The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

School News

Public Tours Phase Two Of HFCS $8.3 Million Capital Improvement Project

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Taxpayers Curious

by Bea Peterson

On Monday evening, October 6, several people took an opportunity to tour Hoosick Falls

The new fitness room is a big hit in the school and offers strength and conditioning and cardiac improvement equipment. The room was part of Phase 2 of the school improvement project. (Bea Peterson photo)
The new fitness room is a big hit in the school and offers strength and conditioning and cardiac improvement equipment. The room was part of Phase 2 of the school improvement project. (Bea Peterson photo)

 Central School to see the improvements made inside and outside the building this past summer. Some of the older folks wanted to see where their tax dollars had been spent. This was the final scheduled open house. Parents had an opportunity to visit the school during the open houses held for the elementary classes and the high school.

 

Honor Society members were guides Monday. Superintendent Ken Facin, Principals Dailey and Leunig and other administrative staff were on hand to meet people and to answer questions. PTA members provided a large array of refreshments. Students, staff and PTA members were visibly proud of the progress made on the structure. 

The guides showed off the auditorium which has a new sound system, new lighting, new curtains and refurbished chairs. “While the chairs were out the school maintenance staff cleaned up the floor and refinished it with a granular paint,” said Facin. “They did a great job.” Guide Megan McEachron said that last year the Drama Club didn’t use one set of curtains because they were afraid they would fall down. Events in the auditorium should be much more pleasant in the warm weather as it is now air conditioned.

The floors in both the elementary and high school gymnasiums have been sanded and refinished. They look beautiful. The Homecoming dance will be held in the high school gym this Saturday evening.

The high school cafeteria has been repainted and students are delighted with the addition of booths and round tables as well as new long tables. 

All the mismatched lockers have been replaced. Now the halls are lined with only blue lockers. Half of the building has new windows and blinds. The guides said they are pleased with them because the lower portion has screens and open. The windows are tinted to cut down on sun coming in. The students have already found their classrooms to be much more pleasant. “They are definitely cooler in the warm weather,” said guide Erin Shea. The rooms have already proved to be warmer in the cool weather as a result of the new windows.

The school has a new fitness room equipped with strength, conditioning and cardiac equipment such as treadmills and stationary bikes. There is an impressive weight room as well. The guides said the rooms are open during the day and for two hours after school. “Students, staff and teachers are lined up to use them at the end of the day,” said Megan. The fitness room is especially helpful for special education students who have difficulty participating in regular gym classes.

A new technology classroom has replaced the former weight room.

Superintendent Facin said that the drainage projects and the new parking lot and sidewalks were the major improvements outside. Other improvements include a new security system and a phone and computer system that is the same throughout the building.

The new snack shack next to the athletic fields has already proved to be a big hit. On the other side of the school, work is underway on the new elementary playground. Once all the equipment is in place a level, soft surface will be poured. The playground will be handicapped accessible.

The elementary playground equipment is still being installed. Once it is all firmly in place a safety surface that is handicapped friendly will be poured. (Bea Peterson photo)
The elementary playground equipment is still being installed. Once it is all firmly in place a safety surface that is handicapped friendly will be poured. (Bea Peterson photo)

Voters approved the $8.3 million three-phase capital improvement project in 2006. Phase one, completed last year, included replacing the school’s roof and other outside projects. This year it was the many projects described above, and next year the rest of the windows will be replaced. Facin said the projects have been completed within budget. “We have to do a fiscal review of where we are now and look at what we are saving,” he said. “This is important in these economic times.”

Students Of The Month At Grafton Elementary

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Grafton Elementary School is emphasizing the following character traits throughout the year: responsibility, respect, self-control, compassion, tolerance, trustworthiness, perseverance, cooperation, citizenship and appreciation.

For the month of September the character trait was responsibility. The children were recognized at a special awards assembly and had their pictures on display in the building.

