The Summer Of The Owls Starts July 3
Legend has it that the name Hoosick comes from an Indian word meaning “valley of the owls.” This summer the community is invited to participate in celebration of the Hoosick’s history and the iconic creature from which its name is derived.
[Read more…] about A Parliament Of Owls
Wildlife Changes Over Time At The SHS Dinner
The summer potluck dinner meeting of the Stephentown Historical Society will be Monday, July 1, at 6:30 pm at the Stephentown Heritage Center, Garfield Road (County Route 26), Stephentown. Those attending should bring a hearty appetite and a dish large enough to share, either main dish, salad or dessert. Plates, utensils and beverages will be provided. The event is free and open to the public. The building is handicapped accessible. For directions, telephone 518-733-0010.
Gayle Tardif-Raser, education coordinator for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, will present an illustrated program on “Iron Ore and Orioles – Wildlife Changes Over Time.” The focus will be on four species – orioles, New England cottontails, spotted turtles and Atlantic salmon – from the time of European contact until today with a discussion of human impacts on wildlife populations, including habitat changes, introduced species and current status.
Of local interest is the plight of the New England cottontail, known in the Berkshire-Taconic region as the swamp bunny or the swamp gray. Any knowledge or sightings of the New England cottontail from audience members is of special interest because the Stephentown area is one of the last patches where they are found.
Tardif-Raser is the Education Coordinator for Massachusetts Audubon’s Berkshire Wildlife Sanctuaries, working with teachers, students, day camp and public programs. She attended the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, majoring in Natural Resources Studies, and Salem State for graduate school in fisheries. She has been at Massachusetts Audubon for almost 20 years and has also worked at the National Marine Fisheries Service and Williams College Schow Science Library.
An Artful Story: Michael Shaara, The Killer Angels And The Battle Of Gettysburg
Michael Shaara wrote The Killer Angels, a novel that some consider the best fictional account of the Battle of Gettysburg ever written. How did Shaara become so interested in this battle and why did he write this novel? What books and historical events influenced him? Come to the Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls on Tuesday, July 9, at 7 pm to find out. Local Civil War historian and former Hoosick Falls Central School teacher, Michael Russert, will examine Shaara’s troubled life and his approach to teaching and writing. The program will also explore the differences between the actual battle and Shaara’s fictional treatment of the people and events that were part of the Battle of Gettysburg. The program is being offered as part of the Friends of the Cheney Library Love Your Library Series.
Although they were present, but not treated in Shaara’s book, the role of the local Civil War regiment, the 125th New York Volunteer Infantry and their involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg will be discussed. The evening will be both entertaining and informative.
Russert has a Master’s Degree plus sixty hours in Nineteenth Century American Studies. He is a member of the Company of Military Historians, a book reviewer on the staff of The Civil War News and has served as Coordinator of the New York State Veteran Oral History Program.
Stephentown Memorial Library News
The Stephentown Memorial Library will be closed on Thursday, July 4, for Independence Day. Please use our book drop, located near the handicapped ramp on the front of the building, when we are closed. We wish you all a relaxing and happy holiday.
Summer Book Festival
The Annual Summer Book Festival will be on Saturday, July 13, from 9 am to 3 pm at the Library, 472 State Route 43, Stephentown. Thousands of books and items for summer entertainment, including hardcover, large print, paperback, DVD, audiobook, CD and more will be on sale. A variety of delicious food will be available for purchase, along with Bake Sale items. Space is available for informational tables of local community groups and local vendors and artisans selling their wares.
There will be locally prepared refreshments, live music and a family program featuring Rhonda’s Reptiles.
Come early and stay late – all proceeds go directly to support the Stephentown Memorial Library.
For information, call the Library at 518-733-5750. The rain date is Sunday, July 14.
• Zumba Classes – Weekly on Wednesdays at 7 pm. Zumba is an exhilarating Latin-inspired dance fitness class designed to benefit anyone, regardless of age or fitness level. Each one hour class costs $5 per participant. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Easy, Restorative Yoga with Jules – Thursdays from 10 to 11:15 am. Join us for this great program held in the SML Community Room. Limber up your body and have fun doing it. Enjoy gentle yoga in a supportive atmosphere with music and easy asanas. Please sign up soon as space is limited. Contact Jules Harrell at 265-2808, yogafortrauma@yahoo.com or the SML front desk.
