The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Rensselaer County

Lindsey McMahon of Petersburgh Is The 50th County Dairy Princess

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by Bea Peterson
A hundred and ninety people attended the 50th Rensselaer County Dairy Princess Banquet Saturday evening, April 13, at the Pittstown Ambulance Hall. For 50 years young women from Counties across the State and across the country have participated in this program that promotes the Dairy industry. These girls attend events in schools, speak to community associations, appear in parades and county fairs. Their job is to promote the importance of good nutrition, particularly through the consumption of dairy products.
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Volunteer Firefighter Recruiting Day

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On April 27 volunteer fire departments across New York will open their truck bays and doors to local residents as part of the annual RecruitNY campaign to increase the number of volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel statewide. Started two years ago, RecruitNY is part of a coordinated effort to boost membership in volunteer fire departments.
As part of RecruitNY, the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department will hold a recruitment drive at its fire station on Saturday, April 27, from 10 am to 2 pm. The event will allow the Fire Department a chance to highlight the duties and rewards that come with being a volunteer firefighter.
The Stephentown Department responds to all types of emergency situations including fires, vehicle accidents, Hazmat, rescue and emergency medical. Our volunteers serve in various capacities. Some members become Fire Police and control traffic during incidents; others assist with scene support and patient care while others are interior firefighters or Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) responding to illness and injuries of all sorts. There are many different opportunities to volunteer and training is provided.
Every member of the Stephentown Department is a volunteer. There are no paid members. Filling the ranks with volunteers keeps taxes low for the entire community.
Small towns have historically been community minded, with neighbor helping neighbor. Modern life puts a strain on that concept. Joining the fire department is an excellent way to integrate back into the community-family ideal.
For more information, visit www.recruitny.org or www.svfd1.org or contact Bob Adler at 733-5749.
A list of participating fire departments by county can be seen at http://www.recruitny.org/opendoors.php.

Brunswick Grange Tailgate Sale

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On Sunday, May 5, the Brunswick Grange will hold its Annual Spring Agricultural Tailgate Sale at the Schaghticoke Fairgrounds, Routes 67 & 40, Schaghticoke, from 8 am to 12:30 pm. More than 50 vendors will have various varieties of chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, vegetables, plants, flowers and other agricultural items. Absolutely no dogs, cats, puppys or kittens will be allowed  for  sale. A donation of $15 per vendor will be charged.
The event will be held rain or shine. Refreshments will be available. For more information, please call 279-9113.

Rensselaer County Legislature – Endings And Beginnings

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by Kieron Kramer
Perhaps the best part of the Rensselaer County Legislature’s monthly meeting is the presentation period before the regular business starts. The presentations to the families of deceased pillars of the community, those who have made the history of the County, are quite emotional and moving, such as the presentation on Tuesday to the husband of Cathy Wickswat, a farming agent for the Cornell Cooperative Extension, which honored her for her service to the farming community in the Capital District. At the other end of life’s road are the presentations to the County’s youth who are beginning to leave their mark on the community. On Tuesday the presentations to the Hoosick Falls Central School bowling and wrestling teams heralded the future of these dedicated, hard working, talented, young people.
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Higher CHIPs Funding For Local Highways

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by Alex Brooks
This year Town and County Highway Superintendents have successfully pressured the State government to increase funding for local highway aid known as CHIPS (Consolidated Highway Improvement Program).
The CHIPS money, which provides State funding to municipalities for construction and repair of local highways and bridges, has been level-funded at $363 million statewide for the last five years.
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Rensselaer Land Trust April Events

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The Rensselaer Land Trust (RTL) invites the public to attend three April events.
On Saturday, April 13, at 9 am the RTL will lead a vernal pool hike at their Geiser Preserve, a beautiful, wooded 95 acres on Perigo Hill on the Rensselaer Plateau. Among the rocky knolls and hemlock-maple-beech woods are vernal pools, which fill with snowmelt and rainwater in the spring, attracting breeding spring peepers, wood frogs and spotted salamanders. On this trip we hope to see or hear these symbols of spring or see their eggs. The hike will be about three miles roundtrip. The charge is $5, free for RLT members. To register contact Francille Egbert at 518-674-3214 or fran.egbert@gmail.com.
In observance of Earth Day, the RTL and the City of Troy will be sponsoring the sixth annual clean-up of the shores of Tomhannock Reservoir, the source of drinking water for 125,000 residents of Troy and other communities. Volunteers are needed on Saturday, April 20, from 9 am to noon. Meet at the NYS DEC public access parking lot on NY Route 7 in Raymertown, just before the causeway over the reservoir. Groups will collect trash along the shore. Garbage bags will be provided. Bring gloves. We will work regardless of weather, so dress appropriately. To register, contact Paul Schroeder at 518-674-2480 or pschroeder1@nycap.rr.com.
RTL is providing a series of opportunities to learn fungi with local mycologist Sue Van Hook. First up is an indoor workshop on Tuesday, April 16, at 7 pm at The Sage Colleges Cowee IV Conference Room in Troy. Learn to identify the different groups of fungi in preparation for Van Hook’s outdoor mushroom walk on Sunday, April 28, at 1:30 pm. Bring a notebook and pen. The charge for each program is $10 per person, $15 per couple. Kids can attend for free. Register for each program online on www.renstrust.org or contact Marcy at 518-674-2171.
For more information on the RTL, visit www.renstrust.org.

Pray For Us – We Drive Route 7

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by Kieron Kramer
As reported in these pages three weeks ago the Rensselaer County Legislature had decided to renew the request for a safety review of State Route 7 in Hoosick. A resolution to this effect was voted on at the March legislative meeting on Tuesday. The resolution was introduced by Vice Chairman of the Legislature Stan Brownell and Legislator Lester Goodermote; both men represent District Five, which includes the towns of Stephentown, Berlin, Petersburgh, Grafton, Hoosick and the Village of Hoosick Falls.
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NYS Assemblyman Steve McLaughlin Visits Hoosick Falls

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by Bea Peterson
As NYS Assemblyman to the recently restructured 107th District Steve McLaughlin has been visiting the area to meet his new constituents. On Thursday, March 7, he and his assistant Nick Wilock were at the Hoosick Falls Armory from 3 to 6 pm. About a dozen people from Grafton, Petersburgh, Hoosick and Hoosick Falls came to talk with him. The Assemblyman listened attentively to their issues and responded with his views.
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