The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Grafton

Insect Day At The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center

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The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering an Insect Program on May 25 from 1 to 3 pm. This program for all ages will take you throughout the fields and forests of Dyken Pond Center in search of interesting insects. We will also make bug hotels for your gardens at home. A $1 suggested donation is asked to cover the cost of materials. A complete list of programs can be found at www.dykenpond.org. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with planning, but not required and can be done by contacting the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or 658-2055.

The Patriot Flight Is This Saturday

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submitted by Tyler Sawyer

The Patriot Flight, Inc. is a local organization that flies local WW II and Korean War Veterans free of charge to visit the respective war memorials in Washington, D.C. The cost for the Guardians who accompany the Veterans is covered by the Guardians themselves.  The cost is $350 per Guardian. The flight departs the Albany Airport this coming Saturday, May 10.  There will be over 50 Veterans on the flight.

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Grafton Historical Society May Meeting

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The Grafton Historical Society will meet at 7 pm in the Grafton Town Hall on May 21. This month’s program is Native American Culture, presented by Lisa Little Wolf.

Lisa Little Wolf will talk about the traditions of different geographic regions, which have changed little over the years and are passed along through families. Lisa Little Wolf is originally from the Northern Cheyenne Nation in Lame Deer, Montana. An educator for many years, she travels the country speaking to peoples of many nations.

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

Grafton Fire Department And Auxiliary’s 70th Installation Banquet

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The Grafton Fire Department and Auxiliary’s 70th Installation Banquet will be held on Saturday, May 17, from 6 pm to 12 am at the Hilton Garden of Troy, 235 Hoosick Street, Troy.

The public is invited to celebrate our 70th year and the installing of new officers. Cocktail hour starts at 6 pm with dinner to follow at 7. The choices are prime rib, lemon chicken and shrimp and crab stuffed filet of sole. It is an open bar for beer for the night, cash bar for mixed drinks. We have a block of rooms reserved for $99 for the night. Cool cats DJ service will entertain.

Please invite some friends and make it a great time. We have a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. You don’t need to be part of the fire department to come. The price is $35 for a single ticket and $60 per couple. RSVP to 279-3670 with your dinner choice by May 12.

Grafton VFD And Ladies Auxiliary May Breakfast

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The Grafton Volunteer Fire Department along with the Grafton Ladies Auxiliary will be serving an All You Can Eat Buffet Breakfast on Saturday, May 31, from 8 to 11 am at the Grafton VFW – Fire Hall on South Road (County Route 85). Belgian waffles, pancakes, French toast, eggs (made to order), sausage gravy & biscuits, bacon, sausage, home fries, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk are on the menu.

The cost is $9 per adult, $4 for kids 12 and under and free for kids five and under.

Dyken Pond May Events

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Mother’s Day Wildflower Hike

The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is offering a Mother’s Day Wildflower Hike, May 11, from 1 to 3 pm to observe the many spring ephemerals in bloom. This will be a fun and easy hike for all ages.

Mid-Week Hike Series

The Center is offering a Mid-Week Hike Series on May 13, 22 and 27 from 2 to 4 pm. These guided hikes will cover about two or three miles over moderate terrain. You can attend one or more of these hikes, so come join us this spring for some outdoor adventures!

Sunday Pond Study

The Center is offering a Sunday Pond Study on May 18 from 1 to 3 pm. This program for all ages will have participants catching and releasing pond organisms and going over their importance to the environment. A complete list of programs can be found at www.dykenpond.org. Pre-registration is encouraged to help with planning, but not required, and can be done by contacting the Center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or 658-2055.

Twilight Kayak Tour

The Center is offering a Twilight Kayak Tour on May 28 from 7pm to 9pm. This program is limited to 12 boats so pre-registration is required and can be done by contacting the center at dykenpond@fairpoint.net or 658-2055.  Kayaks can be rented for $10 or you can bring your own.  A complete list of programs can be found at: www.dykenpond.org.

Dyken Pond Environmental Education 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. Canoes and kayaks are available for rent each day from 9 am until 3 pm after May 15.

Grafton Will Not Share Transfer Station With Petersburgh

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by Alex Brooks

The Grafton Town Board held a workshop on Saturday, April 26, to consider sharing the Town transfer station with Petersburgh. Grafton Town Supervisor Frank Higgins began the meeting by saying the question before the Board was whether the Town of Grafton would like to make a proposal to the Town of Petersburgh which would allow Petersburgh to use the Grafton transfer station for a fee. The merits of this question were never really discussed at this meeting, which consisted mostly of bickering on ancillary topics.

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Letter To The Editor – Start Telling The Truth

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To the Editor:

Let’s start telling the truth in regard to the Grafton playground equipment. Yes, I, a private citizen, contacted the Berlin School Board to see if they would be willing to give the pieces to the Town of Grafton. They requested an official letter from the Town requesting the equipment. At the March Town Board meeting I brought this up to the Board, and they were in agreement. Councilman Crandall called it “a wonderful idea.” The Supervisor turned it over to the Park Committee to handle. Councilwoman Barb Messenger offered to write the letter to the School Board. Prior to the April Town Board meeting I checked with the Town’s insurance agent to see if this would raise the Town’s premium. He informed me that the State has strict rules on playground equipment, how to install it, proper footing around it, the need to inspect and maintain it, etc. The Town most likely would need an engineer to draw up plans for the installation. He also informed me that the insurance company would send a safety inspector to look at the equipment first at NO COST to the Town to give us their opinion. Owning the equipment itself does not raise the premium.

Following up with the School Board I found out Barb never sent the letter. At the April Town Board meeting there was no mention of the playground equipment. I asked for an update and the response by the Supervisor was, “After what I learned from the insurance company, I’m not touching it.”

I did not contact the School Board after that statement. At this point I’m not sure what to even say to them. So where the statement or idea came from that I went around the Town Board and the red tape is TOTALLY FALSE.

Back to the Grafton Town Board, analyze the Supervisor’s statement for yourself and the actions of certain members of the Board. Two councilmen support having the insurance company send its safety inspector to look at the equipment. From there we can put a plan together depending upon his or her findings and whether or not the School Board is willing to allow us to have a few of the pieces.

Please contact your Board members and inform them you want them to start working for the people of this Town instead of working against them!

Cathy Goyer

38 Goyer Way, Petersburgh