The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

School News

SMA Second Annual Duck Race

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A fun, family-friendly event hosted by Brown’s Brewery at 50 Factory Hill Road in North Hoosick, the Second Annual “Quack” will be held, on Saturday May 30 from 3 to 7 pm.

The focus of this event is a quarter mile rubber-ducky race down the Walloomsac River. Ducks will be sold for $10 each, or 3 ducks for $20. First place wins $1000, 2nd place $250 and 3rd place $100.  The event includes carnival games, carnival food, live entertainment and the most exciting attraction of all – the duck race!

The ducks will be launched at 5:30 pm.

While playing the games and eating great food you can enjoy the sounds of Three’s Harmony (Krissy, Wayne and Sherri) inside the Taproom at Brown’s. Fab DJ Ben Patten will be outside keeping everyone up to date on all of the events as they are happening. Tickets are on sale now.  Last year we sold out, so don’t delay.  You can get your lucky duck ticket or quack pack at St. Mary’s Academy, Thorpe’s Pharmacy and Brown’s Taproom. For more information please call St. Mary’s Academy at 518-686-4314. See you there! Quack! Quack!

Beryl H. Moul Memorial Grange Scholarship Opportunities

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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 four years) and must be accepted in an accredited two or four year college program pursuing a career in agriculture, home economics, nursing, natural resource management, environmental engineering or pharmacology.  The application deadline which includes an official High School transcript is June 10, 2015.

Rensselaer County Farm Bureau is proud to sponsor scholarships for candidate (s) interested in pursuing a career in agriculture.  Applications must be postmarked on or before July 1, 2015.  Please send to Rensselaer County Farm Bureau

Eastern New York Farm Bureau Regional Office

PO Box 370

Salem, NY 12865

Phone: 1-866-995-7300 / eny@nyfb.org

Instructions for each scholarship, as well as others, 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 “4-H Scholarships” and applications can be found under “4-H Forms.” For questions please contact Kandis at the CCE office of Rensselaer County at 272-4210.

New Lebanon CSD Residents Approve Budget

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submitted by Erin Clary

New Lebanon Central School District residents have approved a $12,674,751 budget for the 2015-16 school year by a vote of 181 (yes) to 24 (no). This budget represents a 0.71 percent decrease in spending from the current year’s budget and will result in an estimated 0-percent tax rate increase for the fourth consecutive year.

[Read more…] about New Lebanon CSD Residents Approve Budget

HFCS Sports Roundup – Both Lacrosse Teams Make Sectionals

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by Steve Bradley

BOYS LACROSSE

Vs. Lansingburgh – The boys lacrosse regular season came to an exciting end last Thursday when the team defeated Lansingburgh High 10 – 5 at the Hoosick Soccer Complex. The first meeting between the teams resulted in an 18 – 12 Lansingburgh victory. The win was made especially special because it was Senior Day. Seniors (shown in photo, left to right) Mark Hackett, Charlie Whitman, Damon Dubois, Jake Bakaitis Chris Scheilding, Head Coach Mark Marquart, Nick Schrom and Logan Hoyt enjoyed every minute of the upset victory.

The boys, for the first time in school history, advanced to sectional play. On Monday, the team made the quick trip to Cambridge to play the #2 seeded Indians. The Panthers did not win that game, suffering a 12 – 5 defeat. In a way, it was a victory, as Cambridge defeated the Panthers 15 – 0 in the regular season. It ended a very successful season for the team, not necessarily the won – loss record, but in the advances made by the original players of HFCS boys lacrosse. The seniors on the team didn’t even know the rules of the game a couple of short years ago. The Panthers end the season with a 6 – 9 record.

BASEBALL

Vs. Greenwich – The Panthers defeated Granville 6 – 0 in their final regular season game Thursday on the HFCS diamond. Wyatt Whitman pitched his third shutout of the 2015 season, sending 12 Horde batters back to the dugout with strikeouts. Noah Conety had a single and a triple, and scored twice to lead the offense. Shayne Richard had two singles and one RBI, while Garrett Wright drove in two runs with a single and scored twice himself. The teams regular season ended with an 11 – 3 league, and 12 – 6 overall record.

Vs. Johnstown – Sectional Play – The #4 seeded Panthers (13 – 6)hosted #13 seeded Johnstown (12-9) Tuesday. After scoring seven runs in the fifth inning, HF took a 9 – 3 lead into the seventh and final inning when the Johnstown batters began to  click. With two outs and and a man on first, the Panthers found themselves clinging to a 9-8 lead. The man on first stole second, putting him in scoring position. But pitcher Wyatt Whitman (7 – 1) dug deep and struck out the batter for the third out. Alex Mendez had a double and single, and knocked in two runs. Wyatt Cushman had two singles and two RBI’s. Ryan Sanders had a two run single.

HF now advances to the next round, playing at home Thursday against Schuylerville. Should the Panthers win that game, they will play Saturday at Shuttleworth Stadium in Amsterdam. The time for that game is to be announced.

