The Buskirk Fire Company is having their annual Flea Market at Strawberry Acres [Read more…] about Buskirk Flea Market
GLSP Hosting “Bark And Brew”
Grafton Lakes State Park is hosting “Bark & Brew,” a benefit offering fun for four-legged creatures and their owners, as well as locally crafted beer, with proceeds supporting regional rescue organizations. This event is on September 26 from 11 am to 3 pm. [Read more…] about GLSP Hosting “Bark And Brew”
At The Clark Art Institute
Free Fun Friday At The Clark Art Institute
The Clark Art Institute offers a day of fun and free admission on Friday, August 28 from 10 am to 5 pm as part of the Highland Street Foundation’s Free Fun Friday initiative. Gallery admission is free to all.
For the seventh consecutive year, the Highland Street Foundation’s summer program provides no-cost admission to cultural institutions throughout Massachusetts. [Read more…] about At The Clark Art Institute
Battenkill Chorale Seeks New Members
Auditions, Rehearsals Will Be Held At Historic Hubbard Hall
The Battenkill Chorale is accepting experienced choral singers for their twenty-first season, which opens with a program connected to the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams’ impassioned plea for peace, Dona Nobis Pacem, January 17 at Helen Filene Ladd Concert Hall at Zankel Music Center, Skidmore College. Soloists Sylvia Stoner (Artist-in-Residence at Skidmore) and Keith Kibler will join the 100-voice chorus and 45-piece professional orchestra in this poignant work. [Read more…] about Battenkill Chorale Seeks New Members
Documentary Explores Gun Violence
Old Chatham Quaker Meeting will screen “Gunned Down” Saturday, September 12 at 7 pm, preceded by a potluck at 6 pm at the Old Chatham Quaker Meetinghouse 539 County Route 13, Old Chatham, across from Pitt Hall Road and Powell House. [Read more…] about Documentary Explores Gun Violence
William Peckham
Hoosick Falls – William Mackey Peckham, age 91, born May 3, 1924, was the son of the late William Mackey Peckham and Elizabeth Stewart. He was educated in Troy, NY and in Lansingburg schools. After joining the USN Seabees in WW II, he served in the Pacific on Oahu, Johnston Island, and Saipan. After the war, he earned a B.A. degree at Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA. Later, he was assistant credit manager at Montgomery Ward in Menands for a short time but then decided to continue his education, obtaining an M.A. in English from State University of NY at Albany. He taught junior and senior English at Hoosick Falls Central School from 1954 to 1984.
Mr. Peckham had served on the Board of Trustees of the Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls since 1957 and was president of that Board for 30 years between 1958 and 1998.
Mr. Peckham is survived by his wife Dorothy (Becker) Peckham, a son, William Stewart Peckham of Howard, OH, and grandchildren Sara and Ian Peckham and Brian Richard. He is also survived by a brother Stewart L. Peckham of Santa Fe, NM. He was preceded in death by a brother, John M. Peckham in 2001, and by his daughter, Lisa Richard, in 2009.
In following his wishes, Mr. Peckham’s body was donated to the Ohio State University Division of Anatomy. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, it is asked that donations in his name be made to either the Cheney Library of Hoosick Falls, PO Box 177, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 or to the Nature Conservancy (www.natureconservancy.org)
To share a memory or leave the family a condolence, visit www.snyderfuneralhomes.com
Anne W. von Schilgen
– Anne W. von Schilgen, 91, died Sunday, August 9, 2015 at her home at St. Jude’s Apartments in Wynantskill. Born in Washington, DC on December 4, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Robert Craighead Walker and Dorothy van der Veer Walker. Anne was raised and educated in Scarsdale, NY and was a 1942 graduate of Scarsdale High School.
She worked as a secretary in Washington, DC before moving with her husband to Bronxville, NY where she raised her family. Anne moved to Petersburgh, NY in 1968 and later moved to Williamsburg, VA in 1986 and then to Berlin, MD in 2001. She has resided in Wynantskill for the past year.
Anne was a homemaker and enjoyed knitting, rug hooking and was an avid reader. She enjoyed genealogy and family history and was an excellent cook.
