The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Lebanon Valley Heritage Center Celebrates First Anniversary

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submitted by Max Gitter

The Lebanon Valley Heritage Center announces that it will celebrate its first anniversary, with an open house and refreshments, on Saturday, December 6, from 10 am to noon, in the Valley Plaza Mall, Routes 20/22, New Lebanon.

The Center’s mission is to showcase the rich 250 year history of the Town. Using  photographs, books, periodicals, pamphlets, artifacts, maps, furniture and other antiques and displays. The Lebanon Valley Heritage Center features the Mohican era and its legacy, the Mt. Lebanon Shaker Society – the first and  most important Shaker community in the US, the world famous Lebanon Springs warm water spa, the great Governor and almost-President  Samuel J. Tilden, the pioneering Tilden Pharmaceutical Co. and much, much more.

The Center also serves as a tourist information bureau. It created and distributed widely the handsome “Historic New Lebanon Map & Guide,”  and it provides maps, guides and information on local  events, historical and recreational attractions, businesses, restaurants and lodging.

The Heritage Center is a collaboration of the New Lebanon Economic Development Committee, the Lebanon Valley Historical Society and dozens of dedicated volunteers.

Sixth Annual Hall-A-Palooza Membership Drive

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The Polish Hall, 12 Mechanic Street in Hoosick Falls, will host its Sixth Annual Hall-A-Palooza Membership Drive Weekend on Friday, December 12, through Sunday, December 14.

On Friday the Polish Hall will offer a Fish Fry Sandwich with chips and a pickle for $5 and cheese pizza for $11 or pepperoni pizza for $12 (Shag-A-Val’s) served from 5:30 to 8 pm.

Saturday will feature a variety of snacks beginning at 6 pm with free jukebox from 6 to 8 pm.

On Sunday a Chinese auction will be held; doors open at 12 noon. Items being auctioned will include a basket of cheer and a variety of other gift baskets, lottery tickets, gift certificates, Polish Hall membership and gift certificate, greens fees for four at the Hoosick Falls Country Club plus cart and much more. There will be munchies and raffles all weekend long and drink specials on Friday from 4:30 to 6 pm.

Nothing says “Happy  Hall-I-days” like a  gift membership, gift certificate or drink tokens.  Gift certificates make great stocking stuffers.

Add Whatever You Want Is The Official Cookie Of East Nassau

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submitted by Elizabeth M. Hurley,  member of the Bell Park Committee

The recent Cookie Contest and Chinese Auction held by the Village of East Nassau to fund the Bell Park, former home of the Brainard United Methodist Church on Route 20, was a great success with twenty-seven cookie entries.

First place winner was Kim Curtiss of Brainard with her “Add Whatever You Want” cookie which is now the official cookie of the Village of East Nassau for 2015.  All contest cookie recipes will be available in the form of a cookbook.

Also available is a limited edition commemorative Bell Park ornament at a cost of five dollars each.  The ornament and the cookbook may be purchased at the December 7 breakfast at the Hoags Corners Firehouse, the December 10 Village of East Nassau Board meeting and the December 21 breakfast at the Tsatsawassa Firehouse in Brainard.  You can also  contact cookies@villageofeastnassau.org to request these items.

The Bell Park Committee expresses sincere thanks to the businesses and area residents who supported our first Cookie Contest and Chinese auction, and we look forward to making this an annual event.

Special thanks go to the Hoags Corners Fire Company whose newly renovated hall provided a wonderful venue for our event.

Holiday Gathering At The Grafton Library

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On Saturday, December 6, at 11 am, local children’s book author William Middleton will be reading from his books as part of Grafton Community Library’s Holiday Gathering. Parents are invited to bring their children to celebrate the holidays with friends, enjoy cookies and refreshments, make an ornament for the Christmas tree and hear Middleton read from some of his books, like Gordon the Goldfish, the Autumn Ball, Chipmunk Jamboree and more.

The Holiday Gathering will start at 10:30 am and go until 1 pm. For more information visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

Caroling For Cans Drop-Off Locations

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Girl Scouts are sponsoring Caroling for Cans and special collections to help feed families this winter. Local Girl Scout Service Unit 154 is organizing a special holiday food drive to help food pantries and Berlin Elementary School meet a growing need for food supplies.

More families than ever are turning to local food pantries in Berlin, Grafton and Stephentown for help.  The need for supplemental food has become so great that Berlin Elementary School (BES) is supplying food directly to families for weekends and during holiday periods. These organizations are having trouble keeping their shelves stocked.

The community is invited to Caroling for Cans, a Christmas carol sing along on Wednesday, December 10, from 5:30 to 6 pm at the Seventh Day Baptist Church in Berlin. You can help by attending this important holiday event and bringing a non-perishable donation for the food pantries/school.

Many local organizations are asking their members bring a food donation to their next meeting and we have learned that several groups have already taken up collections of food or money to donate; thank you to every person and organization that is extending a helping hand.

The following locations will host food drop-off boxes throughout the month of December: Berlin Elementary School, Gardner’s Coffee Shoppe, Grafton Library,   Grafton Town Hall, Petersburgh Post Office, Petersburgh Town Hall, Stephentown Library, Stephentown Town Hall, Stephentown Trading Post with more locations to come.

Please consider making a food donation at one of these many collection sites. If you have any questions or would like to help, please contact Girl Scouts at 279-3772 or 733-6488.

The Everett Wagar Senior Center Festival Of Trees

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To participate in the Tree Festival at the Everett Wagar Senior Center, just decorate a 2 to 5 foot Christmas Tree for the Festival of Trees in Miniature.  Trees will be displayed from Sunday, December 7, through Sunday, December 21. Trees may be traditional or completely original, no taller than five feet and should be in place by December 7.

Local businesses, organizations and individual community members are invited to participate. Prizes will be  awarded.  Categories for prizes will be – Business or Organization, Adult Group, Adult  Individual, Child Group, Child Individual, Most Original and Open House Best Traditional.

Open House 

An open house  will be held on Saturday, December 13, from 10 am to 2 pm. There will be entertainment and a visit from Santa. Refreshments will be served.  Judging will take place before the open house   If you are interested in displaying a tree, please call Donna Walker at 279-3275 or the Senior Center at 279-3413.

Veterans Of Stephentown Texas Hold’em

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The Veterans of Stephentown  will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, December 6, 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.

No advance registration is required. A donation of $35 per player will be accepted and give the player 6,000 in chip value. Players can make an additional $10 donation at the door for 2,000 extra in chip value. This tournament will pay one place for every ten players with a minimum of four places and a maximum of nine places.

A free buffet will be served at the first break, and refreshments will be available.

For further information, please call Tom MacVeigh at 518-658-2448.

Take The Plunge At GLSP

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Registrations are now being accepted for participants in the Polar Plunge at Grafton Lakes State Park. The Winter Fest is in its 30th year with events occurring all day on January 24. The plunge happens promptly at 1 pm with check-in beginning at noon by Long Pond beach. This event is open to the first 50 people who pre-register. The fee is $20 and includes a T-shirt and a hot drink. Heated changing areas are available nearby but bring warm clothes for before and immediately after.

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