SOFTBALL

Vs. Granville – The Panthers Ladies also hosted the Granville Golden Horde last Thursday. Playing in their last regular season game of the year, the Ladies downed the Horde, 9 – 8 in a very exciting game that was decided in the bottom of the final inning. After spotting the Horde 6 – 0 in the top of the second inning, to get them right where they wanted them, the Panthers outscored the Horde 7 – 0 to put the Panthers up one, 7 – 6 going into the last inning. Granville scored two runs in the top of the seventh to grab an 8 – 7 lead. The Panthers came out and calmly scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning when senior Chelsea Stevens doubled to drive in two runs to win the game.

Winning pitcher Alyssa Ellis (4 – 4) helped her cause at the plate by going 2 of 4 and batting in three RBI. Erika Quackenbush went 3 of 4 with one RBI, while scoring three times. Chelsea Stevens went 3 of 4 with two RBI and Sydney Miller went 2 of 3  with two RBI. Abby Gilson and Cassie each recorded an RBI.

Vs. Wahconah Regional – The Panthers traveled to Dalton, MA, just northeast of Pittsfield, to play Friday. Wahconah won the game 13 – 1. Alyssa Ellis took the loss on the mound. Lindsey Tutunjian doubled and stole a base in the game. Two Wahconah hit home runs. Most regular season starters did not play in the game, with many junior varsity players competing.

Vs. Mount Anthory – The Ladies lost at Mt. Anthony, 6 – 0, Monday afternoon.

GIRLS LACROSSE

Vs. Emma Willard – The Ladies traveled to Troy to face the Jesters in the Jesters Senior Day game. The Panthers were very ungracious guests as they beat EW, 11 – 9. Kara LaFlamme had five goals, Jordyn Haynes, Caytlyn Springer and Ally Burdick each added two. Zaynah Poore had a tremendous game, stopping shots left and right to record 12 saves. Vs. Scotia – Sectional Play – For the first time in HFCS history the Ladies competed in sectional play, being seeded #7. Facing #2 Scotia on Tuesday, the Ladies fell 17 – 5. Rachael Lewsey and Jordyn Haynes each had one goal. Zaynah Poore had nine saves in goal. The team ends the season with a fine 5 -5 league, 7 – 9 overall record.

The Ladies have every reason to be very proud of their season as great strides were made. Competitive against all but the very best teams, the team had an outstanding season. These girls made groundbreaking progress for upcoming teams.

Hoosick Falls Central School Boys Lacrosse Team. (Steve Bradley photo)
Hoosick Falls Central School Boys Lacrosse Team. (Steve Bradley photo)

Berlin Track Team Has High Hopes For Post Season

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by Jen Burhans

The Berlin varsity track and field team is winding up its season as the weather warms up and sectionals and States loom near.

The combined boys and girls teams have fared well in the WASAREN league, setting two new school records and racing in five invitationals this season.

[Read more…] about Berlin Track Team Has High Hopes For Post Season

Students Inducted Into New Junior Honor Society Named For Isabel McGuire

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submitted by Ellie Danforth

Hoosick Falls Central School is pleased to welcome the inaugural members of the Isabel M. McGuire National Junior Honor Society.  Our new National Junior Honor Society is named in honor and memory of Miss Isabel McGuire.

A teacher at HFCS for 18 years, Miss McGuire believed in the kids and expected each to put forth his or her best effort. She worked hard to command respect and she got it. In return, she worked very hard to ensure that each of her students had the opportunity to benefit from her knowledge and instruction.  Miss McGuire supported her colleagues by serving on committees, mentoring, attending Math Conferences and being a very determined advocate for improving our school. From Christmas Wish, to the APPR Committee, from advising the National Senior Honor Society to writing college recommendations, from cheering on our sports teams to chaperoning dances and trips, from delighting in the performances of the HFCS bands and Drama Club, to speaking her mind at faculty meetings, Miss McGuire personified all that one could wish for in a teacher and colleague. She would be thrilled to know that HFCS has begun this chapter.

The National Junior Honor Society membership will be made up of current 8th and 9th grade students. The students who are eligible for membership have demonstrated the four guiding principles of the National Junior Honor Society – Scholarship (minimum 90 GPA), Leadership, Character and Service. It is expected that NJHS members continue to be leaders and serve the community while maintaining their good reputations.

At the May 7 Induction Ceremony the following students became members: Hannah Borge, Caitlyn Boyd, Rhyse Cross, Gabe Fisher, Samantha Flohr, Lillian Hickey, Drew Hoag, Isaac Humphrey, Heather Hyde, Nora Kipp, Jillian Maser, Stephanie Merwin, Allison Perry, Bridget Redick, Samuel Richard, Josie Ryan, Danielle Saint Hilaire and Eliza Whitman.

Hoosick Falls School Budget Passes By A Two-Thirds Margin

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by Deb Alter

Although there was low voter turnout, the Hoosick Falls Central School Budget for the 2015-2016 school year was passed with a 67% affirmative vote. Proposition One, the $23,145,413 school budget, passed with 317 yes votes and 155 no votes. Proposition Two, the bus purchase, was passed with 347 votes for and 124 against.

Laurie Gormley and Greg Laurin each won another three-year term on the School Board with 363 votes and 349 votes respectively. There was one write-in vote for Kathy Bugbee. Superintendent Ken Facin thanked the community for its support of the Hoosick Falls schools and the great work that the staff and students do.