The Cabaret was cancelled due to the storm last week. The Cabaret will be held on Saturday, March 2, at 6 pm at the Berlin High School. The High School Band and Chorus will be performing music from Sinatra to Buble. The tickets for dinner and a show cost $8 for adults and $6 for Senior Citizens and students. Come to the Cabaret!
North Hoosick Fire Department Kids Dance
The North Hoosick Fire Department will hold a kids dance this Friday, February 15, at the firehouse on Rt. 22. The dance will be held from 7 to 10 pm.
Students ages 9 to 15 who attend Hoosick Falls Central, Cambridge Central, Berlin Central or St. Mary’s Academy are welcome to attend dance # 313.
As part of the Department’s accountability, parents are reminded they need to sign the students out after the dance.
February Events At The Stephentown Memorial Library
• Annual Meeting and Public Hearing – The Board of Trustees of the Stephentown Memorial Library will hold its Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 21, at 6:30 pm, following the regularly scheduled Board meeting at 5 pm. Both meetings are open to the public. The Director and Board of Trustees will provide reports on the state of the Library and the future of the Library. Refreshments will be provided. Following the Annual Meeting, there will be a Public Hearing to discuss the proposed Library vote on March 19 to make the Library a Special Legislative District Library. Bring any questions you may have and get answers.
Library Annual Meeting – 6:30 to 7:15 pm; Public Hearing – 7:15 to 8:30 pm.
• Family Movie Night – On Friday, February 22, at 6:30 pm we will show the recently released “Hotel Transylvania” on our large screen. Welcome to the Hotel Transylvania, Dracula’s lavish five stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free to be the monsters they are without humans to bother them. On one special weekend, Dracula has invited some of the world’s most famous monsters – Frankenstein and his wife, the Mummy, the Invisible Man, a family of werewolves – to celebrate his daughter Mavis’ 118th birthday. For Drac, catering to all of these legendary monsters is no problem, but his world could come crashing down when a human stumbles on the hotel for the first time and takes a shine to Mavis. This animated movie is rated PG. Running time for this movie is 91 minutes. Popcorn and juice will be served. This event is free and all are welcome. Bring the whole family.
• E-Reader Class – On Saturday, February 23, at 11 am, local technology consultant Nathan Hans will go over the features of e-readers such as the Kindle and Nook and share how to obtain and use free pc software for e-readers on your personal computer. If you have recently gotten an e-reader device and would like some help learning how to use it, please bring it with you to this class. Those who have not yet purchased an e-reader, but are interested in learning more are also welcome. Want to learn how to download Library books to your device? This class will also discuss how to access the Library’s online catalog of downloadable materials and give general tips on using your eReader. Advance registration is suggested. Call the Library at 733-5750 to register. If you have an e-reader device, please bring it along with you!
• Thursday Night Coffeehouse Series – On Thursday, February 28, at 6:30 pm the Library will kick off its new musical coffeehouse series. In response to your requests, the Library is offering a monthly Thursday evening of music, coffee and socializing at the Library. Each month we will feature a different performer or group, and musical styles will range from jazz to classical to bluegrass to hip hop. Check the Library website for a schedule of dates and performers. This month we are pleased to welcome Martha von Schilgen on fiddle along with French Canadian duo Vonnie Estes (piano) and John Guay (hammered dulcimer) of Two Bits String Band. They will play traditional tunes from Quebec and Ireland, with some modern tunes that sound like traditional tunes thrown in. The Coffeehouse event is free and open to all. There will be refreshments for sale to benefit the Library.
For more information on any of these programs or to register for programs, call the Stephentown Memorial Library at 733-5750 or stop by during Library hours. Also check the Library website, www.stephentownlibrary.org for regular updates.
Columbia Land Conservancy Offers Children’s Program At The New Lebanon Library
The Columbia Land Conservancy will present “Animal Tracks” on Thursday, February 21, at 2 pm at the New Lebanon Library. The program is oriented to school-aged children.
Tracks and traces can provide a glimpse into the lives of animals whose actions are otherwise hidden. Participants will learn about track patterns, identify the animals that made them and make plaster casts of local animals to take home.
