The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Sports Outdoors

Rensselaer Land Trust April Events

By

The Rensselaer Land Trust (RTL) invites the public to attend three April events.
On Saturday, April 13, at 9 am the RTL will lead a vernal pool hike at their Geiser Preserve, a beautiful, wooded 95 acres on Perigo Hill on the Rensselaer Plateau. Among the rocky knolls and hemlock-maple-beech woods are vernal pools, which fill with snowmelt and rainwater in the spring, attracting breeding spring peepers, wood frogs and spotted salamanders. On this trip we hope to see or hear these symbols of spring or see their eggs. The hike will be about three miles roundtrip. The charge is $5, free for RLT members. To register contact Francille Egbert at 518-674-3214 or fran.egbert@gmail.com.
In observance of Earth Day, the RTL and the City of Troy will be sponsoring the sixth annual clean-up of the shores of Tomhannock Reservoir, the source of drinking water for 125,000 residents of Troy and other communities. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 20, from 9 am to noon. Meet at the NYS DEC public access parking lot on NY Route 7 in Raymertown, just before the causeway over the reservoir. Groups will collect trash along the shore. Garbage bags will be provided. Bring gloves. We will work regardless of weather, so dress appropriately. To register, contact Paul Schroeder at 518-674-2480 or pschroeder1@nycap.rr.com.
RTL is providing a series of opportunities to learn fungi with local mycologist Sue Van Hook. First up is an indoor workshop on Tuesday, April 16, at 7 pm at The Sage Colleges Cowee IV Conference Room in Troy. Learn to identify the different groups of fungi in preparation for Van Hook’s outdoor mushroom walk on Sunday, April 28, at 1:30 pm. Bring a notebook and pen. The charge for each program is $10 per person, $15 per couple. Kids can attend for free. Register for each program online on www.renstrust.org or contact Marcy at 518-674-2171.
For more information on the RTL, visit www.renstrust.org.

HFCS Basketball Teams Raise Over $5k For Karen McGovern Fund

By

by Bea Peterson
“Last year when the teams did a fundraiser,” said Girls Basketball Coach Eamonn DeGraaf, “we raised $300. This year we hoped to raise $1,000. It shows what can happen when we all work together.” And that is what they did. [Read more…] about HFCS Basketball Teams Raise Over $5k For Karen McGovern Fund

Big Turnout For Outdoor Expo In Hoosick Falls

By

by Bea Peterson
HFCS Superintendent Ken Facin said the Outdoor Expo at the Armory was a great event. About 1,300 people turned out to see the exhibits and talk with the many exhibitors. Facin was pleased the event attracted more adults this year. Students were bussed to the Armory on Friday. Many returned with family Friday evening and Saturday. This year the Expo had the usual mounts of wild animals, plus a fascinating display of insects.
[Read more…] about Big Turnout For Outdoor Expo In Hoosick Falls

Hoosac School Boys Repeat As NEPSAC Basketball Champions

By

submitted by Dean S. Foster, Headmaster, Hoosac School
When the Hoosac Boys Varsity Basketball season began in November, there were a number of goals in place. The most important of which was to repeat as New England Champions. On Sunday March 3r, in Worcester, MA, that goal was achieved with Hoosac defeating #2 seed Chase Collegiate of Waterbury, CT, 62-49.
[Read more…] about Hoosac School Boys Repeat As NEPSAC Basketball Champions

Hoosick Falls Outdoor Expo

By

by Bea Peterson
The Annual Hoosick Falls Outdoor Expo will be held on Friday, March 22, from 6 to 9 pm and  Saturday March 23, from 9 am until 2 pm in the Hoosick Falls Armory. The event is usually held at the Hoosick Falls Central School. “We moved the event to the Armory this year,” said HFCS Superintendent Ken Facin, “to make it more of a community event and to support the armory as a community focal point.”
Exhibits and Displays
The Wildlife Displays include mounts of whitetail deer, bobcats, fishers, pike, trout and other mammals and fish harvested by Washington and Rensselaer County residents
Local Sporting Exhibits
The Pioneer Fish and Game Club, the Mid Hudson Valley Fur Harvesters Association, the Rensselaer County Conservation Alliance, New York Houndsmen and Hoosick Trail Masters will all have exhibits at the Expo. The NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Police will have an exhibit of wildlife game laws, regulations and enforcement.
There will be topographic map displays of hiking, camping, canoeing, kayaking, geocaching, snowmobiling and hunting and fishing opportunities throughout New York and Vermont.
Antique and modern decoys will be part of the Waterfowl Hunting Exhibit.
Orvis will have a display that includes fly-tying and fly-fishing demonstrations.  There will be a 4-H Shooting Sports exhibit that includes a portion on gun safety.
Educators from both Dyken Pond Environmental Center and Grafton Lakes State Park will attend to promote environmental appreciation and awareness.
Local outfitters from Battenkill Valley Outdoors will display clothing, gear, optics, GPS devices, kayaks, bicycles and other outdoor products.
Local Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts will have scouting information and displays as part of the Expo. Hoosick Falls Central School students will also exhibit and share their stories and experiences in the outdoors.

Dyken Pond Summer Camp 2013; Registration Is Now Open

By

This year kids can attend one or two week sessions. Please take note of new age groups and dates for 2013.
Touch the Earth – Ages 6 -9, July 22 to July 26 and July 29 to August 2
Adventurers – Ages 10 -13, August 5 to August 9 and August 12 to August 16
The natural world is filled with mystery and beauty. One can spend a lifetime exploring any one of its many secrets. The Summer Outdoor Learning Adventure will kindle interest and spark curiosity about the natural world in which we live. Each one week session will offer age appropriate activities in outdoor living skills, ecology, plants and wildlife and pond study. Each day will be an exciting blend of fun and learning taught through games, crafts, hikes and hands-on discoveries.
Program Fees are: One week session $175 or $155 for members, Two week session $325 or $300 for members.
Space is limited to 25 kids per week, so register early! Registration is on a first come – first served basis.
To register your child, please visit our website at www.dykenpond.org. Click on Environmental Education, scroll down, then click on Summer Camp. Your registration is confirmed upon receipt of the registration form and payment.

WASAREN League 2012-13 Basketball All Stars

By

(as selected by League coaches)
Six Panther boys basketball players were named WASAREN League Boys Basketball All Stars for the 2012-13 season. Taylor Baker, a senior, and Evan Phillips, a senior, were named to the Second Team All Stars. Randy Tutunjian, a senior, Andrew Hoag, a sophomore, Austin Pitt,  a sophomore, and Levi Brewster, a junior, received Honorable Mention.

Three HFCS girls basketball players were named WASAREN League Girls Basketball All Stars for the 2012-13 season. Frankie Pearson was named a First Team All Star. Rachel Pine and Carson Williams were named to the Second Team All Stars.

TVSC Annual Meeting

By

Taconic Valley Soccer Club will hold its annual meeting at the Berlin Town Library at 7 pm on March 26. All members are encouraged to attend.  Any player who is on a Spring travel team and who will need a new uniform needs to get their order to their coach or to Jen Burhans at 658-2096 by March 23.

Former Stephentown Resident Mushes In The Famed Iditarod Race

By

by David Flint
The famed Iditarod sled dog race kicked off last Saturday in Anchorage, Alaska. One of the 65 starting mushers this year in the grueling thousand mile run to Nome through the rugged Alaskan wilderness is former Stephentown resident Mike Ellis.
[Read more…] about Former Stephentown Resident Mushes In The Famed Iditarod Race