Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
DEC Urges New Yorkers Not To Disturb Fawns And Other Young Wildlife
New Yorkers should keep their distance and not disturb newborn fawns or other young wildlife as many animals are in the peak season for giving birth, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) cautioned recently.
Grafton Lakes State Park will hold its first annual Learn-to-Swim program starting July 7 at the beach. Learn-to-Swim is a statewide program that will teach more than 1,000 children across the state to swim for free this summer season. The program, for children age 5 years through 12 years, is made possible through a partnership between the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, the American Red Cross, the National Swimming Pool Foundation and the Northeast Spa and Pool Association.
Grafton Lakes State Park will hold two Learn-to-Swim sessions this summer. The first session will run from July 7 through July 18 while the second session will begin on July 21 and end on August 1. The morning programs run from 10 to 10:40 am; the evening programs from 5 to 5:40 pm. A guardian must stay on site.
The free swim classes will help children become comfortable in an open water environment and will provide basic swimming and water safety techniques.
Register by July 4 for Session 1 and by July 18 for Session 2 by calling Melissa Miller or Laura Weir at 518-279-1155. Registration is required; space is limited.
McMahon Wins
by Steve Bradley
On two beautiful days last weekend, off road motorcycle racing events were held on Fish and Game Road in Hoosick. The road is on the west side of Potter Hill, just east of the Potter Hill Barn. The racing, a newer and popular format called JDay Racing, consists of 80 percent cross country, 25 percent motocross and an optional 15 percent X-Treme racing. The track was 3.5 miles long.
[Read more…] about Small Engines Draw Big Crowds In Hoosick Motocross
• Friday, June 13 – Mommy & Me! at 10 am – “The Grass is Always Greener” at Grafton Lakes State Park. Explore colors and plants on a fun romp in the Park for toddlers and pre-k aged children. Meet at the Park Office. This event is free. Please pre-register at 279-1155.
• Saturday, June 14 – Yoga in the Park Series Begins at GLSP from 9:30 to 10:30 am at the beach every Saturday though August 23. All levels welcome. The cost is $12 per class. For more information, please contact Kat Abrams at katyoga@hotmail.com.
• Saturday, June 14 – Flag Day Celebration at 11 am at the Bennington Battlefield State Historic Site. Honor the flag by learning about its history and enjoy fun activities with the kids. The event includes a birthday party for the flag, with games and cake. Meet at the Barnett Homestead, 30 Caretaker Road. Please call 279-1155 for information.
• Friday, June 20 – Star Watch at 9 pm at GLSP. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky with Albany Area Astronomers. Call Bernard at 658-9144 to confirm as cloudy skies may cancel. The rain date is Saturday, June 21 at 9 pm. Please use the Winter Entrance and follow signs to program.
• Saturday, June 28 – Go Fish! an introduction to fishing clinic from 9 am to 1 pm just past the docks by Long Pond Beach at GLSP. Instruction and fishing poles will be provided. Go fishing – because grandparents don’t frame pictures of the kids playing video games!
Hoosic River Paddle
There will be a Hoosic River Paddle on Saturday, June 21, at 9 am. Bring your kayak or canoe and paddle eight miles on the Hoosic River. We’ll put in at the NYS DEC public boat launch on RLT’s Hoosic River property in Eagle Bridge and take out downstream just before the Johnsonville Dam. This stretch is flat water with coves and marshy backwaters alive with birds and animal life.
Provide your own boat and PFD. Bring snacks and water. You need to be in good physical condition to negotiate about ¼ mile of dense water chestnut growth at the take out. The Hoosic River boat launch is approximately one mile west of Eagle Bridge on the north side of Route 67, at the DEC sign. The charge is $5, free for RLT members. You must preregister with Paul Schroeder at 518-674-2480 or pschroeder1@nycap.rr.com.
