by David Flint
During the tough budget talks last month, Berlin Interim Schools Superintendent Brian Howard pushed to use fund balance money to restore some of the proposed cuts. One of those was Jill Augustine’s position of Student Assistance Counselor, also known as the Substance Abuse Counselor. Howard alluded to surveys that found Berlin Central School to have, “a very significant, the most pronounced, the most severe problem with drug and alcohol abuse of the rural schools…in fact it may be even the highest of the urban schools of the county.” In the end, the School Board did restore some of the cuts, including JV sports and Augustine’s position.
[Read more…] about Alcohol And Drugs In The BCS District
Archives for May 2011
Hoosick Town Hall And Domes
by Bea Peterson
Since tax grievance day was underway in the Hoosick meeting room the Town of Hoosick Board workshop meeting was held in the cavernous armory gym. Discussions at the Tuesday evening, May 24, workshop focused on two topics. The first was where shall the Town Hall be when the Armory closes and the second was where to put a domed sports complex in the Town. [Read more…] about Hoosick Town Hall And Domes
Grafton Fire Dept. Installation
by Alex Brooks
The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department held its Annual Installation Banquet, celebrating their 67th year of service. The program began with an invocation by Pastor Jason White of the Grafton Baptist Church, before a delicious dinner of chicken or prime rib.
[Read more…] about Grafton Fire Dept. Installation
Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Rites 2011
submitted by Don Bogardus
Memorial Day Rites in the Village of Hoosick Falls will begin with the raising of the American Flag by Walter Zwinge, Commander of American Legion Post #40, on May 30 at the Maple Grove Cemetery, followed by the flag raising at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
At 8 am the flag will be raised at Wood Memorial Park with a salute by the American Legion and the Legion and VFW Auxiliaries.
[Read more…] about Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Rites 2011
Grafton Planning Board Action – Wind Turbines To Keep Birds Warm
by Kieron Kramer
At the Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, May 16, five applications were submitted and accepted and two public hearings scheduled. The most interesting application was that of Peter Dubacher of the Berkshire Bird Paradise who wants to install three small wind turbines to provide supplemental power for maintaining the well known facility.
[Read more…] about Grafton Planning Board Action – Wind Turbines To Keep Birds Warm
HFCS Top Ten Seniors
submitted by Jessica Balch
Hoosick Falls Junior/Senior High School is proud to announce the Top Ten Seniors of the Class of 2011.
[Read more…] about HFCS Top Ten Seniors
Grafton Town Board Meeting Moved To Second Monday
Grafton Supervisor Tyler F. Sawyer announced that the monthly regular Grafton Town Board meeting will be held on the second Monday each month beginning this June with the exception of the month of October, when the meeting will be held on the first Monday because of the Columbus holiday on the second Monday.
[Read more…] about Grafton Town Board Meeting Moved To Second Monday
HFCS Prom Pictures
W.J. Cowee Leads Floral Industry In Disaster Relief Effort
W.J. Cowee of Berlin is urging its colleagues in the floral industry to participate in a massive disaster relief effort to help those affected by the devastating tornadoes and floods that have ravaged large regions of the South and Midwest this spring.
[Read more…] about W.J. Cowee Leads Floral Industry In Disaster Relief Effort
Two Events Benefit The Karen McGovern Fund
submitted by Bill McGovern
The Hoosick Falls girls lacrosse team in only its second year of competition battled the more experienced Mount Anthony team Friday afternoon, May 20, at the Panthers’ athletic field. Trailing 13 to 5 in the second half, the Hoosick Falls team was mounting a comeback when the game was halted by thunder and lightning. Despite coming up short in the final score the girls were successful in raising nearly $300 to benefit the Karen McGovern Fund as part of the Coaches Against Cancer Program. Lisa Ferrannini, coach of the Hoosick Falls squad, presented Karen’s mother Barbara McGovern with the funds during a halftime ceremony.
St. Stanislaw Poker Run
The following day the St. Stanislaw Society in Hoosick Falls sponsored what has become an annual motorcycle poker run and elected to donate this years proceeds to Karen’s Fund. The Society has been a major donor to the fund over the last ten years. This year the poker run drew nearly 50 cyclists and was co-chaired by Don and Donna Armstrong.
The fund honors Karen, who died in 2000 from cancer. In the summer of that year a few of her friends organized a volleyball tournament to help raise funds for people in the Hoosick Falls area struggling to meet expenses as a result of serious illness. The tournament proved so successful that it was decided to hold the event every year. The Fund has raised nearly $150,000 since that time and working with the Rensselaer County Council For Health and Human Services, Inc. has distributed every dollar it has raised to people in need. There are no administrative or other charges deducted from the fund.