Bottom row from left to right: Rachel Bortnick, Nikifor Popov, Colby Brundige, Cora Stewart and Collin Douglas. Top Row: Emma Church, Hannah Sheridan, CJ Bortnick, Domnika Popov, Chase Sabourin, Isla Lyons and Max Locket.

Panther Football Team At Home Friday Night Versus Mechanicville

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Alex Hansen busts through the Granville line for a short gain. Photo by Paul Hand.

by Gary Danforth

The Hoosick Falls Central School varsity football team will be riding a three game winning streak this Friday evening, October 10, when they host the Mechanicville Red Raiders in a Class C, North division game. The Panthers disposed of Granville Central School by a 24-14 margin last Friday evening to raise their overall mark to 4-1 on the year. Only a loss in week two against a powerful Schuylerville eleven has prevented HFCS from going unbeaten. Schuylerville beat up on an undermanned Mechanicville team last Friday night to the tune of 44-6. The Black Horses led 37-0 at the half. At press time it was uncertain whether any or all of the injured Red Raider players would be healthy enough to see action against Hoosick Falls. Some of those players go both ways for Mechanicville so it is a double loss at some positions if the injured players can’t go. 

Under the Goalposts: Elsewhere in Class C football action, Cambridge scored 28 points against Class B size Hudson Falls, but it wasn’t enough as they went down to a 42-28 defeat at the hands of the Tigers. Watervliet pounded Coxsackie-Athens 42-12 while Corinth whipped Stillwater 41-0. Also, Chatham beat Fonda-Fultonville by a point, Voorheesville beat Catholic Central and Tamarac beat Hoosic Valley. This week HFCS should take the measure of Mechanicville as the Red Raiders struggle to put the ball in the air and should not be able to contain a potent Panther passing game. 

If Hoosick Falls wins Friday night versus the Red Raiders, Panther fans may find themselves rooting for Cambridge on the last night of the regular season. If Cambridge also wins in week six along with Schuylerville, HFCS, Cambridge and Schuylerville would all wind up with 5-1 North division records if the Indians can upset Schuylerville in the teams’ last regular season game played Friday night, October 17, in Schuylerville. Either way, that is going to be some ball game. This Friday night will be Homecoming at HFCS. Game time is at 7 pm.

Panther Boys Soccer Gets Clipped

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Will Luke (#8), a sophomore, dribbles the ball up field while Zach Delurey (#10), a junior and one of the captains spies something else of interest. 

Schuylerville defeated Hoosick Falls 4-1 on Wednesday, October 8. Schuylerville scored early, but HF hung in there for the whole game and managed one goal. (Bea Peterson photo)

A Heated Discussion Of The Cost Of The BCS Construction Project At The BOE Workshop

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BCS Press Release

A Berlin Board of Education workshop on Monday, September 29, was held in the Berlin Elementary School to hear reports from school attorney Robert Schofield and SEQR (State Environmental Quality Review) specialist Phillip Dixon.  Attorneys led Board members through the short form for a Type 2 SEQR action, answering questions about this form and the criteria for designations of other actions such as Type 1 and Unlisted as established by State regulations and the Department of Environmental Conservation. The Type 2 designation shows less than 10,000 square feet of new construction and no significant impact on the environment.

Proposed elements of the renovation/new construction project for the Berlin District requiring blacktop, relocation of bus drop off and public parking at Berlin Elementary as well as blacktop at the bus garage area were addressed by Board members and the attorneys.  After a nearly two hour session, the Board of Education approved the Type 2 submission with agreed changes.

