband, Irene is pre-deceased by siblings, James McClain and Lois Hastings.
Survivors include her children, David E. and wife Cheryl Walther of West Stephentown, NY, Janice E. Walther of Stephentown and Donna L. and husband Skip Densing of Pittstown, NY, her sister, Nora Gayle and Boyd Mansfield of Washington, PA, her grandchildren, Rebecca and husband Steve Wulff, Jonathan and wife Sara Walther, Matthew, Michael and Sarah Densing, her great-grandchildren, Ashley R. and husband Brian Zimmerman, Grace and Sophia Wulff, Jeremiah, Miriam and Malachi Walther, as well as her great-great-grandchildren, Isabella and Isaac Zimmerman.
Funeral services were held on Sunday, July 21, at 7 pm in the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, Stephentown, where Rev. Trygve Tomlinson of the West Stephentown Baptist Church and Rev. Jason White of the Grafton Baptist Church officiated. Relatives and friends were invited for visitation  at the funeral home before the service.
Committal services took place on Monday, July 22, at 2 pm at the Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Saratoga, NY, where Irene will be buried with her late husband.
Memorial contributions to the Stephentown Rescue Squad in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown, NY, 12168, would be appreciated.

Stephentown Town Board Action – A Resurgence Of Community Spirit

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by David Flint
There seems to be a resurgence of community spirit in Stephentown. Following the opening of three new businesses in Town recently – Cinch’m Up Stables, the Beer Diviner Taproom & Market and Knuckleheads Restaurant – a Beautification Committee is now being formed. The latter was instigated by a most generous offer from Burt and Alice Swersey to donate hundreds of trees and shrubs from their Shadowbrook Nursery – a business now being phased out – to beautify the downtown area. [Read more…] about Stephentown Town Board Action – A Resurgence Of Community Spirit

Four Arrested In Alcohol Sting In The Eastwick Area

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by David Flint
State Police conducted an Underage Drinking Initiative in the Eastwick area on Saturday, July 6 and several local businesses were caught in the sting. As part of the investigation, Police recruited an undercover underage volunteer to enter each of five establishments where beer or liquor is sold. [Read more…] about Four Arrested In Alcohol Sting In The Eastwick Area

Stephentown Historical Society Strawberry Festival

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submitted by Bill Zimmerman, SHS President
On Sunday, June 23, the Stephentown Historical Society hosted its 32nd Annual Strawberry Festival from 11 am to 4 pm at the Berry Patch on Route 22. Sunny skies, a light breeze and temperatures in the mid to high 80s whetted people’s appetites for strawberry shortcake, ice cream, strawberry-rhubarb pie and chocolate-covered strawberries. [Read more…] about Stephentown Historical Society Strawberry Festival

Stephentown Historical Society Community Tag Sale

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The Stephentown Historical Society will host the sixteenth annual Community Tag Sale on Saturday, July 20, at the grassy field south of Gardner’s Coffee Shoppe on Route 22 in Stephentown. Gather your items to sell yourself or to donate to support the Society. The tag sale will run from 9 am to 3 pm, with a rain date of Sunday, July 21. Selling spaces are available for individuals or other organizations for $20. Reservations are not required. No tables, chairs or shade are provided. Call 518-733-5170 for more information.
Your donation of clean, useable items will help support the Society’s programs. They cannot accept clothing, large appliances, computers, computer equipment, televisions, plastic Christmas decorations, records or VHS tapes. Small appliances should be in working order. The Heritage Center on Garfield Road is open Fridays from 1 to 4 pm for delivery of donations. Call 733-5170 or 658-2605 to arrange for a drop-off of your donated items, to reserve a selling space or for any other questions.
Vendors should arrive no earlier than 8 am on the day of the sale. This event has attracted a large crowd of shoppers in past years.

Letter To The Editor – Police State Tactics At School

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Dear Editor:
I share the dismay expressed by Anita Henry over the “Drug Sniff at BCS.”
What was the plan if the dog made a hit? Would the principal assist the sheriff’s deputy applying handcuffs to the student. Would the student(s) be taken away in a patrol car? Is there an attorney on call to assist a student with legal rights? Was the dog’s hit accurate?
What was the plan to deal with a child who refused to participate?
Is the District prepared for the expense of defending this behavior in court?
It is sad to see police state tactics brought to school. This tactic seems over the top when the principal indicates drugs are not a significant problem at the school.
I am dismayed that the Board of Education sponsored this exercise.
Richard A. Demick
State Route 43, Stephentown

Beer Diviner Tap Room Opens In Stephentown

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by David Flint
Jonathan Post, aka the Beer Diviner, presided at the grand opening of his Tap Room and Market Saturday in Stephentown. Post opened just last year what he calls a nano-brewery – that’s something smaller than a micro-brewery – up in Cherry Plain on Bly Hollow Road. The brewery remains up in the woods, but Post wanted a location closer to civilization where he could market his brews.
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