Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Rob Allen
The Hoosick Falls Central School Drama Club is preparing to present their fall production: the two outrageously funny comedies Noises Off by Michael Frayn and “Action News” by Jonathan Rand. The performances will occur on Thursday, December 12, at 2 pm, Saturday, December 14, at 7 pm and Sunday, December 15, at 2 pm. There will not be a Friday performance (as we have traditionally done). Thanks to the administration of HFCS, we continue to offer free admission to all performances.
submitted by Bob Lang
HF 2 Schuylerville 2
The Hoosick Falls bowling team earned a hard fought tie, 2-2, against its Southern Division rival Schuylerville on Thursday, December 5, at Olde Saratoga Lanes in Schuylerville. Hoosick Falls record is now 10-2 and Schuylerville is now 7-5. After losing the fi rst game by 180 pins, Hoosick Falls came back and won the second game by 145 pins and won the third game by 16 pins which gave Schuylerville the point for total match pins with a total of 3,373 to Hoosick Falls’ total of 3,354.
by Alex Brooks
The Hoosick Falls School Board was in a celebratory mood at its meeting on November 26. The primary reason for the celebration was that Hoosick Falls Senior Luis Weierbach received a “letter of assurance” confirming his acceptance at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. [Read more…] about Weierbach Accepted At West Point
by Steve Bradley
Mark Hackett scored 17 points in the season opening game for the Hoosick Falls Panther basketball team. Facing Argyle on Argyle’s court, the Panthers got off to a slow start, trailing the entire first quarter. Midway through the second quarter, the team came alive when Noah Chani hit a three-pointer, Will Bradley hit three three-pointers and Hackett hit two in a three minute span. [Read more…] about Panther Boys Basketball Opens With 63 – 54 Win
Due to a sickness and a conflict with a community event this Saturday evening, the HFCS Drama Club’s fall production of the two comedies Noises Off and “Action News” has been moved to next weekend. The performances will occur on Saturday, December 14, at 7 pm and Sunday, December 15, at 2 pm.
Both shows, Noises Off by Michael Frayn and the one act play “Action News” by Jonathan Rand, are outrageously funny comedies. “Action News,” which will open the performance, is a fast paced parody of our standard news programs.
Noises Off is a farce and fits into the show within a show genre. The show centers around a company of actors who are working on a play. Act 1 is the company’s final dress rehearsal. For Act 2, the entire set will be spun around, and the company will perform the show, with the audience watching from the perspective of back stage. However, the stress of the actors’ dysfunctional personalities and various love affairs (real and alleged) come to a head as the show is literally starting. When you mix in 8 doors, two love triangles, a jealous rage, an actor threatening to quit and an axe (why not?), you have a very “interesting” performance. For Act 3, the set is spun around again back to normal, and we watch the company put on their final performance. At this point, the frustration and hatred have boiled over, resulting in a very unique performance as actors try (and fail) to save the show.
Thank You
We in the Drama Club would like to apologize for the inconvenience of switching the performance dates, and we would like to thank the school, the community, and especially the parents of our drama students for their flexibility and willingness to help. We are extremely excited to put on this performance, and we hope to see you there!
The Hoosick Falls bowling team defeated Hadley-Luzerne on Tuesday by the score of 4-0. Hoosick Falls had total pins of 3,581, and Hadley-Luzerne had total pins of 2,480. Hoosick Falls now has a record of 8-0, and Hadley-Luzerne has a record of 4-4.
Hadley-Luzerne was led by Drew Cirillo with a 199-484. Hoosick Falls leading bowlers were Ken Marbot who bowled a 300 on his way to a 716 score, A.J. Hurlburt 258-688, Jennifer Sargood 268-583, Josh McCart 200-583, Stephen Surdam 194-541 and Kyla Day 161-470. The top JV bowler was Jonathan Bossoni with a 169-324 (for two games).
“This was another great score of 3,581 by the team for just their second match of the season. We had some great scores led by Ken Marbot with his first 300 game and a 716 triple followed by A.J. Hurlburt with a great triple of 688 and Jennifer Sargood with a great 268 game. We had some good bowling by everyone on the team. Our next match on Thursday against Schuylerville on their lanes will be our biggest match so far this season. I hope the team can continue to bowl as well as we have in our first two matches.” said Coach Lang.
Dear Editor,
I wanted to share with the Hoosick Falls community, as well as our surrounding towns, the wonderful experiences I have had with two groups from Hoosick Falls Central School in the past few weeks.
On November 16 I accompanied 33 students to NYC to perform at Carnegie Hall. Wow! How many people want to be able to do that in their lifetime? These 33 kids ranged in age from 12-17, grades 7-12. Under the direction of Ambigay Yudkoff, they had spent tireless hours learning songs in different languages to perform. The concert was a fundraiser for the Kate Winslow Golden Hat Foundation, a foundation celebrating love and self-expression for those with autism. They sang on stage with Tim Janis, Forte, Nathan Pacheco, Nick Pitera and Amy Petty.
