The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

HFCS PTA Kicks Off 2014-2015 Year

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submitted by Paula Kamperman

The Hoosick Falls Central School Parent Teacher Association (PTA), a group of involved, caring and committed moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, teachers, administrators and alumni, is underway with the new school year. The PTA has been active all summer preparing for the year, and they’re helping to ease students and teachers back to school at the open houses and other activities.

The PTA will hold business meetings nine times a year. Meetings this year will be held in the HFCS Elementary School Library at 5:30 pm on September 18, October 16, November 20,  January 15,  February 12, March 19, April 16, May 21 and June 18.

The Executive Officers are excited to start the new school year and to encourage parents, faculty and community to support the HFCS PTA by becoming a member. Memberships cost just $5, and some of the benefits of membership include valuable discounts to major retailers of goods and services, access to extensive resources through the national PTA website and getting your voice heard both locally and nationally through the extensive PTA advocacy network.

The officers leading with lots of enthusiasm this year are President Susan Senecal, Vice President Sarah Bushey, Treasurer Eliza Bouplon, Secretary Jenny O’Connor; and Teacher Representatives Gina Harrison (Junior/Senior High School) and Ann-Marie Glover (Elementary School).

If you’d like to become a member or to learn more about the PTA and its programs, please attend the first meeting on September 18 or contact Amy Duncan at 518-328-6833.

Annual Fall Giffy’s Chicken BBQ

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The Town of Hoosick Republican Committee will host its annual Fall Giffy’s Chicken BBQ on Thursday, September 25, at Liporace’s old Getty station on Rt. 22 near Blue Flame Gas.  The meal consist of a ½ barbecued chicken, baked potato, coleslaw, beverage and dessert.  Pick up is from 4 to 6 pm. The cost is $12 a meal or $8 for ½ chicken only.

Get your ticket by contacting any committee member or call Cindy at 518-322-8685 to reserve tickets at the door. There will be a limited number of tickets available, so call now.

Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department Texas Hold’em

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The Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, September 27, 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 John Linton at 518-733-0469.

Fall Foliage Discovery Hike At Dyken Pond Center

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Join us on September 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm for a fun, easy hike on the trails of Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Come experience the famous Northeast foliage first hand. Learn how trees and animals not only survive but thrive in the cold winter months and how you can utilize leaves to their full potential in your own yard. This event is free of charge and is for all ages. Meet at the parking lot of the Center.

The Dyken Pond Center, located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing and non-motor boating. Contact the Center for more information at 658-2055 or dykenpond@fairpoint.net or visit www.dykenpond.org for directions and the schedule of our fall events.

Thelma A. Locke

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Stephentown – Thelma A. Locke of 79 East Road, Stephentown, NY, died July 26, 2014, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA, with family at her side.

Born September 23, 1918, in Groveland, MA, she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Ada (Holland) Aiken. She married the love of her life, Percy W. Locke, on her birthday, September 23, 1945. Together they owned and operated an ice and coal business and a poultry farm. She worked for many years from the late 30s into the 60s as a chicken sexer.

Percy and Thelma moved to the Berkshires in the early 60s where Percy trained and showed Morgan horses (with Thelma always at his side) for Green Meads Farm in Richmond, MA.

Thelma leaves her grandchildren, Erika and husband Joe Voltoline, Michael and wife Marie Locke, Jacob Locke, Nathan and wife Breanna Sumy, Stephanie Sumy, Laura and husband Bill White and Abby Locke, her niece, Sandra Gilmore and partner Greg Knowlton of Chichester, NH, her nephews, Joseph “Pick” Cole and Eugene “Nipper” Cole and his wife Evelyn of Athens, ME, her niece, Thelma and husband Tom Rheaume of Stephentown, and several great-grandchildren and great-nieces and great-nephews.

An animal lover all of her life, she and Percy exhibited their beloved Palomino stallion, Golden Delicious, to many state championships in the 50s and 60s. Thelma also bred and exhibited Boston terriers and miniature poodles. In her later years, she delighted in the company of her many peacocks, especially her favorite, Vane, and Herm the cat.

Thelma is pre-deceased by her husband Percy, who died on February 22, 2001, her two sons, Earle L. Locke and Raymond McFarlane, Jr., her siblings, Daisy Aiken, Dorothy Cole, Earle L. Aiken and Donald Aiken.

A graveside service will be held Saturday, September 20, at 1 pm at Garfield Cemetery, Stephentown. A reception will follow at the Stephentown Fire Department Pavilion.

Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown.

Lawrence James Church

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Petersburgh – Lawrence James Church, 88, died September 16, 2014. He was the son of the late Leon J. and Anna K. Perry Church and father of Anna K. Church of Averill Park, NY, Jean I. Smith of Wilton, ME, and Linda Pollard of Portland, OR, brother of Leonard Church of Pittstown, NY, the late Barbara Berg of Florida and Louis Church of Petersburgh, NY. [Read more…] about Lawrence James Church

Gordon Durkey

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Hoosick Falls – Gordon Durkey, 44, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, September 10, 2014, at his residence on Elm Street in Hoosick Falls, NY. He was the son of Marie (Woodard) O’Dell of Hoosick Falls and the late Loren Durkey, and stepson to William O’Dell of Hoosick Falls.

Gordon was born on March 30, 1970, in Cambridge, NY. He graduated from Hoosick Falls Central School. He was previously employed at WCW, Inc. in Hoosick Falls. Gordon enjoyed hunting, fishing, time spent with his family and time in the woods. He was also a Jeff Gordon fan.

Survivors, other than his mother Marie, include his sisters, Shirley and husband Charles Fedler of Cambridge and Donna and husband John Poulen of Bennington, VT, his brother, Loren Durkey Jr. of Arizona, his step brothers, Randy O’Dell and Donna Hammond, Richard and wife Cathy O’Dell and Loren “Rocky” and wife Linda O’Dell, his nieces, Sara Dann, Jamie Poulen, Andrea Good and Laura O’Dell, and his nephews, Shane Holbrook, Richard O’Dell, Rocky O’Dell and Danny and Jeffrey Hammond.

A Memorial Service was held on Tuesday, September 16, at 8 pm from the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5 to 8 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad through the funeral home.