The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

GLSP Morning Bird Walk To Dickinson Hill Fire Tower

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Join local birder Mary Batcheller for a morning walk through the park’s forests on Saturday May 30, ending with spectacular views from the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. The hike will meet at 7:30 am at the North Long Pond parking lot, accessible via the park’s winter entrance.

Mary Batcheller is an excellent guide for beginning birders, so feel free to look, listen and learn or to come share your own birding knowledge.  The hike will travel along 1.5 miles of the old Fire Tower Road, through Northern Hardwood and Beech-Maple forest communities.  Participants will have a chance to practice birding by ear thanks to the dense foliage along the trail, but binoculars are definitely recommended equipment.

Meet at North Long Pond parking lot within Grafton Lakes State Park. (Please do not park along Fire Tower Road as you will miss the group and there is no parking).  Pre-registration requested: 279-1155.

The Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park restored the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower over several years, with hours of volunteering and community donations. It provides views of the Taconics, Berkshires, and Adirondacks for those who climb its eighty sturdy steps.  Visitors are welcome to hike to the tower from the North Long Pond Road trailhead during state park hours 8 am until dusk.

Eleanor M. Fairbanks

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Hoosick Falls – Eleanor M. Fairbanks, 102, passed away on Wednesday May 20, at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center in Bennington, Vermont. She resided on Albany Street in Hoosick Falls and was the wife of the late Fred Fairbanks who died in 1988.

Eleanor was born on June 17, 1912, in North Hoosick, New York, daughter of the late Andrew and Mary (Prime) McClure. She graduated from the Walter A. Wood School in 1929. Eleanor taught school in West Hoosick and Pittstown, New York. She was a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Hoosick Falls.

Survivors include her son Alan (Patricia) Finzer of Shaftsbury, Vermont, daughter Andra “Ann” Wheeler of Hazlet, New Jersey, four grandchildren, a great-grandchild and her beloved nieces and nephews. Eleanor was predeceased by a brother Robert McClure.

Funeral services will be Friday May 22, at 10:30 am from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, New York. Burial will follow the service at Hoosick Rural Cemetery, Hoosick, New York.

Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 5 to 7 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice through the funeral home.

The Life Of George Holcomb – Sylvester Is Unwell; Brother Twichel Arrives

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Friday, May 15, 1835: I tended to hampering or blinding a cow with a board before her eyes for she was unruly. The cow was one that I swapped for with Mr. Abraham. I carried my wife on a wheelbarrow to the widow Wylie’s on a visit, and fetched her home the same way at night.

Saturday: I beat manure and mended fence, but quite rainy. Today I sent my daughter Angeline to Mr. Hiram Mattison with the 45 dollars, which pays him for teaching our school 4½ months last winter.

Sunday: I took my wife into the wagon and rode with her. We went to cousin Jessa Egleston’s and took dinner. On the way we called to Asa Sheldon’s and told him that if his sister Hester wanted to come and make our cheese this summer he must send her word for she had been to our house three times this spring to have us hire her to make our cheese.

Friday, May 22: Tonight I rode to Hancock. I carried a piece of broadcloth and left with Mr. Jedediah Breer for him to cut me a coat and trouser and to make the coat and I do agree to pay him four dollars and 59 cts in team work.

Sunday: I went over to my Rodgers farm to see brother Sylvester for he was quite unwell. On the way home I called to Zach Chapman’s and paid 12 cts for one more runnet.

Friday: I planted potatoes. I borrowed two quarts peas and two quarts beans of Mr. R. Danford and I planted peas. Some rainy. I went to my Rodgers farm and came home with my horses.

Saturday: I went and drew four loads timber and boards for Mr. Jedediah Breer from Mr. Scranton Sweet’s sawmill, measuring nearly twenty two hundred feet, price not agreed on for drawing said loads but he credits me on account for laboring.

Thursday: Today Mr. John Twichel and wife came to town from Cincinnatti.

Friday: I worked on the highway this forenoon and this afternoon rainy. I laid up rail fence. I went to the highway this afternoon and the rain stopped. I only had one and a half day credit me for myself and team and plow. Today brother Twichel and wife got to our house.

Petersburgh Dismisses Its Code Enforcement Officer

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by Alex Brooks

The workshop meeting planned for 6:30 pm on May 18 didn’t really happen because the Board was in an executive session which started at 6 pm. They returned to the public meeting room at about 6:50 (the room was full, with every seat taken), and said they had made a determination regarding the Town Code Enforcement Officer.

[Read more…] about Petersburgh Dismisses Its Code Enforcement Officer

Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Parade

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Memorial Day Rites in the Village of Hoosick Falls will begin on Monday, May 25, with the raising of the Flag by the American Legion Commander Ike Powers at Maple Grove and St. Mary’s Cemeteries. At 8 am the Flag will be raised at Wood Memorial Park with a salute by the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary.

[Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Parade

Berlin Town Board Action – Historical Center Gets New Sign

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by Alex Brooks

Supervisor Jaeger said Dr. Young, the Berlin School District Superintendent, had expressed interest on behalf of the Berlin School District in renting the old town garage for a maintenance shop for the school buses. Supervisor Jaeger offered it for $6,000 for the year, the School to pay heat and electricity. Berlin is now waiting for the School District’s reply to their offer.

[Read more…] about Berlin Town Board Action – Historical Center Gets New Sign

Stephentown Town Board Action – First Section Of Corkscrew Rail Trail Is Open

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by David Flint

Business at the Stephentown Town Board meeting on the evening of Monday, May 18 was pretty routine, but Bev McClave, reporting for the Corkscrew Rail Trail Association, did have some news. After years of meetings, the Association is announcing that a section of the Trail is now open to the public. [Read more…] about Stephentown Town Board Action – First Section Of Corkscrew Rail Trail Is Open