Hoosick Falls – John G. Blais, 69, (aka Zeus), legendary caber tosser, carpenter, and raconteur passed away on Tuesday July 19, 2016 at the Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls. He was the husband of Rita (Driscoll) Blais of Abbott Street. John was born on April 27, 1947, in Lockport, NY, son of Gerard Blais of Schaghticoke, NY and the late Annette (Brodie) Blais. John graduated from LaSalle Institute in Troy, NY, attended Siena College and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University at Albany. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corp serving from 1968-70. John was a carpenter who worked for many years with Paul Mooney Builder in Bennington, VT. John was best known for his comic impressions, quick wit, exceptional storytelling, and love of poetry, literature and music. Other survivors include his son Nicholas Blais of Albany, NY, sisters Mary Blais, Constance Beckley and Christina Blais, brothers Gerard, Roger and Steven, also several nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Saturday July 30, at 10 am from the Immaculate Conception Church on Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Relatives and friends may call at the church on Saturday from 9 am until the start of the service. Burial will be at the convenience of the family. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral Home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls. Memorial contributions may be made to the Poetry Foundation. www.poetryfoundation.org
Archives for July 2016
750 Thousand Dollar Grant To Purchase New Pagers For Rensselaer County Emergency Service Providers
By Doug La Rocque
On July 13, State Senator Kathy Marchione, Rensselaer County Executive Kathy Jimino and leaders of the Rensselaer Fire and EMS Community gathered at the new Defreestville Fire Station to formally announce the awarding of the $750,000 NYS grant for [Read more…] about 750 Thousand Dollar Grant To Purchase New Pagers For Rensselaer County Emergency Service Providers
Ruth M. Church
Hoosick Falls – Ruth M. Church, 88, of Wood Park, died peacefully Sunday, July 24, 2016 at Samaritan Hospital in Troy. Born in Berlin on March 1, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Gordon and Beatrice Goodermote Maxon. Ruth was a graduate of Berlin Central School. Following her marriage, she raised her family. She later returned to work as a secretary for Taconic Plastics in Petersburgh and for Gardenway Manufacturing in Lansingburgh, retiring in 1980. She was a member of the Petersburgh Methodist Church and assisted with the Youth Group and Bible Study. She was a member of the Berlin, Petersburgh and Grafton Senior Citizens. In retirement, she enjoyed camping with her husband in Union Falls and spent winters in Florida and summers in Grafton. She cherished her time spent as a mother and grandmother. She was the wife of the late Lyle M. Church who died in 1996; loving mother of Elaine B. (Howard) Snyder of Grafton, Timothy G. (Denise) Church of Petersburgh and the late Steven M. (Wanda) Church; sister of the late Hazel Cinney, Elton Maxon, Loyal Maxon and Rodney Maxon; grandmother of Dion (Jennifer) Church, Devin Church, Yolanda (Steve) Duprey, Christine (Jeff) Beaulieu, Melinda (Jeff) Colangione, Nicholas (Casey) Snyder, Jeffrey (Cheri Bink) Church, Christopher (Kristina) Church, Rebecca (Keith) Howard, Chelsea (Garrett Ott) Jordan and the late Shane Church. She is also survived by 21 great-grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. The funeral service was held Thursday July 28 at 1 pm at the Thomas M. Barber Funeral Home, 66 Armsby Road, Petersburgh with Rev. Jason White officiating. Interment followed in Meadowlawn Cemetery, Petersburgh. Relatives and friends called at the funeral home on Thursday prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Town of Hoosick Rescue Squad, PO Box 16, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090 or to Community Hospice, 310 S. Manning Blvd., Albany, NY 12208. Condolence book at ParkerBrosMemorial.com.
