The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Hilldale Farm Foundation Awards Inaugural Scholarships

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Submitted by the Hilldale Farm Foundation
The Hilldale Farm Foundation would like to congratulate its first two scholarship recipients. The qualified applicants are Rensselaer County high school seniors who are pursuing a degree or certification in an agriculture-related program at a New York State school.

Emilee Valade was awarded $1,000 toward her pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Engineering Technology at SUNY Cobleskill. Emilee is a 2023 graduate of Hoosic Valley High School with experience in heavy equipment operations and maintenance, and related certifications.

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37th Annual Run for the Roses 5K Results

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Results Courtesy of Finishright.com
Below are the results along with race finish times for the 37th annual Run for the Roses 5K, which took place Sunday, August 13th, at Grafton Lakes State Park. Well over 100 runners participated, with proceeds going to the Grafton Public Library.

Male Overall: Evan Oconnor 18:18
Female Overall: Jessica O'Sullivan 21:53

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Run for the Roses 5K

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Registration is now open for the USATF sanctioned 37th Annual Run for the Roses 5K Race on Sunday, August 13th, at Grafton Lakes State Park (GLSP). The event benefits Grafton Community Library, and includes a Kids 1 Mile Fun Run.

The 5K race has an early entry fee of $25, and a day of race registration fee of $30. The Fun Run has a $10 entry fee. Register online at www.finishright.com or download an application from www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org.

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Valente Indicted for Manslaughter in the Second Degree

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Submitted by the Office of the Rensselaer County DA
On Monday, July 17th, District Attorney Mary Pat Donnelly announced that Anthony Valente, 44, the manager of RJ Valente Gravel Quarry in Grafton, was arraigned in Rensselaer County Court on a single count indictment charging Manslaugher in the Second Degree. The indictment alleges that Anthony Valente acted in a reckless manner which caused the death of Darren Miller, 35, of Poestenkill, who was an employee at the RJ Valente Gravel Quarry.

On October 1st, 2022, Anthony Valente was operating a crane while at the Quarry and was attempting to place a diesel engine in a Caterpillar dump truck when a cable broke off from the crane

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Ethel Simmons Memorial Award Winner

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The Grafton Community Library and Grafton Historical Society jointly congratulate Jake Collen, the recipient of the 2023 Ethel Simmons Memorial Award of $1,000. He wrote an excellent essay about significant places in the Town of Grafton where he would take a new visitor. Jake lives with his parents, John and Kim Collen, and is entering his senior year at Berlin Central High School where he is a member of the National Honor Society. He has volunteered for the Robert Smith Memorial 5K Run for the past five years. Jake hopes to attend college as a computer science major.

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Grafton Summer Festival 

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This year’s Grafton Summer Festival will be Saturday, July 22nd, from 9 am to 3 pm, in the Town Park on Route 2 with vendors and booths setting up around the town green at 8 am.

There will be music in the Gazebo with Chris Rowe, Bards O’ the Glen will be performing traditional music of the Old World from 10 am to 3 pm, and sharing the stage will be Christina Reger.

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Historic Building Destroyed in Fire

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A Grafton man is facing charges following an arson investigation by the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Unit in conjunction with the Rensselaer County Bureau of Public Safety Fire Investigation Team and the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control Fire Investigators.

Paul R. Coleman, 61, is being charged with Arson in the third degree, a Class C Felony, as well as

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Valentino Family Community Forest 

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Courtesy of the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance
The Valentino Family Community Forest, a 416-acre parcel located on Stuffle Street in Grafton, has officially opened. This land adds to an almost entirely connected 7-mile conserved corridor along the northwest escarpment of the Rensselaer Plateau, including sensitive wetlands, rocky outcroppings, deep forest, and spectacular views.

This project has been over five years in the making, when Bill and Kay Valentino came to Rensselaer Plateau Alliance (RPA) wanting to make a gift of conservation that would last forever.

Bill and Kay have named each of the 4 new trails after their grandchildren: Sam, Mason, Josh, and Sophie.

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Upcoming Community Forums

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Berlin Central School District

Submitted by BCS Communications
Berlin Central School District (BCSD) has announced a series of four upcoming community forums. The forums will discuss such topics as changes to arrival and dismissal times, availability of after school programs, impact on student learning and Berlin-New Lebanon (BNL) athletics, and a reduction in the number of students on afternoon bus runs. 

The four forum locations and start times are as follows: [Read more…] about Upcoming Community Forums