The Board turned attention to a report from  ARCH architect Dan Woodside and Engineering consultant Doug Dickson regarding last week’s meeting with Carl Thurnau and Kurt Miller at the State Education Department’s Bureau of Building and Facilities, also attended by Interim Superintendent Charlotte Gregory and State District Superintendent Dr. James Baldwin of Questar III BOCES.  After several days of consultation with other SED officials, it was determined that the Berlin Elementary School could receive some $1.8 million in additional aid to renovate that building if the District continued to plan consolidation of three elementary buildings to a single site at Berlin Elementary.  This gesture was in recognition of District needs, economically and for educational efficiency of programs and would only apply if the consolidation occurred, otherwise the estimates would be based on previous plans.  Previous plans reveal that all three elementary buildings would receive less aid as a result of small enrollments and regulatory aid factors based on building units.  Building Units (BU’s) are based on a standard class size.  The bus garage project and the roofing/ADA compliance project at the Junior/Senior High School sites would be eligible for full aid ratio of 76% of all eligible work.

Further, the Board and architects heard a report from a representative, Dr. Rick Timbs, of BPD Financial consultants, Bernard Donegan’s group, who gave a “ballpark” estimate of the new aid impact on the overall project.  Timbs estimated that the net cost to taxpayers on an annual basis would be $812,000 instead of the previously estimated $1.03 million. 

Tempers flared over the discussion of project expenditures as proposed. The current estimate for work to be done is $21.9 million. Board Member Tom Morelli said he had agreed to a project costing no more than $18 million. But Board Member Jeff Paine argued that costs have escalated in the past two years and the Board should not cause any further delay. He and Board Member Liz Miller encouraged the Board to act on a proposal to be set before the public.  “The public will tell us whether, or not, this is the right thing to do!” Miller said. Morelli disagreed saying, “We have a fiduciary responsibility to provide guidance to the public.  If we are to recommend to the public, and you fundamentally believe that you can’t pay for it, it says that you are not leading the public in the right direction.”  Miller responded emphatically, “I don’t think that is the case. That is what YOU think.” 

The meeting ended at about 10:15 pm. Dr. Timbs and the BPD organization is expected to provide a more comprehensive report to the Board in the near future. 

Another Workshop meeting with architects is scheduled for Wednesday, October 8, at 7:30 pm in the Berlin Elementary School Cafeteria.

Letter to the Editor – I Told You So, But There Is Still A Referendum

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To the Editor,

Is it too soon to say “I told you so”?

Do you know what’s being discussed with the Berlin Central School District (BCSD) referendum?

Did you know they are talking about only getting rid of one school principal position and one school nurse position?  If we keep these salaries we could have two schools for 1/3 the cost (which includes ADA, safety and adding on)!  Weren’t we supposed to save money on salaries?  What’s next?  Although when you “shove” an additional 200 kids into one location – are we really expecting the nurse, custodian, principal, office help, librarian and kitchen staff to all do the same job, with added duties, and still get paid the same?  What is it worth to your children?  How about how your tax dollars will be spent?  How much are you willing to pay if what was promised is not followed through?

We need a lot of money to fix up the Berlin Elementary School (BES). We will not be spending enough money to do so, but there might be a fresh coat of paint in all the rooms to make it look like it.

What about the addition we are building onto BES?  Where were they putting that again? Oh, wait ą it won’t be as big as originally discussed to taxpayers.  There will be JUST ENOUGH room, so if by chance we get more than we have now there would be no room for them – so then where would they go?

Where will our kids be while the bulk of the construction is going on ą IN SCHOOL?

Are you okay with shoving kids into classrooms into what was once a closet?  Are you okay with the construction happening while our kids are in the building, not knowing what lies under the surface – when mold is on the surface?  Are we really saving money and at what cost?

Did you know you still have a voice in the matter?

When the referendum date is finally decided, you have a chance to vote. There is NO reason for adding on a building. SAVE TAX DOLLARS!  Save our children’s health and education!  Which way will you decide to vote? I will be voting NO!

Amy Reger

Grafton, NY

St. Mary’s Annual Cow Plop And Car Show

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It’s that time of the year again! Rain or shine, St. Mary’s Academy of Hoosick Falls will be hosting its annual Cow Plop and Car Show on Sunday, October 5, at the Town of Hoosick Athletic Field. 

