Grafton Center Cemetery Association Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 12 at 6:30 pm in the basement of the Grafton Library, Route 2, Grafton.
New members are welcome.
Grafton
Lots Going OnAt Dyken Pond
Ephemeral Ponds Sunday, May 17 1 to 3 pm
This free program focuses on the importance of seasonal ponds and the life cycles of amphibians and plants that inhabit them. We will use nets to catch varius herpetofaunal species and microscopes to get a close up look. Rubber boots recommended but not necessary. You can bring your own frog catching nets. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Newcomb Pond Fundraiser at the Lucas Confectionery
Wednesday, May 20 6 to 9 pm
Join us at the Lucas Confectionery in Troy to raise money to protect 56 acres of land on Newcomb Pond, home to moose, river otter, great blue herons and more. The Lucas Confectionery Wine Bar has agreed to donate 20% of all beverage sales from 6 to 9 pm on Wednesday, May 20; additional donations will be accepted. It is also Artisanal Grilled Cheese Night. Donations may also be accepted through our website.
Bird Club
Wednesdays at 7:30 am
We are big fans of birds up here at Dyken Pond Center and enjoy bird watching when we can. We invite you to join us in our birding adventures throughout our 500 acres of forested land, home to many different birds. This club is informal and free.
Wildflower Walk Saturday, May 23, 10 am to 12pm
Join us for a leisurely walk on Center’s trails focusing on the identification and folklore of wildflowers. Free.
Volunteer Tuesdays
Every Tuesday is volunteer day beginning at 9:30am. This is a drop-in day, but please let us know if you plan on coming out so we can plan accordingly. Feel free to call the center for information on what projects we are currently working on or if you can’t make it by 9:30. We appreciate all of you and your help!
Events At Grafton Lakes And Cherry Plain State Parks
Friday, May 15 – Star Watch, 8:45 pm. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky led by Albany Area Amateur Astronomers. Telescopes provided. Please enter park via Winter Entrance on Long Pond Road and follow signs to program. Cloudy skies may cancel so contact Bernard Cognon to confirm: 658-9144.
Saturday, May 16 – Spring Fungi Walk 10 am to 12 pm. Please join Mycologist, Sue Van Hook for the first morsels of spring fungi. We will walk the loop around one of the lakes in appreciation of all fungi, and will hope for a morel or two, oyster mushrooms and perhaps a fresh Dryad’s saddle. Bring a hand lens if you own one. Sue will provide them for the group otherwise. Children make excellent mushroom hunters, so please bring them. $10/person or family donation requested. Pre-register: 279-1155. Event meets at Shaver Pond Center, 194 Shaver Pond Road in Grafton.
Saturday, May 16 – No One Left Behind 5k and Children’s Obstacle Course, 10 am to benefit Heroes at Home Rensselaer County. Obstacle course is free! To register, visit www.heroesathomerensco.com. Questions: call 518.279.7861
Sunday, May 17 – Trail Work Gathering at Cherry Plain State Park. 9 am to12 pm. Cherry Plain State Park has beautiful trails and is surrounded by over 4000 acres of the Capital District Wildlife Management Area. Join a group of trail enthusiasts to spruce up state land and learn more about this vast trail system. Bring clippers, water and work gloves. Meets at Cherry Plain State Park Entrance: 26 State Park Rd, Cherry Plain. For information, please call Fran Egbert: 674-3214.
Sunday, May 17 – Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis. 3K walk to Benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Check-in 11 am and Walk at 12 pm. Call (518) 453-3583 for registration information.
Saturday, May 23 – Grafton Lakes State Park Beach Opens for the Season. Open daily 10 am to 6 pm through Labor Day. Gate fees are now $8 per vehicle.
Call Grafton Lakes State Park for more information: 279-1155.
Fire Department Community-Wide Recruiting Day Was A Success
submitted by Bob Adler
For the first time, Stephentown, Berlin and Grafton fire departments combined efforts in their annual April recruitment drive.
Since the recruitment target is the generation now coming of age, the firemen focused their publicity efforts on Berlin High School, in addition to publicity in The Eastwick Press. [Read more…] about Fire Department Community-Wide Recruiting Day Was A Success
Letter To The Editor – Farewell To Helen Ellett
To the Editor:
With heavy hearts, the current members of the Grafton Trail Riders feel a deep sorrow about the passing on April 12 of Helen Ellett. Helen, Chet (her husband) and a few friends were the inspiration in creating the Grafton Trail Riders horse club. Since it was incorporated in 1950, there have been hundreds of members who have enjoyed the camaraderie of horse people. I am sure Helen and the other members who have passed, will be with us in spirit as we trail ride, camp out and tell our stories around the campfire.