She was the wife of the late Robert J. von Schilgen; beloved mother of Christopher J. (Sandra) von Schilgen of Grafton, Elizabeth A. (Gary) Becker of Williamsburg, VA, Robert C. von Schilgen of Cherry Plain, NY, Frederick J. von Schilgen of Berlin, MD and the late Richard C. von Schilgen formerly of Berlin, NY who died in 2011; sister of Katherine Tenore of Pine Plains, NY and the late Francis, Robert and Donald Walker and Virginia Pfeiffer. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services are private at the convenience of the family. Her ashes will be interred in the Meadowlawn Cemetery in Petersburgh later this fall.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Grafton Library, PO Box H, Grafton, NY 12082.
Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com. Arrangements are by the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home in Petersburgh.
Louise P. Shyer
Stephentown – Louise “Kate” Pfisterer Shyer, 96, died peacefully Sunday, August 9, 2015 at her son’s home in 
Stephentown. Born in Manhattan, NY on June 14, 1919, she was the daughter of the late George and Louise Cejka Pfisterer. Raised and educated in Manhattan, she was employed by Purpac Drug Company in New York before her marriage. Following her marriage, her husband was drafted and Louise moved with him to the Orlando, FL Army Air Base. During World War II, Louise was employed repairing the sheet metal on planes used during the war effort.
After the war, Louise returned to the Bronx where she raised her family. After her kids were raised, she moved to Putnam Lake in Patterson, NY where the family had a summer home. From 1974 to 1989, Louise lived in Century Village in Deerfield Beach, FL. She moved to Stephentown in July 2014.
Louise was an avid gardner, enjoyed painting and reading and had a love for antiques which she passed on to her family.
She was the wife of the late John Thomas Shyer, beloved mother of Eric B. (Candace) Shyer of Stephentown, NY and Janet A. (Mark) Fried of Blue Ridge, GA; adored grandmother of Allyson (Daryl) Tucker, Jason Magoon, Dan Shyer, Margaret Louise (Eric) Barie and Kimberly Ann Antal; great grandmother of Brionna and Joshua Tucker, Josephine and Jocelyn Barie, Doug and Cole Antal; sister of the late George Pfisterer and Lucille Bollinger. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer, 295 Valley View Blvd., Rensselaer, NY 12144 or to the Stephentown Memorial Library, 472 NY State Route 43, Stephentown, NY 12168, attn: Treasurer.
Louise was cremated and services are private at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown, NY. Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.
Patricia Elinor Sparks
Hoosick Falls – Patricia Elinor (Barnes) Sparks, 82, passed away on Saturday August 15, 2015 at River’s Edge Community Care Home, in Bennington, Vermont. She was the wife of the late William Sparks who died on January 16, 2011. They were married on June 11, 1960 and resided on Ore Bed Road in East Hoosick, NY.
Patricia was born on August 2, 1933 in Bennington, Vermont, daughter of the late Robert and Audria Barnes. She was employed by New England Telephone and AT&T for many years, and was a receptionist at Southern Vermont College. Pat was a great Mom and enjoyed time spent with family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Pat was an avid crafter, played piano, loved animals, and reading. She was a communicant of St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington and served on the Cemetery Committee for St. John’s Cemetery.
Survivors include her daughters, Kimberly (James) Baker of Arlington, VT, Mary Driscoll of Hoosick Falls, NY, Jennifer (Bruce) Nelson of Duanesburg, NY, sons, William (Nicole) Sparks and Eric Sparks all of Hoosick Falls, NY. She is also survived by fourteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and several nieces and a nephew. Pat is predeceased by her beloved sisters, Maureen Frahar McCutcheon and Beverly Flynn.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Thursday August 20, at 10 am, from St. John the Baptist Church in North Bennington, VT. Burial followed at St. John’s Cemetery in North Bennington.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Karen & Molly McGovern Memorial Fund through the funeral home.
Jackie Itterly
Hoosick Falls – Jackie Itterly, 87, passed away on Saturday August 8, 2015 at the Bennington Health and Rehabilitation Center, Bennington, Vermont. She resided on Danforth Street in Hoosick Falls.
Jackie was born on August 3, 1928, in New York City, daughter of the late Ambrose and Lucille (Cummings) Itterly. She owned and operated a taxi service in New York City for many years, moving to Hoosick Falls in 1984.
She is survived by a brother, Ambrose Itterly, step-brother Frank Itterly, and a niece Gail Renneberg, along with several friends. Jackie was predeceased by her partner Connie Bontempo who died in 2004.
A Memorial Service will be held on August 21, at 11 am, from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main St. in Hoosick Falls. Burial will be private.