Grafton Flea Market And Bake/Food Sale
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton invites the public to the Flea Market and Bake/Food Sale at the Everett Wagar Senior Center on Saturday July 13, from 9 am to 3 pm.
Tables are available for rent inside or outside for $5 and $10. Proceeds from sale will benefit Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center.
For more information or to donate an item for our sale, contact Penny at the Senior Center at 518-279-3413.
The Town Of Hoosick Democrats And Hoosick 1st Party Host A Chicken Barbecue And Meet the Candidates Night
The Town of Hoosick Democrats and Hoosick 1st Party will be hosting a chicken barbecue on Thursday, July 11, from 5 to 7:30 pm at The Polish Hall. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy some delicious slow cooked chicken with potato salad, coleslaw, dessert and cold beverages and to meet this year’s candidates.
The candidates are Mark Surdam for Town Supervisor, Dave Sutton and Michael Hickey for Town Council, William Shiland III for Highway Superintendent, Tom Restino for Town Justice and Sue Stradinger for Town Clerk.
Tickets are on sale at Thorpe’s Pharmacy from Jim Monahan, Kevin O’Malley at 686-9460, Maggie Casey at 686-7367, Mark Surdam at 686 -0745 or Bob Ryan at 686-4857 and at the Polish Hall. Tickets will also be available at the door. Tickets cost $12.
Trash To Treasure
submitted by Tammy Osterhout
The Berlin Youth Commission Arts and Recreation program’s theme this summer is “From Trash to Treasure.”
We are collecting plastic containers that are numbered from three and up, except motor oil containers or any other hazardous materials containers. We also need all plastic bottle tops, all sizes and types. Some other items that we can use are styrofoam meat trays, plastic trays, etc – please make sure all items are washed. We will also accept any craft or art supplies you may have and are no longer using – we use yarn, beads, paints, etc.
Please contact Tammy Osterhout at 658-2924 to arrange pick-up or drop off. Please do not just leave items at the Town Hall. I can make arrangements to meet you at the Town Hall on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday mornings during Anne Maxon’s Town Clerk hours.
Cheney Library Book Sale
The Cheney Library in Hoosick Falls is sponsoring their First Saturday Book Sale on July 6 from 8 am to 1 pm. Stock up for Summer Reading. All books, both hardcover and paperbacks, are four for $1. There is a large selection of non-fiction and fiction for both adults and children. So come and take advantage of this great sale.
The Cheney Library is located on Classic Street, NY 22, in the Village of Hoosick Falls. We are open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from 1 – 8 pm, Tuesday 10 am – 5 pm, Friday 11 am – 4 pm and Saturday 8 am – 1 pm.
Saunters In The Shire
The Petersburgh Public Library is sponsoring a series of visits to “Peter’s People.” In 2012 the Library received a grant to sponsor Barton and Priscilla McLean in the making of “Peter’s People…Creating the Dream.” This DVD is available to be checked out of the Library and features a number of local artists and their dreams in relation to Petersburgh. This generated interest by the public in seeing first hand some of the locations in the film. The Library will be sponsoring a few field trips this summer to share the beauty that was shown in the film. Everyone is invited to meet at the Library on Wednesday, July 10, at 5 pm for the first excursion to the gardens of the McLeans. More dates will be announced in the near future.
Upper 90 Soccer Camp Starts In July
We are looking forward to continuing our Upper 90 Soccer Camp this summer and are hoping that you can once again join us in the fun. This summer’s dates are July 15 through 19 for ages 11-14 and July 22 through the 26th for ages 15-19. The camp will be held at Berlin Elementary from 5:30 to 7:30 pm each day.
If any 11-14 year old wants to come to the second week, they are more than welcome too! The second week will just be a little more complicated than the first, but nothing they can’t handle!
The fee, once again, is $40 per week. If a child is interested in the second week as well as the first, the second week costs only $20. We are attempting to get the money in around July 5.
Email a-willis@hvcc.edu with the following information: name, age, school grade, medical conditions, position and emergency contact and number. Mail checks to Aaron Willis, P.O. Box 474, Stephentown, NY, 12168.