To register, please contact the New Lebanon Library at 518-794-8844 or email leb@taconic.net. The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
Grafton Library Wants Volunteers
Anyone who wants to volunteer at the Library is welcome, depending on the needs of the Library and the abilities and skills of the volunteer. The suggested minimum age for young people volunteering at the library is 12 years old. We’re looking for help shelving books, checking in/out books for patrons, retrieving books off the shelves for inter-library loans and help with organizing materials for programs.
If you’re interested in volunteering, call the Library during open hours at 279-0580 or email the Director, Stephanie Preston, at Director@graftoncommunitylibrary.org.
Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department Texas Hold’em
The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, February 23, in the Stephentown Fire Hall, located at 35 Grange Hall Road in Stephentown. The doors will open at 5:30 pm and close at 6 pm. Play begins at 6:15 sharp.
A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.
No advance registration is required, and a donation of $35 per player will be accepted. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 1,000 extra chips. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of nine places.
For further information, please call John Linton at 518-733-0469.
Friends of Cherry Plain State Park Outdoor Fun Day
On Saturday, February 23, the Friends of Cherry Plain State Park (FCP), is hosting Winterlude, a free day of fun in the outdoors. The event will be based at the Cherry Plain State Park entrance on Miller Road from 10 am to 3 pm.
Volunteers will host snowshoe hikes, cross-country ski treks and ice skating on the pond. An animal tracking and nature observation event will be featured. Members of the FCP will be on hand throughout the day to direct and guide small parties ready to head out into the various areas of the DEC’s Capital District Wildlife Management Area. Free snowshoe demos will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Kids’ craft activities will be available inside the Park office when they need to warm up.
There will be a bonfire, hot chocolate, hot dogs and marshmallows for roasting. Participants are invited to bring their own potluck dish to share on this community-spirited day. You will meet some wonderful people and have a chance to explore this picturesque park during a quieter time of year. Participants are encouraged to dress warmly and bring along their outdoor equipment for a day of adventuring.
FCP thanks the Town of Berlin for plowing a loop near the Park entrance to provide parking. However, as parking will be in short supply; everyone is encouraged to car-pool when possible.
For further information or offers to help at the event, please call Dick Gibbs at 283-0155 or 225-7371. Come on out and make your own fun as you join in with other outdoor enthusiasts.
Stephen J. Kellar
Berlin – Stephen J. Kellar, 47, of Park Avenue, Berlin, NY, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday evening, February 12, 2013, surrounded by his loving family.
[Read more…] about Stephen J. Kellar
Walter Weber
Berlin – Walter “Cobb” Weber, age 82, died peacefully on February 12, 2013. He was born on February 23, 1930, in Coney Island, NY, to the late Dorothy Ahlquist. A lifelong resident of Berlin, NY, he is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Beverly.
Cobb was an accomplished carpenter and worked in various construction sites for over 30 years. When he wasn’t swinging the hammer or cutting a board, as a licensed barber, he would be cutting hair.
[Read more…] about Walter Weber
Ruth J. Atwater
Stephentown – Ruth J. Hoffman Atwater, 93, a lifelong resident of Stephentown, NY, died peacefully on Friday morning, February 8, 2013, at Springside of Pittsfield, MA.
Born in Stephentown on September 8, 1919, she was the daughter of the late John H. and Eunice White Hoffman. She was the loving wife of the late William E. Atwater, who died on February 23, 1990. They were married in New Lebanon, NY, on August 28, 1942. She attended Stephentown schools and in her earlier years worked as a domestic housekeeper in Williamstown, MA. After her marriage and the birth of her son, Ruth was a homemaker who loved housecleaning, gardening, home canning and collecting ornaments.
She is survived by her son, Kirk W. and wife Micky Atwater of Montverde, FL, her grandchildren, Chad W. and wife Vicki Atwater of Montverde and Heather L. and husband Chuck Riccardi of Stephentown, her great-grandchildren, Shelby and Cody Atwater and Travis and Derek Riccardi, along with nieces and nephews. She is pre-deceased by her siblings, Dorothy Miner, Florence Crosier and John and William Hoffman.
Funeral services were held on Monday evening, February 11, at 7 pm in the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home, 457 NY 43, Stephentown, where Rev. Trygve C. Tomlinson officiated. Interment will be private in Garfield Cemetery.
Relatives and friends were invited to the funeral home for visitation on Monday from 4 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 208, Stephentown, NY, 12168, in loving memory of Ruth J. Atwater.