Stream Animals Of Rensselaer County: Workshop And Volunteer Opportunity
This workshop will be held on Saturday, June 21, from 9 am to 3 pm. Find out what lives in our local streams and assist a science research project on stream quality at the same time. Volunteers are needed to help sample the aquatic insects that indicate the degree of human impact on a stream. In this workshop, we will train you to sample streams in Rensselaer County as part of the research project. The New York Natural Heritage Program, in partnership with the Rensselaer Land Trust and the Hudson River Estuary Program, is conducting a year long project compiling data to assess stream quality in the Hudson River Valley. Our goal for the project is to make stream quality data available to those involved in conservation decision making, restoration, management and outreach activities.
On Saturday, June 21, there will be a morning presentation on the project, the aquatic insects living in streams and the method we will use to look for them. In the afternoon, we’ll visit a local stream and practice finding and identifying the insects. There will be an opportunity to assist with further stream sampling in Rensselaer County streams in July and August after participating in this workshop.
Please bring a brown bag lunch, water bottle, knee high or hip boots or shoes you don’t mind getting wet. There is no charge for this workshop. Contact Nick Conrad for the location of the workshop and more information and to register at nbconrad@msn.com or 518-279-1963.
submitted by Ed Sukuskas, Pres. Pioneer Fish & Game
On May 22 the Walloomsac River received its allocation of 1,510 trout, a mixture of yearlings and two year olds. Assisting DEC in this project were members of the Pioneer Fish and Game Club, coordinators of this event, and a group of children from Hoosick Falls Central School and students from St. Mary’s Academy (a great help) along with other individuals.
This was the second stocking of the Walloomsac. On April 22 4,170 yearling brown trout were released by DEC, Pioneer Fish and Game Club and Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance members.
We would like to thank local land owners for allowing fishermen and women the privilege to access the river to enjoy fishing.
Grafton Lakes State Park announces its new Outdoor Tykes Summer Series beginning Friday, June 13, at 10:30 am. This series is free and will take place once a month during the summer. Each session is open to toddlers and pre-k aged children and their accompanying adult. We encourage each adult to participate as a co-explorer with their child and discover new sights and sounds together.
The series will be nature based, with each session introducing a new theme. The first of the series is titled “The Grass is Always Greener” and participants will explore, with all their senses, the plants of Grafton. We will meet at the Park Office located at 61 North Long Pond Road before heading outside for an age appropriate adventure.
The program dates are Friday, June 13, Thursday, July 10, and Thursday, August 7. All programs begin at 10:30 am. Please pre-register for each program by calling the Park Office at 518-279-1155.
Grafton Lakes State Park proudly announces a new “Fresh Air Yoga” program for Summer, beginning Saturday, June 14, and running through August 23. Enjoy relaxing, energizing and restorative classes surrounded by the beauty of the natural world.
Kripalu Yoga and Deep Relaxation classes will be offered by Kat Abrams, RYT, Kripalu Certified Yoga Teacher with 17 years full time devoted teaching experience. Abrams will guide uplifting non-competitive classes, accentuating mindful stretching, limbering and strengthening yoga flows, with the needs and challenges of the class participants in mind. All levels welcome.
The program begins on Saturday June 14, with morning Beach Yoga from 9:30 to 10:30 am. Beginning the first week of July, Abrams will offer the Saturday morning classes as well as three more weekly “Fresh Air” classes. Enjoy Lunchtime Yoga on Mondays from 12 to 1 pm in Deerfield Meadow, beginning July 7, and Sunset Beach Yoga on both Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 pm on the sand of Long Pond Beach, beginning Monday, July 7, and Wednesday, July 9.
Participants should wear loose fitting comfortable clothing, arrive on time to begin, and bring a yoga mat and /or beach towel. Classes cost $12 each in cash or check, to be paid directly to the teacher. Participants will be asked to mention their yoga participation at the Grafton gate.
For more information about Fresh Air Kripalu Yoga at Grafton call Kat Abrams, RYT, at 233-1717 or email Kat at katyoga@hotmail.com or call 518-279-1155. Information about park events may also be found online at www.nysparks.com/parks.
by Jen Burhans
The Berlin track team competed at U. Albany on May 24 at the Section II Class 5 Championship. The girls placed 11th.
Berlin did well individually. [Read more…] about Laura Ryder Wins Discus Competition At Sectionals
