On Saturday, December 7, the Grafton Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club and the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation will host a snowmobile safety course for young people ages 10 to 18. Students must be at least 10 years old on the day of the course. Parents are encouraged to attend and participate. The course will be held at the Grafton VFW/Fire Hall on South Road from 8:15 am to approximately 5 pm. The course will be taught by NYS certified volunteer instructor Jim Blessing. The course will cover topics such as NYS laws and regulations, riding skills, trail emergencies, protecting the environment, maintenance and repair, trailering, etc. To register, call the Grafton Lakes State Park office at 279-1155 or email Elizabeth.Wagner@parks.ny.gov with the parent’s name, student’s name and age and your phone number. Space is limited, so no walk-ins please. The course is free of charge, and lunch will be provided.
Sports Outdoors
Cantering Cowpokes Receive 4-H Blue Ribbon For Herdsmanship
submitted by Christina Shupe
On October 19 the Cantering Cowpokes 4-H Club attended the Rensselaer County End-Of-Year Banquet at the Poestenkill Fire Hall. This banquet was for all the 4-H clubs involved in horses to get together and celebrate their achievements of the past year. Awards are given out; people are congratulated, and food is eaten.
[Read more…] about Cantering Cowpokes Receive 4-H Blue Ribbon For Herdsmanship
Panthers Defeat Fonda Braves, 36 – 0, To Face Chatham In Super Bowl
by Steve Bradley
In their first daytime game of the season, the Hoosick Falls football team traveled the very familiar road to Stillwater to face the Fonda Braves. The beautiful Stillwater turf field has become the Panthers’ home away from home. The Panthers have won more football games on Stillwater’s turf than Stillwater’s own football team. [Read more…] about Panthers Defeat Fonda Braves, 36 – 0, To Face Chatham In Super Bowl
Panther Field Hockey Wins Section Championship
by Steve Bradley
It’s tough to beat the same team three times in the same season. Any sport, any two teams, it is a difficult thing to do. But the Lady Panthers did just that last Sunday when they knocked arch rival Greenwich out of contention for any more play this year. [Read more…] about Panther Field Hockey Wins Section Championship
Lady Panthers Soccer Wins Class B Championship; Loses In Next Round
by Steve Bradley
The number one seeded Lady Panthers soccer team faced the number two seeded Greenville Spartans last Thursday in Lansingburgh for the Class B championship. The Panthers immediately jumped all over the Spartans, scoring three times in the first half, which was more than enough to seal the victory.
[Read more…] about Lady Panthers Soccer Wins Class B Championship; Loses In Next Round
Berlin Middle School/High School Boys Cross Country Finishes Fourth In Sectionals
by Jen Burhans
The Berlin Middle School/High School boys Cross Country Team finished its season this past Friday in Queensbury at the Section 2 Championships. The boys came up just short of the top three, finishing in fourth place. Evan Dawes came in 14th with a time of 18:14. He was followed by Jackson Burhans who finished 16th with a time of 18:28, and Nick Styer who finished 25th with a time of 18:57. Alex Flowers finished 32nd with a time of 19:32; Travis Riccardi finished 36th with a time of 19:40; Charlie Eaton finished with a time of 21:40, Tim Shupe finished with a time of 23:40, and Chris Corrado finished with a time of 24:23. The team will not be graduating any seniors and looks forward to next year to get even stronger. Junior Evan Dawes, sophomore Jackson Burhans and eighth-grader Nick Styer made the WASAREN league All-Star team. The team was able to regularly place in the top half of all the invitationals it competed in and was even ranked in the State at one point.
Berlin Girls Cross Country Finishes Fourth In The Sectionals
by Jen Burhans
The Berlin Girls Cross Country team finished fourth in the Section 2 Championships at Queensbury. [Read more…] about Berlin Girls Cross Country Finishes Fourth In The Sectionals
HFCS Ski And Snowboard
For six weeks beginning January 8, students in grades 5-8 at HFCS can ski/snowboard at nearby Willard Mountain in Greenwich. Lift and lessons are provided for the season for only $125, with rentals at $160. Bus transportation is provided at no additional cost. The bus leaves each Wednesday at 3:30 pm and returns at 9:30 pm. Information packets are posted at the school offices, and in graded hallways. Please call Terri Burdick (686-9492, x 1034) if you have any questions. It’s a great way to enjoy the winter – sno’ much fun!!
Holiday Balsam Fir Wreaths To Benefit The Friends Of The Dyken Pond Center
The Friends of the Dyken Pond Center are selling balsam fir wreaths. Each 18 inch wreath will be packed full of aromatic balsam fir, pine cones, a large red bow and a collectible original Dyken Pond nature ornament that can be kept for years to come. This is a pre-order sale and all wreaths must be ordered by November 18. Cost is $20. Larger wreath sizes are also available. There are various pick up options beginning on November 23. Order forms can be downloaded from our website at www.dykenpond.org or orders may be placed by contacting the Center at 658-2055 or Nbconrad958@gmail.com.
Woods Forum On November 14
Did you know that the Rensselaer Plateau is the fifth largest forest in New York State and that it is 90% forested and that those forests are 90% privately owned?
Do you love your land and value your woods? Then attend a Woods Forum conducted by the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) on Thursday, November 14, at 7 pm at the Sand Lake Town Hall, 8428 NY 66, Sand Lake.
Join fellow woodland owners and forestry professionals for a discussion on how to maintain the value of your woods for timber harvesting, recreation, wildlife and for future generations. Discuss how to care for your woods today and plan for its future. Talk with and hear about the experiences of other landowners. There is also a chance to win a visit from professional forester, Mary Spring, or RPA gear. Attendees will also receive a copy of the brand new “Guide for Landowners” intended to help landowners find information in the Rensselaer Plateau Regional Conservation Plan that is useful to them. Both of these resources and much more are now on the RPA website at http://rensselaerplateau.org/RensselaerPlateau/ConservationPlan.aspx. Refreshments will be served. Please call Sarah Parks at 302-584-7748 for additional information. This program is co-sponsored by New York Forest Owners Association, the Rensselaer Land Trust and the Agricultural Stewardship Association.
Keep informed of the many activities going on with RPA or the more than 30 Alliance organizations by checking out our new data-base driven calendar of events at http://renpa.azurewebsites.net/.