The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Sports Outdoors

Wildlife Tracking Field Intensive With Alcott Smith

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Experience a full or half day field intensive with Alcott Smith, tracker, naturalist and veterinarian. Three wildlife tracking sessions are offered at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center on Saturday, January 26, from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday, January 27, from 9 am to 12 noon or 1 pm to 4 pm.  Sign up for one or all sessions.
From sets of tracks will emerge entire stories in the lives of the animals who traveled, foraged, hunted and interacted with one another. In past programs we have followed tracks to a porcupine in its den, found kill sites with tracks emanating in all directions and have found mouse tracks that end at a set of wing marks. The possibilities are truly endless.
Pre-registration is required and space is limited. Each session will explore a different area of the Center. Please register by contacting Jim at jim@bonesteel.com or 518-658-2055. There is a fee of $30 for the full day program and $20 for a half day program with a $5 discount for members of the Friends of Dyken Pond. Participants must dress appropriately for being outdoors and must be physically fit.
The Dyken Pond Center is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Call 658-2055 or visit the website www.dykenpond.org for more information, directions and a complete schedule of our winter events.

What Is The RPA?

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Submitted by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA), established in 2006, is a diverse group of organizations and people who want to conserve and protect the forested character of the Rensselaer Plateau and the many economic and environmental benefits it provides. The Rensselaer Plateau is a spectacular resource of about 105,000 acres that includes the fifth largest forest in New York State and endless opportunities for recreation, tourism, commerce and traditional living. A grassroots organization, the RPA is people living in the area who share a common interest in ensuring that future generations will experience and value the many benefits of the plateau.
Protecting our forests for the future means planning ahead and working together. We consider one of the best ways to accomplish this is simply by talking with our neighbors. If we all do our part, we can protect the plateau for our future.
In the past year we talked with our neighbors at many events including public forums, landowner workshops, public displays, town board meetings and woods walks. Knowledge is a key tool to understanding that preservation and protection do not happen alone. Preservation and protection require collaboration and proactive actions – all of which are currently happening because the people and organizations of RPA talk with their neighbors, friends, municipalities and elected officials about this “superlative” resource in our backyard and how we all play a role in protecting it.  Come talk to us at the Grafton Winter Festival  on January 19 or at  one of our future events. Learn more about our events and regularly scheduled open meetings at www.rensselaerplateau.org.

A view of the Rensselaer Plateau looking south from the Grafton Fire Tower. Photo courtesy of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance.

Rensselaer Land Trust Receives New Preserve

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On December 18, 2012, theRensselaer Land Trust (RLT) received 54 acres of significant wetlands in the Town of Nassau from the National Audubon Society. Part of Pine Swamp, an extensive marsh and swamp complex adjacent to Smith Pond, the property contains wildlife habitat and supports unusual plant species for Rensselaer County. Located off of Lyons Lake Road, the property will remain a nature preserve, with public access for environmental studies and natural history outings.
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HFCS Championship Teams Recognized By New York State Assembly

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by Alex Brooks
A celebration of the accomplishments of the Hoosick Falls sports program was held as part of the School Board meeting on December 20. Assemblyman Tony Jordan was on hand to congratulate the teams as was State Senator-elect Steve McLaughlin and Robert Zayas, Executive Director of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
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Grafton Lakes State Park To Hold 28th Annual Winter Festival

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Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 28th Annual Winter Festival and Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 19. The Winter Fest will feature winter exhibits, vendors, and family-friendly and recreational activities. The Winter Fest is free of charge and main events run from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Panther Bowling Round Up

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HF 3                      Ft. Edward 1
The Hoosick Falls bowling team won a hard fought close match against Northern Division power house Fort Edward by the score of 3-1 on Thursday, December 13.  After winning the first game by 111 pins, Hoosick Falls lost the second game by 32 pins and then won the third game by 27 pins to give them the point for match total.  Hoosick Falls had total pins of 3,729, which is their high total of the season, to Fort Edward’s total pins of 3,623.  Hoosick Falls now has a record of 23-1 and Fort Edward has a record of 21-3.
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Panther Varsity Hoopsters Shut Down WASAREN Leading Scorer

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by Ben Gaines
Coach Mike Lilac Jr. and the boys Varsity Basketball team, tied for fourth with Tamarac in the WASAREN League, hosted Granville, who are in a three way tie for last. The plan was simple; to add to their win column they needed to play the Horde hard and find a way to shut down Jared Beattie. Beattie, the Horde’s scoring machine, leads the WASAREN League with a 27.8 point per game average; he had a season low of 23 against Hoosic Valley Wednesday night. Levi Brewster and Beattie went up for the tip, with Brewster edging out Beattie.
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