The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Upcoming Stephentown Memorial Library Events

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Family Movie Night – On Friday, March 13 at 6:30 pm we will show a recently released movie. Bring the family for a free movie at the library. Popcorn and juice will be served. This month the movie is “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1,” rated PG-13. Running time for this movie is 123 minutes. Popcorn and juice will be served.  Family Movie Night is free and all are welcome!

Computers for Beginners Classes – On Thursday, March 26 at 2 pm  and  Wednesday, April 29 at 6:30 pm, Farid Gruber will help new computer users understand how to use a computer and get connected to the internet.  This class is for anyone just beginning to learn how to use a computer. We will briefly go over the physical computer parts, how to turn the computer on and off, the desktop, Start menu, and how ‘Windows’ works. We will also spend time learning how to use the mouse.  Depending on time and interest, the class may move forward to internet use and email.  If you know someone who will benefit from this class, help spread the word and invite them to join.  Laptops provided for use, or bring your own.

Monthly Lego Club – Friday, April 3 at 6 pm.  Do you have a Lego enthusiast who could spend hours and hours every day engrossed with creative building? Do you have so many Legos in your house that you never know when you’ll suck one up with your vacuum cleaner? Do you sometimes get down on the floor with your clever builders and create something of your own? Well, this club is for you and your family! The Lego Club meets on a Friday night each month for an hour of building fun. There is no sign-up or charge.  Donations of Lego blocks are most welcome at the library desk.

Seals Of The Industrial Revolution

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Local author Marvin Bubie will discuss in Poestenkill the history of seals of various states and cities as they relate to the Industrial Revolution. Marvin has stories to go with each seal from his most recent book due to be published shortly.

The train was a very important part of industry and Marvin said you would be surprised at how many towns have a locomotive on their seal. According to his web site, “Over the years Marvin has collected and decoded the official seals and municipal symbols from various cities, towns, counties, boroughs and villages in this country as well as those in Europe. Each seal is a mini-history lesson and a collection all relating to a common heritage that tells of a reverence for that heritage.”

Copies of his previous books on the Dutch in New York (which includes Poestenkill) and the American Revolution will be available for purchase at $19.95.

Come join us on Tuesday, March 24, and get more facts and information at 7 pm at the Poestenkill Town Hall, Route 351 in the meeting room downstairs. Refreshments will be served. For more information on Marvin Bubie’s publications please visit his web site at mnobooks.com.

Acclaimed Author Lydia Davis To Speak At New Lebanon Library

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In observance of Women’s History Month, acclaimed short story author Lydia Davis will speak at the New Lebanon Library on Tuesday, March 31. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served.

Davis, a MacArthur fellow and winner of the 2013 Man Booker International Prize, is a professor of creative writing at the University at Albany. She was a Lillian Vernon Distinguished Writer-in-Residence at New York University in 2012. The “extremely short short stories” she is known for were described by The New Yorker as “probably unique in American writing, in its combination of lucidity, aphoristic brevity, formal originality, sly comedy, metaphysical bleakness, philosophical pressure, and human wisdom.” Davis’s most recent collection, “Can’t and Won’t: Stories,” features stories in miniature — complaint letters, reflections on dreams, and small dilemmas. Davis is also a novelist, essayist, and translator from French and other languages, and has produced several new translations of French literary classics.

All are welcome at this event. For more information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, 1/4 mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.

Garrison And Palmer On Dean’s List

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Paul Garrison of Petersburgh, who is majoring in Environmental Studies, and  Llewellyn Palmer of Berlin, who is majoring in Parks, Recreation and Facilities Management, were named to the Dean’s List at Paul Smith’s College during the fall 2014 semester. They earned semester averages of 3.3 or higher to receive this distinction.

Kiwanis Basket Bingo In Bennington

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Join the Kiwanis Club on Saturday, March 21, at 2 pm for a fantastic Basket Bingo to be held at the Moose Lodge at 916 Main Street, Bennington.

The proceeds of this Bingo will help a local man, Richard Martin from Bennington/Pownal. Dick has been paralyzed since November 1 from a staph infection. He was stricken while at a family wedding in Florida and has undergone many operations and is now in extensive rehab. The goal is to get Dick home.

Beautiful theme baskets, door prizes and 50/50. $10 entry for 18 games, $7 for additional tickets, $3 for three special games. Call Gale Leva at 686-3348 for additional information.

