Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
submitted by Andy Zlotnick
The two newest Eagle Scouts of Troop 222 are Nick Despart and Timothy Shupe, who completed their Eagle boards of review on November 21, 2014 and were recognized by the Troop on April 11 in a Double Eagle Ceremony held at the Berlin High School.
[Read more…] about Shupe And Despart Share Double Eagle Ceremony
by Steve Bradley
With cheers coming from a wild softball game going on at the softball diamond, another wild game was going on the girls lacrosse field. The Hoosick Falls Panthers were in a wild race with Cohoes to see who could outscore the other. The Panthers pulled out the win 20 – 16.
by Steve Bradley
Friday afternoon the Panther Ladies took on the Hoosic Valley Indians on the Hoosic Valley field. Hoosick Falls came away with a 11 – 9 win.
Three valley Volunteer Fire Departments will hold a coordinated open house and recruitment drive at their fire stations Saturday, April 24. The event will allow the fire departments a chance to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer. We’ve increased our recruiting footprint by adding recruiting information at Berlin High School. Junior members can join at age 16-17. With no upper age limit, retirees can be a huge asset for our emergency services, especially as drivers.
Volunteer departments respond to all types of emergencies including fires, vehicle accidents, hazardous materials, rescue and emergency medical. Our members are able to choose specialties, and can be trained as interior firefighters, scene support personnel, Emergency Medical Technicians, drivers, or fire police who assist at traffic control at many of our incidents. Free training is provided in all these specialties.
Every member of these departments is a volunteer. Filling the ranks with volunteers keeps taxes low for the entire community. We’re all neighbors helping neighbors.
As volunteer firefighters we learn to do dangerous things safely. We weigh risks and benefits. We proudly serve our community. We’re the solution to all manner of emergencies. Sometimes a crew of two suffices, other times the emergency grows so we need every member in the valley. Fielding a larger crew resolves the emergency quickly and safely. Some benefits of volunteering are scholarships for higher education and income tax credits. We need new recruits to continue to serve our community.
This drive is part of RecruitNY, sponsored by the Firemen’s association of the State of New York, which is coordinating statewide recruiting. Numerous other departments are also holding open houses. Check recruitny.org or www.svfd1.org for more information, or phone Bob Adler at 733-5749, or just stop by your local station for some refreshments and see what we do and how you can contribute to our community.
The hours when the local stations will be open are: Stephentown 10 am to 2 pm; Berlin 9 am to 3 pm; Grafton 10 am to 2 pm. Come say hello! For more information contact Bob Adler, Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, at 733-5749.
submitted by Krissy Fauler
After a long, cold winter, the Hoosick Falls Country Club has re-opened. On July 16, 2014, there was a kitchen fire that put the kitchen in the clubhouse out of commission and also resulted in damage in the dining area. The Country Club shut down entirely in late October. Since that time the Club worked with the insurance company to determine the cost to repair the kitchen and dining areas, and finally came to an agreeable amount at the end of January.
Recruitment Open House To Be Held At Berlin Fire House On April 25
The Berlin Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. will open its doors to area residents, so they can learn about what it takes to be a volunteer firefighter in their community, as part of the third annual RecruitNY statewide initiative. Over the last several years, it has been very tough for many fire departments throughout New York State to recruit and retain volunteers for a variety of reasons. Like most volunteer fire departments, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. needs to bolster its emergency responder numbers, so it can continue to provide the optimum level of protection for its residents.
As part of RecruitNY, on Saturday, April 25 between 9 am and 3 pm, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. located at 11 Community Avenue, Berlin, NY will join volunteer fire departments all across the state at their respective firehouses for a unified recruitment drive, as part of National Volunteer Week. Not only will RecruitNY be an opportunity to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter, it will also raise public awareness about the need for volunteers.
Throughout the day, the Berlin Volunteer Fire Co., Inc. will conduct tours of the station and firefighter apparatus, allow visitors to try on firefighter gear, and provide activities and stations throughout the firehouse for visitors. The fire department will discuss the requirements to be a volunteer, as well as conduct demonstrations, answer questions, and let visitors know how to get involved in the fire department.
Come on out and join us for this unique recruitment day at our firehouse. This is a great opportunity for our neighbors to observe the exciting tasks of a firefighter. Our current members love what they do – helping neighbors in need. We hope our recruitment day will inspire other area residents to join our fire service family. Check out our website for upcoming events http://berlinvolunteerfirecompany.webs.com/.
After the success of the first combined band concert last year it was immediately planned for a second event. This concert will be held on Wednesday evening, April 29, at 7:30 pm. The location is the stage of Hoosick Falls Central School.
The Symphonic band of thirty five members under the direction of Rob Allen will open the program with: Children of the Shrine March by James Swearingen, Of Dark Lords and Ancient Kings by Roland Barrett, Novo Lenio by Samuel Hazo, Stairway to Heaven by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant arranged by Frank Erickson.
The Hoosick Falls Community Band directed by Bill Gaillard will present; Silvercrest March by James Swearingen, Dragonheart by Randy Edelman and arranged by Frank Bernaerts, Ensenda Overture by Joseph Olivadoti, Man of LaMancha by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion arranged by Frank Erickson and New York, New York by John Kander and Fred Ebb arranged by Frank Cofield.
The combined bands totaling ninety musicians will present: Invicta by James Swearingen (conducted by Bill Gaillard), Under an Irish Sky by Larry Neek, Shipwrecked by Ryan Nowlin (conducted by Rob Allen), 1812 Overture by Peter Tschaikovsky arranged by Mark Williams.
Berlin Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary is having a spring Plant Sale on Saturday May 2 from 9 am to 1 pm at the former Bank Of America building in Berlin, and on Sunday May 3 from 8 to 11 am at the Berlin Firehouse – during the fire department breakfast.
Vegetables, flowers, and hanging baskets will be available for purchase.
The year’s biggest fundraising event for literacy programs in Rensselaer County, the Literacy 5K Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, May 3 at the Rensselaer Tech Park in Troy. This USATF-sanctioned event is suitable for runners and walkers of all ages and abilities. The race day schedule begins at 8 am and ends at 11:15 with prizes for the top runners in all age groups. Pre-registration will be held at Rensselaer Tech Park on Saturday, May 2, from noon to 1 pm. Register online at www.finishright.com.
The goal of the Literacy 5K is to raise awareness and build support for Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County’s programs and services, as well as to raise funds to provide these programs free of charge to adults and families in Rensselaer County. Please join us in thanking the sponsors who are making this year’s event possible: Aflac N.Y., Blasch Precision Ceramics, Cohoes Savings Foundation, Comfortex, First Niagara, Gettysburg Flag Works, Hilton Garden Inn, Troy, Phoenix, The Record, Rensselaer Tech Park, Snyder Printer, and Stewart’s Shops.
To learn more about volunteering or services, please visit the website at www.lvorc.org.
Grafton Community Library and the Grafton Book Club are excited to present the inaugural “Grafton Reads” community-wide read. On Wednesday, April 29 at 7 pm, acclaimed novelist and Troy resident Dennis Mahoney will be at the library for a discussion of his debut novel Fellow Mortals. The goal of “Grafton Reads” is to get as many people in the community as possible reading and talking about the same book. Fellow Mortals is a poignant story of how people rebuild their lives in the wake of tragedy. Pick up their copy at the library, and join the discussion with the author on April 29. Refreshments will be served. For more information contact the library at 279-0580.
