Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
Hoosick Falls Central School seventh grade Open House/Orientation will take place on Wednesday, September 3, from 5:30 to 7:45 pm at the High School. Due to the limited space in each classroom, only the grade seven student and parent(s) should plan to attend.
If you cannot attend this orientation, please contact Judy Woodard, Guidance Counselor, to set up a meeting to conduct a tour and to review necessary materials before the beginning of school. She can be reached at 686-7321, extension 1508.
The Berlin Central School Code Of Conduct night will be held on Tuesday, September 2, at 6 pm in the auditorium. All student athletes from grades 7 to 12 for all school sports, fall, winter an spring, must attend this mandatory meeting, along with a parent or legal guardian, to stay eligible to play a sport this year at BCS.
Upcoming Sports Schedule
Friday, August 29 – Boys Varsity Soccer at Hoosic Valley – depart 8:30 am, play at 10 am
Saturday, August 30 – Girls JV and Varsity Soccer at Queensbury – depart 7 am, play at 9 am
Modified sports start practices on Thursday, September 4.
submitted by Shelly Stiles
Hoosick First will host a spaghetti dinner on Friday, September 12, at the Polish Hall in Hoosick Falls. The event will offer an opportunity for residents of Hoosick to meet Jenn Hyde, the Hoosick First candidate for Hoosick Town Council in the November 2014 election.
Tickets to this popular event cost $10 for adults, $7 for children, and can be purchased at the Polish Hall, Thorpe’s Pharmacy in Hoosick Falls or from Hoosick First Committee members Bob Ryan, Marie O’Neil, Bob Melesky, Ellen Scott, Kevin O’Malley or Jenn Hyde.
For more information, visit the Hoosick First Facebook page.
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton will be holding an AARP Safe Driving Course on Tuesday, September 30, from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm, with a break at noon for lunch, available at the Center.
Save up to 10% on your car insurance. The cost of the course will be $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. Please call Penny at 279-3413 or stop at the Center for reservations. Spaces are limited.
submitted by Cindy Mattison
The Town of Hoosick Republican Committee held a caucus recently for the purpose of electing a candidate to run for the unexpired term of Hoosick Town Council. It was a unanimous committee vote to nominate Joyce Brewer for this position.
If you look around Hoosick, you will see Joyce doing community service and volunteering her time to help the residents of Hoosick. Joyce is very active in her church and the Hoosick Area Church Association (HACA). She has speared and worked on many projects, including Fill the Bus, food drives, the community garden, Vacation Bible School and, most recently. is assisting with the Voice of the Vet programs, including helping with the Korean War Recognition event and sending the liberty Flag to all parts of the world to honor our veterans.
Joyce is very active with the youth in Hoosick. For seven years Joyce has been the Regional Leader for Girl Scouts, besides being a troop leader for 13 years, where she has encouraged girls to work hard for their community. She is very active in the aspects of the Performing Arts at Hoosick Falls Central School. She most recently organized the Jazz Band to play at the NYS Fair. She is continuously helping with food sales, costumes and even set building to make drama productions a success. Joyce takes pride in giving our youth opportunities they would otherwise not be able to have. She has spoken many times about how, by giving kids these opportunities, they are more encouraged about taking on the next challenge and gaining confidence in themselves. Because of her outstanding contributions to the well being of children and youth, Joyce was honored with the 2014 PTA Founders’ Day Award.
Joyce has worked as Assistant Town Clerk and therefore understands the responsibilities of the Town Council position. Joyce has completed classes for Grant Writing and looks forward to acquiring grants that will take some of the tax burden off the residents of the Town. Joyce works for the nonprofit organization, Troy Area United Ministries, as Financial Administrator. Her financial experience, working within a limited budget, will be an asset to the Town Board.
Joyce is without a doubt the best candidate to fill the Town Council vacancy. Wherever you look in Hoosick, she is there working hard. Someone that makes volunteering such an enormous part of her daily life, and who commits that many hours to the town she loves on a continuous basis, is the perfect candidate for this position. Joyce looks forward to working with the current Board to keep our tax rate down, provide needed services to the Town residents, encourage new business growth, support existing business and maintain an economical and safe environment for the residents and their families.
Joyce is also proudly endorsed by the Independence Party and the Conservative Party. Just look around at the support she gives the town, and you will understand why.
submitted by Chris Meyer. Deputy County Executive
This summer marked the 40th year that the County has served as a Summer Food Sponsor operating meal sites under the Federal Summer Food Service Program. The program is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and the New York State Department of Education to help ensure children under the age of eighteen receive nutritious meals during the summer when school is not in session. Rensselaer County has participated in the federal program since its inception.
[Read more…] about Rensselaer County Celebrates 40 Years As Summer Food Program Sponsor
The Veterans of Stephentown will hold a Texas Hold’em Tournament on Saturday, September 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.