Richard ‘Dick’ Erwin Barrett
Pittstown – passed away peacefully on Friday July 22, 2016 at 90 years of age, with his wife Lena M. (Cary) Barrett by his side. Richard and Lena were married nearly 70 years ago on February 2, 1947. Richard was the firstborn child to Ervin ‘Irving’ Lucious Barrett and Mary Ann Clements. He was born on May 4, 1926 in the Village of Potsdam, NY. During Richard’s earlier years, he attended a two room school house in Hopkinton, NY. Immediately after leaving high school, he was employed at Aloca in Massena, NY and later worked in the manufacturing industry and on dairy farms. Richard attended the School of the Blind in Buffalo, NY and worked for the Association of the Blind in Albany, NY for 17 years. In more recent years, he spent the majority of his time in Grafton, NY where he jointly owned and managed Lena’s Kitchen with his wife for 27 years. He cherished his time chatting with customers and cooking. His homemade weekly Mac n’ Cheese dish was always in high demand on Friday nights. Richard was a hard worker, although handicapped beginning at a young age; he and his family were determined not to let it hinder his life. Richard shared his excitement as a Met’s baseball fan. He impressively kept track of a wide variety of local and national professional sports statistics. He found joy in camping with family, bowling as a member of the Association of the Blind’s Bowling League, and looked forward to annual visits at the Saratoga Race Track. Richard took pride in his family. He is survived by his beloved wife Lena, five children, Steven D. Barrett of Parishville, NY, Marshall L. (Constance) Barrett of Pittstown, NY, Sharon S. (Joseph) Archambault of Easton, NY, Mitzi L. (Roman) Bezduch of Cohoes, NY, and Richard ‘Ricky’ E (Judith) Barrett, Jr. of Cohoes, NY, one brother Reginald M. (Judy) Barrett of Parishville, NY, eleven grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. Richard was predeceased by his daughter Sheila A. Barrett, brother Donald W. Barrett, and sister Beverly A. (Barrett) Richardson. Richard’s surname origin comes from Great Britain. His paternal grandfather, William Parrott, born in Leighton Buzzard, England was the first to settle in North America to seek more opportunity. In 1891, William first lived in Lake Ontario, Canada, at this time the family surname was converted from Parrott to Barrett. During William’s time in Lake Ontario, he worked at a logging camp. Soon after, William moved to the United States, settling in Fort Jackson, NY of the Adirondacks. A funeral service was held at 7 pm on Wednesday, July 27 at the Marra Funeral Home in Cohoes, NY. Family and friends gathered for the wake prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Grafton Rescue Squad, PO Box 2, Grafton, NY 12082 or Grafton Fire Department, PO Box 134, Grafton, NY 12082.
Harold Niles
Hoosick Falls – Harold W. Niles, Jr., 78 passed away on Tuesday July 19, at Albany Medical Center. He resided on Route 67 with his wife of 58 years Wilma (Deamer) Niles. Harold was born on April 11, 1938, in Fort Edward, NY, son of the late Harold W. and Carrie (Olden) Niles Sr. He was employed at Duplex Construction in Glens Falls, NY. Harold enjoyed going to fairs, horse shows and watching westerns. Survivors other than his wife include daughters, Ruth Mason of Bennington, VT, Connie Churchill of North Randolph, VT, sons Harold Niles III of Hoosick Falls, NY, Jerry Niles of Cuttinsville, VT and Raymond Niles of White River Junction, VT, sisters Marion Banning of Windsor, CT, Nancy Fortin of Greenwich, NY, Linda Quinn of Fort Edward, NY, brothers Richard Niles of White Creek, NY, Fred Niles, also nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by a sister Harriet Niles and two brothers Earnest and Ronald Niles. Funeral services will be private. Arrangements are under the care of the Mahar Funeral home, 43 Main Street in Hoosick Falls, NY.