The car show will begin at 10 am. Registration for the car show will take place that day, entrance fee is $10. There will 35 trophies given away this year to the top favorite cars, trucks and motorcycles. The car show is sponsored in part by DePaula Chevrolet and Hummer of Albany, WCW, Inc., and Tinkham Real Estate.

In addition to the car show, it’s the famous Cow Plop. Deeds to squares are $20 and are on sale now. If the cow “plops” in your square, you win $1,000. They sold out before noon last year, so buy early.

Throughout the day, the crowd will be entertained by music provided by friend of St. Mary’s, Joe Shaw.

There will also be a family fun festival from noon until 3 pm, including a children’s games and activities area, The Hoedown Express train ride, sponsored by Interface Solutions, food, bake sale, raffles, rides provided by Amyland Amusements, entertainment and more. Vendors are welcome.

For more information or to purchase a deed, please call Mary at 686-4314, x206.

HFCS PTA Events

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Buy Your Raffle Tickets Early And Mark your Calendars For The Annual HFCS PTA Fall Fest! 

 

HFCS PTA Fall Festival 2008 is just around the corner! Come spend time with your family playing games and doing craft activities, while shopping for all kinds of great gifts – from pies to puppets, from jams to jewelry, from soaps to sweets, from T-shirts to toys! You’ll also be entertained by the famous cake walk, a “funhouse hall,” build-your-own Animaland© buddy and much more!

Three kitty-cats enjoyed last year’s HFCS PTA Fall Fest.
Three kitty-cats enjoyed last year’s HFCS PTA Fall Fest.

And don’t miss out on the fabulous door prizes and raffle items – a custom framed Will Moses, a handmade quilt, four framed Warren Kimble prints and a Bennington Pottery bowl filled with gift certificates to local restaurants. Food and beverages, plus home baked goodies, will be for sale, too.

Raffle tickets will be on sale at Fall Festival or prior to the Festival at the community-wide open house on October 6 and at Grand Union on October 4, 5, 11 and 12, from 9 am to 3 pm. Tickets are $1 for one or $5 for six. Take a chance to win any or all of the prizes, and enter as many times as you’d like! Raffle items will be on display at the Hoosick Federal Credit Union from October 8 through October 17.

Don’t miss out on this fun filled day that benefits special programs and events sponsored by the PTA throughout the year. Mark your calendars for HFCS PTA Fall Festival on Saturday, October 18, from 9 am to 3 pm at Hoosick Falls Central School. For information, contact Shannon Wickenden, 518-686-7133 or email swickend@nycap.rr.com.

Vendor Spots Still Available

The PTA still has some vendor spots remaining for the Fall Festival. This fun filled day features vendors, crafts for kids, a bake sale, a cake walk and fabulous raffle prizes.

If you’re interested in being a vendor, contact Margaret Stevens at 518-686-1648 or email bhw6@aol.com. Don’t miss out on this great selling opportunity!

Next HFCS PTA Meeting

The next business meeting of the HFCS PTA will take place on Wednesday, October 15, in the Elementary School Library beginning at 6:30 pm.

As always, members and non-members are encouraged to join meetings to find out what the PTA is doing for our children and to share ideas for special programs and events to benefit the children and families of our school district.

If you’d like to become a member or to learn more about PTA and its programs, please attend this meeting or contact Membership Chair Shannon Wickenden at 518-686-7133.

Commended Students From HFCS In The 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program

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Principal Steven C. Leunig of Hoosick Falls Junior/Senior High School announced today that Samantha J. Merwin and Ethan J. Myers have been named Commended Students in the 2009 National Merit Scholarship Program.  A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by the Principal to these scholastically talented seniors. 