Keep the Lord as your riding partner and you will never ride alone.
-Connie Madigan, on behalf of Grafton Trail Riders
Painting With Wool Workshop In Grafton
Set your imagination free! The Grafton Community Library will present an introductory Painting With Wool Workshop on Saturday, May 16 from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm at the Everett Wagar Senior Center. We will explore the ancient, alchemical craft of hand-felted wool. Pursuing the creation of beauty, you will be invited to play with a full palette of wool fibers to create images and abstractions that are unique to you. Spontaneity will be encouraged as you get to experiment with a variety of surface embellishment techniques. Prepare to be delightfully surprised, as we incorporate unexpected materials into our wool works of art that reveal magical textures upon felting. Please bring two bath size-towels, scissors, a plastic garbage bag, and a dish sponge. Optional supplies: scraps of yarn, ribbon, sheer fabrics. No prior felting experience necessary.
Instructor Jeannie Thomma has been teaching the art of hand-felted wool to artists of all ages as a workshop leader, private instructor, and artist in residence for more than a decade. Her hand-felted wool works of art have been widely shown throughout New England in private, public and non-profit venues, including the award-winning galleries at Silvermine Arts Center where she has been a guild member, The Kershner Gallery, Ironwood Gallery, Wesleyan Potters, Erickson Davis Gallery and Zoe & Flloyd Gallery which she founded in 2006. With numerous solo and group shows to her name, she is recognized for both her sculptural and wearable art works.
Jeannie is also the author of several books, including “Meditations for Artists,” and speaks about the importance of living a happy life by finding your purpose and pursuing your passion. Visit her website at www.jeanniethomma.com.
Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. Register at the Grafton Community Library, located at 2455 NY Route 2, during open hours on Monday, Tuesday 3 to 7 pm, Thursday, Friday 3 to 8 pm, Wednesday and Saturday 10 am to1 pm .
Connect with the Grafton Community Library via Facebook, by phone at 279-0580, or visit www.graftoncommunitylibrary.org. This project is made possible in part through a Community Art$ Grant, a program funded by The Arts Center of the Capital Region through the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. Each year The Arts Center delivers grants to local individual artists and arts organizations to create high quality arts and culture programs that engage the communities within Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties. This year’s awards total nearly $75,000 and were granted to 25 artists and organizations.
BCS Alumni Association 75th Reunion
Please help us celebrate the 75th Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 6, 2015 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Troy, NY.
All alumni, staff, faculty and retirees of Berlin Central School are cordially invited. We will be honoring the classes of 1935, 1940, 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980, 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015.
Join us for an evening of good food, friends and entertainment. There will be several retired teachers in attendance this year including Joanne Pederson, former choir teacher.
For more information visit www.berlincentral.org and click on District and Alumni. To update your mailing address, please like us on Facebook or email BerlinCentralalumni@yahoo.com.
Celebrating The Birth Of Buddha
The Grafton Peace Pagoda is holding a Flower Festival Celebrating the Birth of the Buddha and a Mother’s Day Celebration on Sunday May 10 at 11 am. Everyone is invited to join us in celebrating Buddha’s Birth in this world and in reawakening our belief in humanity’s noble, spiritual purpose on this earth. This will be a traditional Buddhist Ceremony with interfaith prayers. The speaker will be Mark Johnson sharing stories of the NPT Walk for a Nuclear Free Future.
There will be music and dance and a Pot Luck Lunch. Everyone is welcome to bring a dish to share, vegetarian options preferred.
Brunswick Grange Tailgate Sale
On Sunday, May 3 Brumswick Grange will hold its Annual Spring Agricultural Tailgate Sale at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, Rte. 67 and 40, Schaghticoke, from 8 am to 12:30 pm. More than 50 vendors will have various varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, veggies, plants and other agricultural items. Absolutely no dogs, cats, puppies or kittens will be allowed for sale. A donation of $15 per vendor will be charged.
Event will be held rain or shine. There will be no refreshments available. For more information please call 279-9113.
Elmer A. Grogan Scholarship Award
Applications are being accepted for the scholarship award of $250.00 for the best essay on “What Freedom Means To Me” by a graduating senior from Brunswick Central School District or Berlin Central School District who is continuing on with his or her education. The essay should not be less than 250 words or not more than 500 words. The scholarship is being given by the Carner, Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340 in memory of a former member Elmer A. Grogan.
Thedeadlinefor applications is May 4. Applications are available at the guidance counselor offices of both high schools and should be mailed to Carner,Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340, PO Box 361, Grafton, NY 12082, attn: Commander Richard Terpening