The trip started at 5 am, after cheering on the football team the night before. We arrived at the rehearsal hall ready to sing and were the only group not carrying their music – they had it all memorized! There was no time for sightseeing except for the quick 20 block walk from the rehearsal hall to Carnegie Hall. The day was a bit hectic due to many last minute changes, but the kids adapted instantly. Everyone was well prepared, courteous and very professional. Our group on stage was visibly the expert; all students standing still, not fixing their hair or clothing and always having a smile on their face. Our students fully embraced the cause benefitting from their performance and were honored to be included. Even though they did not have many supporters other than close family members, they still were overjoyed to represent Hoosick Falls.
I have been the parent helper since the inception of the Pep Band in the fall of 2009. Every year our membership has grown. On November 23 I was able to take 22 of the members to Kingston to cheer on the football team at Dietz Stadium. These students tirelessly give everything they have week in and out to support the football program at HFCS. This year we had fans request that we sit near them! The community of Hoosick Falls enjoys the band; I hear nothing but great compliments on how the band makes the games more than just an average football game. I was honored to stand with the kids while they waited at the school and applauded the football team when they returned – the thought of abandoning them after a tough loss never crossed their minds!
I am also extremely proud of all the students involved in the performing arts programs. The drama department will be performing Noises Off on December 14 and 15. The jazz band played at the concourse in Albany on December 3, and all the groups will be performing for the winter concerts on December 16 and 19. On January 31 the chorus will be performing on the stage at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall with the Albany ProMusica for the fourth year in a row. Shortly after, they will be hosting international humanitarian and renowned musician Sharon Katz & The Peace Train on February 13. Sharon Katz & The Peace Train use proceeds from their concert appearances to support their humanitarian work in South Africa and other countries around the world. Their work includes music therapy with orphans and communities affected by HIV/AIDS, feeding programs in poverty stricken communities, conflict resolution work in violence torn regions and building schools and community arts centers in under developed areas.
I encourage the community to come see what talent we have in Hoosick Falls that is not on the field or the court but rather on the stage. Many of the concerts, plays and performances are rarely attended by the public at large. Just ask the jazz band how they feel at the end of a concert, only seeing family members left in the audience – their response will be less than joyful. Show your support for the performing arts today – you will not be disappointed!
Sincerely,
Joyce Brewer
TC Lane, Hoosick Falls
As part of the Troy Victorian Stroll, Hoosac School singers will perform selections from the “Boar’s Head and Yule Log” Festival at 2 pm on Sunday, December 8, at St. Paul’s Church, 58 Third Street, Troy. The Hoosac School Boar’s Head and Yule Log Singers are a select group of students in striking Renaissance costumes who will sing songs from the traditional Boar’s Head and Yule Log Pageant.
The Boar’s Head is one of the oldest continuing festivals of the Christmas season, first celebrated at Queen’s College, Oxford, in 1340. Legend has it that a scholar was studying a book of Aristotle while walking through the forest on his way to Christmas Mass. Suddenly he was confronted by an angry wild boar. Having no other weapon, the resourceful Oxonian rammed his metal bound philosophy book down the throat of the charging animal, whereupon the brute choked to death. That night the boar’s head, finely dressed and garnished, was borne in procession to the dining room, accompanied by carolers singing “in honor of the King of Bliss.”
This ceremony was brought to colonial America by the Bouton family, persecuted French Huguenots who had learned of the custom during a period of exile in England. The Boutons settled in Troy and were closely connected with the Episcopal church and its schools, including Hoosac School. St. Paul’s of Troy was the “City Church” of the Tibbits family and as such has significant connection to Hoosac School, which was founded in 1889 by The Reverend Dr. Edward Dudley Tibbits, a member of that famous Troy family.
Hoosac School hosts the Yule Log Christmas celebration/pageant annually. Its great array of old costumes has been kept intact for many years. Every faculty member and student has a role in the preparation and performance. Directing the show this year is Music Master Christopher Uhl who said, “The Yule Log is divided into two parts. The first part tells the story of Christ’s birth and its meaning and implications to individual beliefs. The second part is the earthly celebration of that birth and the revelry that accompanied the human celebration – feasting.”
Hoosac School will hold its 123rd celebration of Boar’s Head & Yule Log on Thursday, December 12, 2013.
On Friday, December 13, the Berlin HS Class of 2014 will be holding its next Pizza Night fundraiser, and we are combining it with Shop on the Avenue. We are still looking for local crafters and vendors to register for spaces. The cost of each space is $10 and the money will be donated to the high school Student Council Operation Support Our Troops. Shop on the Avenue is from 5 to 8 pm. If you are interested in reserving a space, please contact Karen Day at the high school at 658-2515 or by email, kday@berlincentral.org.
As for Pizza Night, you can order hot, fresh pizzas by emailing Karen Day up to 2:30 Friday afternoon and then by phone at 658-2515 ext. 209. Pizzas cost $8 and toppings cost $1 each. Toppings include pepperoni, sausage, ham, bacon, mushrooms, black olives, peppers, onions, pineapple, broccoli and jalapeños. Pizzas are available from 4 to 7 pm.
by Thaddeus Flint
At a special meeting held on November 7, the Berlin Central School Board unanimously agreed to offer the School District’s current Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Stephen Young, a three year extension of his existing contract.
[Read more…] about BCS Superintendent Of Schools Gets A Contract Extension And A Raise