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise.  Although they will not continue in the 2009 competition for National Merit Scholarships, Commended Students placed among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2009 competition by taking the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

“Recognition of academically talented students and the key role played by schools in their development is essential to the pursuit of educational excellence in our nation,” commented a spokesperson for NMSC.  “The young people named Commended Students have demonstrated outstanding academic potential by their strong performance in this highly competitive program.  We hope that this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and that they will continue to diligently pursue their professional goals.”

Panther Football Team Moves To 3-1 With Overtime Win Over Corinth

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by Gary Danforth

It took them into overtime to do it but Ron Jones’ Hoosick Falls Central School Panther football team moved to 3-1 on the year in Class C, North division play with a 39-33 victory last Friday evening, September 26, in Corinth.

The home standing Tomahawks got on the board first when they scored on C.J. Saunders’ 66 yard run early in period one. The point after touchdown was added as Corinth led 7-0. Hoosick Falls came right back with quarterback Kevin Woods scoring from a yard out. Hutton Rasmus’ PAT boot knotted the score at 7-7. Early in period two Woods scored on a five yard run with Rasmus adding the PAT to put the Panthers ahead, 14-7. But Corinth returned the ensuing kickoff for an 85 yard TD and the PAT boot was good as the Tomahawks tied the score at 14-14.

Then Corinth’s Mike Rubel scored on a 29 yard run to give the hosts a 20-14 edge, and the score remained that way when the PAT kick failed. Rubel opened period three with a 79 yard TD scamper, and the kick failed again to leave the Tomahawks ahead, 26-14. HFCS came back with Woods scoring on a one yard run. The PAT boot was no good as HFCS trailed, 26-20. Thomas Bass hauled in a 29 yard TD pass from Woods to knot the score at 26-26. The PAT boot was no good for HFCS.

Corinth took a 32-26 advantage on a 57 yard run by Saunders midway through period four. The Tomahawks’ PAT boot put them ahead, 33-26. Junior Alex Hansen scored on a four yard run with less than a minute to go to get HFCS to 33-32. Rasmus’ PAT boot put the game into overtime.

Hansen’s one yard run in overtime gave the Panthers the hard earned win. 

Under the Goalposts: In other Class C games this past weekend, Cambridge crushed Stillwater 41-0, Chatham blistered Voorheesville 62-7, Granville blasted Mechanicville 38-6, Fonda-Fultonville beat Brittonkill-Tamarac 41-39, Watervliet pounded Hoosic Valley 30-0 and Coxsackie-Athens beat Catholic Central High School 8-0. A lot of teams are putting up a lot of points this season. Cambridge looks to be rounding into their usual form. Watervliet has another experienced, senior dominated team. Fonda has some fine skill players, and Chatham looks to be loaded this year. That brings us to the rest of the Panthers’ final three regular season games. In two weeks HFCS will play host to Mechanicville for their final regular season home game which will most likely be Homecoming. That will be followed by a long journey to Cobleskill-Richmondville. They will be two very competitive games. This week the Panthers travel to Granville to take on the Golden Horde in their earthen stadium. Bring a lawn chair and watch the game from the hill on the Granville side of the field. Opponents’ fans have shared the high side of the field for years. Granville has a very respectable team this year and cannot be taken lightly. The Horde scored 30 points against Cambridge in week two and put 38 points on the scoreboard versus an always competitive Mechanicville eleven this past week. Granville and Hoosick Falls battled year in and year out for league supremacy in the early 1980s and this week’s game could be a throwback to those very competitive teams which battled so closely on even terms some decades back. HFCS seems to be coming along and they have a lot of players on offense and defense who are getting better and better. This one could come down to turnovers and extra points made. But Hoosick Falls has found ways to win versus Stillwater and Corinth the past two weeks, and I think they will find a way to beat the Horde. But this is not the same Horde team which the Panthers have played the past five or six years. Too many mistakes and it could be a long bus ride home from Granville. Corinth turned the ball over five times against HFCS and lost. This Saturday’s game will be very competitive.