Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Thaddeus Flint
As 2013 comes to a close in New Lebanon, the Town Board, at its monthly meeting Tuesday, found itself occupied with the same undertaking facing millions of other Americans this holiday season: figuring out health insurance. The general consensus of Americans, judging by lackluster results so far, is to put the whole process off for as long as possible in hope that things will iron themselves out later.
[Read more…] about New Lebanon Town Board Action – Health Care
by David Flint
“It’s the people’s community place to interact with history – a perfect location for people to come in and find out what makes New Lebanon such a special place,” said Steve Oberon, President of the Lebanon Valley Historical Society. The occasion was the grand opening of the Lebanon Valley Heritage Center on Saturday at the Valley Plaza Mall. [Read more…] about Lebanon Valley Heritage Center Opens
Lebanon Springs – Ah-Nee “Cindy” Banker, 66, passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2013, at Hillcrest Commons in Pittsfield, MA. Born in Taiwan on July 28, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Lin Ting-Mao and Lin Chen Hsiu-Chin.
The public is invited to attend the Stephentown Christmas Lighting celebration at the Veterans Park in Stephentown on Sunday, December 8, starting at 6 pm. Join the caroling and enjoy refreshments afterward at the Fire Hall on Grange Hall Road. The event is sponsored by the Stephentown Seniors and the Veterans of the Stephentown Area.
Berkshire musician Tor Krautter will perform at the New Lebanon Library on Thursday, December 12, at 6:30 pm. With the use of a looping unit, he creates tasty yet infectious grooves and performs a large repertoire of well crafted original tunes and classic rock/folk covers. This month, he will feature some holiday tunes, as well.
Krautter (aka Rev Tor) is best known as front man for the popular Rev Tor Band. Since the early 90s he has been a powerful presence on the east coast club and festival circuit, performing in venues from Maine to Florida. Rev Tor has worked with members of The Grateful Dead, Phish, The Allman Brothers and New Riders Of The Purple Sage and has performed at concerts with The Jerry Garcia Band, Los Lobos and Leon Russell and has toured regularly with Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten.
This event is free and open to the public. For further information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844. The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
The New Lebanon Library announces the following December events. All of these events are free and will take place at the Library which is located at 550 State Route 20, New Lebanon. For further information, please contact Jeannie Bogino at 518-794-8844.
• December 8 – New Lebanon Book Group – 11 am. The book to be discussed is Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk by Ben Fountain. Newcomers are welcome.
• December 11, 18 (event is on Wednesdays) – Tales for Tots Story Hour – 10:30 am. Story hour includes crafts, songs and movement activities.
• December 11, 18 (event is on Wednesdays) – Hug-A-Bye Babies – noon. This includes age appropriate stories, songs and movement activities for our youngest patrons and their caregivers.
• December 11 – Eat Smart New York – 1 pm. This is a free nutrition program for families, presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Learn ways to stretch your food dollars, prepare quick and healthy meals and snacks and receive food safety tips.
• December 12 – Tor Krautter in concert – 6:30 pm. The popular Berkshire musician performs a wide variety of folk / rock classics and original tunes. Donations for the performer are appreciated.
• December 13 – Family Movie Night – 6:30 pm. A current film suitable for the whole family will be shown. Call for the title. Popcorn and juice will be provided.
• December 19 – Family Crafts Night and Cookie Swap – 6:30 pm. Join us and make clay dough ornaments. All materials are provided. Following the craft, we will hold a cookie swap. Participants should bring four dozen cookies, a recipe and a container to hold your cookie haul. The swap will take place at 7 pm. This is suitable for the whole family.
• December 20 – Community Holiday Celebration – 6:30 pm. The celebration will include pot luck, caroling, crafts for kids, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Participants are encouraged to bring treats or a covered dish to share. Music will be provided by jazz duo DBX2, which features bassist Dan Broad and pianist David Bartley. All are welcome.
• December 21 – Paws-to-Read – 9 am. Therapy dogs come to the Library, and children read to their furry friends. And, of course, the dogs listen! Please call 518-794-8844 to register.
• December 27 – David Grover and Linda Worster Together in Concert – 6:30 pm. Enjoy an evening of delightful acoustic music with these two Berkshire favorites.
• December 30 – Bingo for Kids – 1:30 pm. There will be Bingo, prizes and fun for kids aged 5-12.
The Tsatsawassa Protective Fire Company, serving Brainard and East Nassau and the surrounding community, will hold its monthly Breakfast on Sunday, December 15, from 8 until 11 am at the firehouse on Firehouse Lane behind the post office near the intersection of Routes 20 and 66N in the hamlet of Brainard.
Breakfast, for a donation of $6, offers your choice of pancakes or French toast together with bacon or sausage, eggs cooked to your order, applesauce and an assortment of breakfast beverages. Children five and under are served free.
Included during the breakfast hours will be a Santa’s workshop offered by the Cub Scouts sponsored by the Fire Company which will give children an opportunity to purchase inexpensive gifts and have them wrapped………it is even rumored that Santa might be visiting during the morning so bring your camera for that smile on the face of your favorite little one as he or she chats with St.Nick.
The New Lebanon Library will host a fun filled community holiday celebration on Friday, December 20, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Library. The celebration will include music, pot luck, caroling, crafts for kids, a tree lighting and a visit from Santa. Participants are encouraged to bring treats or a covered dish to share.
Music will be provided by jazz duo DBX2, which features bassist Dan Broad and pianist David Bartley. Broad, one of the most sought after bassists in Western New England, has performed in nearly every state in the union and as well as in Europe. Bartley’s musical career included scoring original music for film, video and radio productions, performing in various popular music groups and composing and performing several performance art pieces in association with the Washington Performing Arts Society.
This program, which is made possible in part by a grant from the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, is free, and the public is welcome. For more information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844.
New Lebanon – Mary Louise Olsen, 74, died peacefully early Saturday morning, November 16, 2013, at the Hudson Park Rehabilitation & Nursing Center in Albany, NY. She was born in Brooklyn, NY, on December 19, 1938, the beloved daughter of the late Julian and Ruth Hoffman Olsen. Mary moved with her parents as a young child to Canaan, NY, to be close to her grandmother and aunts. She attended elementary school in Chatham, NY, and later New Lebanon, NY, where she had lived for most of her life.
Mary Louise took care of her parents and was a homemaker. She enjoyed social occasions where she had the opportunity to talk to different people. She loved watching movies and knew how to ride a horse.
She was an active communicant of the Church of Our Savior in Lebanon Springs, NY, and assisted at the Opportunity Sales. She was a member of the Vestry, the Church Choir and the Altar Guild. The Church was her life.
There are no family survivors, but she is survived by many close friends who loved her.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 2 pm at the Church of Our Savior, 14660 Route 22, Lebanon Springs, with Rev. Canon Clinton Dugger officiating. Mary Louise’s ashes will be buried with her parents in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon following the service. A reception will be held in the Church Fellowship Hall following the interment.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Church of Our Savior, P.O. Box 827, New Lebanon, NY, 12125, or to the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA, 125 Humane Society Road, Hudson, NY, 12534.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown, NY.
The Walter B. Howard Elementary School’s PTA is sponsoring a Holiday Craft Fair on December 7 from 9 am to 3 pm in the New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School gymnasium. Over 40 vendors will be present plus there will be a Chinese auction and a 50/50 raffle. The kitchen will be open from 9 am to 2:30 pm. There will be School Spirit items as well as many items and crafts.