Forty-nine young anglers and their families spent Sunday morning, August 17, fishing on the shoreline of the Washington County Park on Lake Lauderdale in the Lake Lauderdale Improvement Association’s 18th Annual Fishing Tournament. They caught and released 105 fish.
[Read more…] about Lake Lauderdale Young Angler Fishing Tournament
Grafton Lakes State Park’s Beach Nature Center is open 12 to 2 pm daily through Labor Day. Come visit some local critters, explore animal tracks and look at our nature artifacts.
August 30, Saturday – Gentle Fresh Air Yoga with Kat Abrams from 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is the last class of the summer. The cost is $12. For more information, call Kat at 233-1717.
August 30, Saturday – Dance in the Park for Summer’s Last Swing, 5 to 10 pm at GLSP. Enjoy live swing music with the Nisky Dixie Cats and dance lessons under the Park’s big sky. Call Laura Sears at 279-1155 for details.
September 1, Monday – Last Day of Swimming for the Summer and the Labor Day Sand Sculpture Contest at GLSP. Registration is at 12 pm, judging at 3 pm. Sign up is free. There will be prizes for all participants, but extra points will be awarded for originality. Join us on Long Pond beach.
September 6, Saturday – Tom Conklin Dedication Ceremony at Grafton Lakes State Park – Grand Opening of Conklin Pass, our new trail and the Conklin Program Tent. The ceremony will be followed by a barbecue and live music from 12 to 4 pm.
September 6, Saturday – International “Observe the Moon” Night. Join people all over the world in looking up at our nearest neighbor, the moon. Bring your binoculars if you have them and come enjoy the glow.
September 13, Saturday – If These Rocks Could Talk Geology Tour with David DeSimone at 10 am at GLSP. Grafton’s original name was Roxborough. Come find out why in a tale that goes back over 500 million years. Pre-register by calling 279-1155.
September 14, Sunday – Love the Lakes Shoreline Cleanup Day from 1 to 3 pm at GLSP. Along with thousands of volunteers worldwide, join in a shoreline cleanup effort sponsored through the Ocean Conservancy and American Littoral Society. Collect data as you go that aids in litter prevention campaigns. Scout troops are welcome. Pre-register at 279-1155.
September 19, Friday – Star Watch at 7:30 pm ay GLSP. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky with the Albany Area Astronomers. call Bernard at 658-9144 to confirm as cloudy skies may cancel. The rain date is Saturday September 20 at 7:30 pm. Please use the Winter Entrance and follow signs to the program.
September 20, Saturday – Pets in the Park from 11 am to 2 pm at Deerfield pavilion at GLSP.
Bring your four-legged friends for a day of pet friendly fun an adoption clinic, vendors, agility course, a costume contest and more. Call for a detailed schedule of events. There will be a Nature Hike at 10 am.
September 27, Saturday – Fall Foliage Hike to the Fire Tower at 10:30 am at GLSP. Pack a lunch and join us for a three mile round trip hike to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. We’ll break for lunch and a view before returning around 1 pm. Please call to pre-register at 279-1155. This hike is part of the region-wide Hudson River Ramble.
For more information check www.nysparks.com.
Buskirk – The unforgettable Kathryn Francis Riley Jepson of Buskirk, NY, passed away peacefully at her home on August 22, 2014, the day before her 70th birthday. She was surrounded by loved ones.
Among countless other things, Kate will be remembered for her unwavering strength, sense of humor and passion for life. She was the definition of feisty, often giving her family and nurses a run for their money and always proving to others that she could do what was considered impossible. Kate was a life-long jokester with an infectious laugh, witty remarks and naughty ways. She had a love affair with chocolate pie and could be found enjoying a piece at any time of the day. She enjoyed being on the go, word finds, casinos, hot showers and making jewelry with her girls. Her playful goosing, sweet kisses and hidden candy stash will be greatly missed.
To know Kate was a gift. A loving mother and doting grandmother, she was immensely proud of her family. She devoted her life to the care of others including her parents, her husband Ross, her children and grandchildren. Kate made many sacrifices throughout her life for her family. Nothing brought her more joy than seeing those that she loved happy.
Kate is pre-deceased by her husband of 45 years, Ross Edward Jepson Sr. Her memory will live on through her five children, Sheri Weber with Dennis Fisher, Deborah Best and husband Michael Best, Gail Guile and husband James, Brenda Shortt and husband Rick Shortt and Ross Jepson Jr. and wife Bobbie Jo, eleven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, three siblings, Patricia Bishop, Nancy Eaton and Frank Valentine, many nieces and nephews and her K-9 Companion, Dozie.
Arrangements are by the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, 12090. A private funeral service will be held for immediate family. The family asks that anyone wishing to make a donation in Kate’s honor donate, through the Funeral Home, to the Community Hospice of Rensselaer County, who provided Kate with the best of care.