Theodore R. Flint
Elverson, PA – Theodore R. Flint, inventor of the epoxy putty stick, passed away from lymphoma on July 22, 2016. He was 81 years old. He is survived by his wife Deborah (nee Dougherty), his daughters Rebecca (Robert Finkenaur) and Deirdre, his granddaughters Eleanor and Madeleine Finkenaur, his sisters Frances Brezinski of Berne, NY, Janet Legg of Accokeek, MD and brothers David of Stephentown, NY, James of Atlanta, GA and Jonathan of Malvern, PA and 39 nieces and nephews. He grew up in Ardmore, PA and attended Lower Merion High School where as coxswain, he guided his crew team to win the national championships of the Scholastic Rowing Association of America in 1952. Ted received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University in 1958. He was an entrepreneurial chemical engineer who began his life-long love affair with adhesives and sealants by mixing batches in his mother’s garage, and went on to establish Polymeric Systems. In his over 50-year career, he was awarded 23 patents, many of which were developed into products that were sold in consumer and industrial outlets worldwide. Ted invented two part tape epoxy ribbon, loved by miniature model makers who call it “Green Stuff.” A leader in his profession, he served in the Adhesive and Sealant council as president and on its board of directors for 10 years. He was a regular presenter for Villanova University‘s and Virginia Tech’s professional development course for engineers. He received numerous awards, including the Chester County Globe award for Excellence in International Trade, Villanova University College of Engineering Alumni Award for Meritorious Service; and Institute of Packaging Professionals and Worldstar Packaging Organization awards. Ted was a long-time summer resident of Ocean City, NJ and a member of the Ocean City Yacht Club and Brookside Country Club in Pottstown, PA. His community service included being president and an active member of the Rotary Club of Pottstown, former United Way district chair and member and director of Phoenixville Area Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a client advocate for Citizen Advocacy of Chester County. Ted was a modest man of many diverse interests. In his retirement, he enjoyed traveling, baking bread, and making marmalade. He was well-loved and respected by his family, his peers, and his associates. He will be sadly missed by his dog, Cowboy. Family and friends are invited to his viewing on Friday, July 29, from 6 to 8 pm and on Saturday July 30, from 9 to 10:15 am; with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:30 am. at St. Peter Church, 2835 Manor Rd. West Brandywine Twp. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Sisters of The Visitation, 5820 City Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 or Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201
Wagon And Hayrack Broken
Saturday, August 4, 1838: We hayed. On this week my hired boy Wm Howard Koon was quite unwell with a cold and some of the time he did not work. Monday, August 6: This forenoon we mowed and this afternoon it was rainy. Tonight my hired boy, Howard Koon returned. He rode my horse away yesterday and promised to return last night Friday: We hayed on said Rodgers Farm. Towards night Howard Koon let my horses run away with the wagon and broke it and broke the hayrack. Saturday: Quite rainy. We mowed some on my Rodgers Farm. Moss Kent Hadsell worked all day mending up my wagon and hay rack.
Saturday, August 18: Today Wm Howard Koon finished work for me.
Monday, August 20: This morning I paid Howard Wm Koon nine dollars and fifty cts in cash and he credited me 50 cts for horse ride which pays him up in full for labor.
Thursday August 30: This morning about eight o’clock I got into Troy. I sold my cheese at 7½ cts per pound and butter at 18 cts per pound. I put my team into a shed and bated at a tavern in Congress St. I had bitters and coffee and paid nine cts. I then went to Tammana Hall to a County Convention as one of the delegates but did not stay through the meeting. I started out of Troy at five o’clock this afternoon. I called and bated to Calvin Sliters at Sand Lake. Today I took my single wagon and carried my wife and daughter Sarah to Canaan on a visit to Calvin Carr’s.
Wednesday, September 5: I went to camp meeting on Gale Hill in New Lebanon. I went with my covered wagon and carried my wife and oldest daughter. I paid about 30 cts for cake and beer.
An Evening With The Paranormal In Grafton
By Doug La Rocque
Please don’t label them “ghostbusters,” said Gary Robusto of the Tri-City New York Paranormal Society. “We are investigators.” That is what he and his teams have been [Read more…] about An Evening With The Paranormal In Grafton
Jesus Is Lord Ministries Now Serving Free Meals At ‘Heaven Sent Kitchens’ On Tuesdays
by Bob Gallucci
Heaven Sent Kitchens, a free eat-in food kitchen located at Jesus is Lord Ministries Church #2 in East Nassau, officially opened its doors for the first time at 8 am on July 26. The kitchen will be serving breakfast and lunch
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Hosts Blood Drive August 4
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center will host an American Red Cross Blood drive on Thursday, August 4, 11:30 am to 5 pm in its employee cafeteria. This drive provides an opportunity [Read more…] about Southwestern Vermont Medical Center Hosts Blood Drive August 4