Peter Pan At Sand Lake Center For The Arts

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Join Sand Lake Center for the Arts – Circle Theatre Players as they present J. M. Barrie’s play Peter Pan opening March 20 and continuing March 21, 26, 27, 28 at 8 pm and March 22 and 29 at 2:30 pm.  Directed by Jane Nielsen and produced by Eric Washburn, this classic tale will take you on a journey with Wendy, John and Michael as they travel through time to follow after Peter Pan and Tinker Bell.

[Read more…] about Peter Pan At Sand Lake Center For The Arts

Local Sugarmakers To Host Two Maple Open House Weekends

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The Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association will once again host two Maple Open House Weekends, March 21 and 22, and March 28 and 29, allowing the public to take a free tour of area sugarhouses and see maple syrup made first hand.

“We’re inviting area families to come and experience first hand the sights, smells and sounds of maple sugar-making,” said David Campbell, a Salem producer and president of the Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association. “The event has been so successful we have expanded it to two weekends, giving folks more opportunity to come visit sugarhouses,” he said.

Signs will be placed along roadsides over the course of the weekend to direct motorists to the sugarhouses. The sugarhouses will be open from 10 am to 4 pm each day.

Most sugarhouses will offer samples and demonstrations.  Many of the locations will be serving pancake breakfasts as well.

Sugarhouses participating in the event are located throughout Washington, Warren, Saratoga, Rensselaer, Fulton and Montgomery Counties. Area sugarhouses participating are  Ioka Valley Farm, Hancock, MA, 413-738-5915, and Kent’s Sugar House, Berlin, 518-658-2134.

Maple season generally runs from now through the beginning of April.  The Upper Hudson region is among the biggest syrup producing areas in New York State.

The Upper Hudson Maple Producers Association is a trade organization representing maple producers in Washington, Warren, Saratoga, Montgomery, Fulton and Rensselaer Counties.

County Legislators React To 2015 State Of The County Address

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by Rich Crist Majority Legislative Liaison 

Members of the Rensselaer County Legislature offered reaction to the State of the County address for 2015 delivered by County Executive Kathleen Jimino at the March 10 legislative meeting.

County Executive Jimino focused on ongoing shared services and inter-municipal cooperation agreements that have helped reduce costs and ensured needed services are carried out effectively. The shared services agreements include road repair, snow plowing services, shared technology, energy and purchasing, among other mutual efforts.

She also continued to focus on the rising cost of state mandates and a failure by the state to reform spending requirements for costly social programs.

“The County Executive correctly noted the great efforts made in Rensselaer County to stretch a dollar and provide needed services in the most cost-effective way possible,” said Vice Chair for Finance Phil Danaher.

The Legislature has played a role in protecting taxpayers and creating a foundation for growth. County lawmakers have supported four consecutive county budgets that have remained under the state tax cap and supported policies that have led to upgrades in the county bond rating and positive financial reviews. The Legislature was also instrumental in creating 265 new jobs at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals in East Greenbush, extending county sewer service to the site.

The Legislature also organized a re-bid of the county insurance policy, with the policy costing the county less than what was paid in the early 1990s. Legislators also approved a refinancing of existing debt that is expected to save $1.2 million.

“We are working hard during some challenging economic times to protect property taxpayers and encourage job creation and new growth. We are very optimistic about the future of Rensselaer County and what 2015 will bring,” said Chairman of the Legislature Martin Reid.

“Taxpayers demand that we do more with less and make the same difficult choices they make every day in their household or business. We have heard that message in Rensselaer County,” said Legislator Todd Tesman.

Along with success in managing finances, the county has also worked to protect quality of life. The Legislature this year approved a renewal of an agreement between the county and the Agricultural Stewardship Association. The ASA partnership has resulted in more than 3500 acres of farmland and open space being protected in over a decade.

“We are encouraged that more resources may be made available at the state level to protect farms and open space right here in Rensselaer County. Farming remains a big part of the heritage and the future of our county,” said Majority Leader Ken  Herrington.

Eric Mace Re-enlists In The New York Army National Guard

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Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General, announced the recent reenlistment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Staff Sergeant Eric Mace from Petersburgh has re-enlisted to continue service with the Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division.

“The New York Army National Guard has sustained our force at or above 100 percent strength for the better part of seven years now,” Murphy said. “New York is ready to provide forces for state missions here at home, as we saw during the Buffalo Snow Emergency last year, Hurricane Sandy in 2012 or for sustaining our support to federal missions for our nation around the country and around the world.”