The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Upcoming Events At Grafton Lakes State Park

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• September 27, Saturday – Fall Foliage Hike to the Fire Tower at 10:30 am. Pack a lunch and join us for a three mile round trip hike to the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. We’ll break for lunch and a view before returning, around 1 pm. Please call 279-1155 to pre-register. This hike is part of the region-wide Hudson River Ramble. Hikers will meet at parking lot at end of North Long Pond Road in Grafton.

• October 4, Saturday – Autumn Trails Day and lunch with the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park, 9 am to 12 pm. Help us improve the Long Pond trail and then enjoy a complimentary lunch with Friends Board Member Chris Roe. Please RSVP at 279-1155 by Thursday, October 2, so we have enough food for our participants. Meet at Long Pond beach with lunch to follow at the Park office.

• October 10, Friday – Outdoor Tykes at 10:30 am. Bring out the toddlers and preK-k kids for some fun in the outdoors. This free program will give you ideas for how to play with your child in nature’s playground, and you’ll see how much they love to explore. Pre-register at 279-1155. Meet at Second Pond parking lot off of North Long Pond Road. Please note this is accessed via the Winter Entrance, not the main Park entrance.

• October 11, Saturday – Be Prepared! Hug-a-Tree and Great Northeast Shakeout Trainings at 1 pm. What should your child do if they’re lost in the woods? And how about if the Northeast gets an earthquake? (It’s not as farfetched as you think!) Please pre-register by calling the Park office at 279-1155. Scout troops are welcome. Meet at the Park office.

• October 15 Wednesday – Trail Advisory Meeting at 7 pm. Maintaining over 25 miles of trails takes the volunteering and enthusiasm of many people so come lend a hand at our trail advisory meeting. The new Park map will be shared. Meet at the Park office.

• October 17, Friday – Star Watch at 7:30 pm. Enjoy a free tour of the night sky with the Albany Area Astronomers. Call Bernard at 658-9144 to confirm as cloudy skies may cancel. The rain date is Saturday, October 18, at 7:30 pm. Please use the Winter Entrance and follow the signs to program.

• October 25, Saturday – Trick or Treat Nature Trail from 4 to 7 pm. Meet forest critters along a trail lit by jackolanterns. This event has become a family tradition for many locals so come join us again or for the first time. The cost is $3 per person or $10 per family. Pre-registration for a time slot is required; call 279-1155. Meet at Shaver Pond Center, 194 Shaver Pond Road, Grafton.

Please call the Park at 279-1155 for more information on any of our upcoming events or to pre-register.

Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Land Use Planning Workshops

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The Rensselaer Plateau Alliance will partner with Hudsonia Ltd. and the NYSDEC Hudson River Estuary Program to host two land use planning workshops, on October 1 and 18. The workshops will introduce ecological maps created for the Plateau’s 11 municipalities that can inform planning and project review in Plateau towns. Participants will work hands-on with the maps to identify important natural resources, apply conservation principles and discuss strategies for conserving forests, wildlife and water resources through townwide policy, planning and project reviews.

[Read more…] about Rensselaer Plateau Alliance Land Use Planning Workshops

Brunswick Grange Tailgate Sale

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On Sunday, October 5, the Brunswick Grange will hold its annual Fall Agricultural Tailgate Sale at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, Rts. 67 And 40, in Schaghticoke, from 8 am to 12:30 pm. More than 50 vendors will have various varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, vegetables, plants and other agricultural items. Absolutely no dogs, cats, puppys or kittens will be allowed for sale.

A donation of $15 per vendor will becharged. The event will be held rain or shine. There will be no refreshments available. For more information, please call 279-9113.

Grafton Planning Board Action – Cat And Mouse?

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by Kieron Kramer

The agenda for the Grafton Planning Board meeting on Monday, September 15, had only one item of new business on it – the “application for site plan review for RJ Valente.” And so, it seemed, RJ Valente Gravel, Inc., was beginning the long awaited site application process in front of the Grafton Planning Board. Not so fast. No application was submitted at this meeting, and Jason Kappell, of Spec Consulting of Albany, the consultant for RJ Valente, said at the meeting that the decision to go ahead with the project, and therefore with the application process, had not yet been made.

[Read more…] about Grafton Planning Board Action – Cat And Mouse?

Grafton Library Offers Free Computer Classes This Fall

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On Friday, September 26, at 6:30 pm, the Grafton Community Library will hold the first class of its Fall Lifelong Learning Series: “Get Savvy about Computers.” Classes will be held once a month through December. They are free, open to the public and designed to get people of all ages and abilities up to speed with computers. The first class will be an overview of computer and internet basics. Future classes will address specific topics like digital images, Microsoft Office®, social media and staying safe online.

Computer skills are no longer just optional in our day and age – they are essential to almost every aspect of life, from finding a job, to keeping up with the news, to staying in touch with friends and family. These classes, offered in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s digital literacy experts, will meet this important need. Attendees are encouraged to bring their questions about all things computer related.

Classes will be tailored to the needs of the participants. For more information visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org or call 279-0580.

Fall Foliage Discovery Hike At Dyken Pond Center

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Join us on September 27 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm for a fun, easy hike on the trails of Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center. Come experience the famous Northeast foliage first hand. Learn how trees and animals not only survive but thrive in the cold winter months and how you can utilize leaves to their full potential in your own yard. This event is free of charge and is for all ages. Meet at the parking lot of the Center.

The Dyken Pond Center, located at 475 Dyken Pond Road, Cropseyville, is a Rensselaer County Park open daily during daylight hours for hiking, fishing and non-motor boating. Contact the Center for more information at 658-2055 or dykenpond@fairpoint.net or visit www.dykenpond.org for directions and the schedule of our fall events.

Grafton Town Board: Minutes Not Approved, Bills Not Paid

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by Alex Brooks

The Grafton Town Board meeting began with a comment from Town Councilwoman Barbara Messenger about the minutes of Town Board meetings. She said they are missing minutes from earlier in the year, and the minutes that have been submitted for the last few meetings by Deputy Town Clerk Cathy Goyer she finds unacceptable, because they contain bias, hypotheses and speculation. She said the minutes should not quote what people say in the meeting.

[Read more…] about Grafton Town Board: Minutes Not Approved, Bills Not Paid

Mennonite Program At The Grafton Historical Society

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The Mennonites will present their history, culture, traditions and songs at the Grafton Historical Society meeting at 7 pm in the Grafton Town Hall on September 17. Their genuine a cappella sound is joyful and hopeful. Over the years, people have benefited from their contribution to the American way of life.

The Mennonites own and operate Creative Custom Woodcraft which produces custom cabinets and furniture built in Hoosick. The former Old Maple Town Inn is the site of their farm stand on NY Route 7.

The program is free and the public is welcome. Refreshments will be served.

Backyard Bounty Community Potluck At The Grafton Library

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The entire community is invited to come celebrate together at the Grafton Community Library on Sunday, September 14, from 4 to 6 pm with a community potluck hosted by the Library Trustees. With all of our great friends and neighbors and the natural beauty of our town, we have lots to be thankful for here in Grafton.

This summer also marks sixty years since Grafton residents came together to build a permanent home for our library. All are invited to bring a dish and come celebrate with friends and neighbors in the Library’s backyard. Beverages, utensils and a celebratory cake will be provided. Please bring a chair if possible.

For more information contact the Library at 279-0580 or visit graftoncommunitylibrary.org.