Sports Outdoors
TVSC U19 Team Has Strong Outing In Weekend Tournament
by Jen Burhans
The Taconic Valley Soccer Club has started its Spring program. This past month K-6th grade youngsters have been coming together at Berlin Elementary school twice a week to practice soccer in an instructional setting. The club also has two older teams in the CDSYL Spring travel league that play and practice at BES.
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HFCS Baseball Season Comes To An End
by Steve Bradley
The season came to a screeching end for the #4 seeded HFCS baseball team last Thursday when they fell to the #5 seeded Schuylerville Black Horses 13 – 1. The Horses jumped on the Panthers right from the start and never let the Panthers see a glimmer of hope for a victory.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony For Newest Addition To Hoosic River Greenway
submitted by Shelly Stiles
Please join us to celebrate the addition of “Skorupski Landing” to the Hoosic River Greenway. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be held Friday, June 12 at 4 pm at the Greenway and the Route 22 bridge in Hoosick Falls.
Several local and regional businesses and foundations gave generously to the fund to purchase the 6-acre parcel along the Hoosic River, an effort completed in March 2015. They will be acknowledged and thanked at the event, which will also include a walk along the river on the Landing, and refreshments. The event is sponsored by the Village of Hoosick Falls and the Hoosic River Greenway Committee.
John Skorupski loved the outdoors and the many places he called “home.” He was particularly fond of the Hoosic River and he was very pleased at the thought of future generations enjoying such a beautiful environment along the trail. The Village and the Committee are grateful to John and his family for agreeing to sell their land along the river. Acquiring and protecting the parcel has been a high priority for the Committee since it began its work in 2005.
The group hopes to create a picnicking area, a canoe/kayak launch and take-out site, and a swimming beach at the Landing, among other amenities.
The event will go on rain or shine. For more information or to RSVP, contact the Village Clerk at 518-686-7072.
RPA Landowner Open House
The Rensselaer Plateau Working Forest Initiative will host a free open house on Tuesday, June 2 from 3 to 7 pm at the Old Daley Inn on Crooked Lake in Sand Lake. “This will be a great chance for landowners to learn about land conservation opportunities that might be available to them,” said RPA President Jim Bonesteel. There will be a number of tables with experts who can answer questions about Forest Legacy funding or the sale of development rights, the Master Forest Owner program, and conservation easements and other land conservation tools. We will also have an attorney/land use planner to answer legal questions and an ecologist and mapping specialist who can talk to you about the ecology of your land on the Plateau. Representatives from the Agricultural Stewardship Association, NYSDEC, New York Forest Owners Association, Rensselaer Land Trust and the Rensselaer Plateau Alliance will be available. This workshop is for people who would like to conserve their forestlands for future generations, are considering selling or donating development rights on their forestlands, or are interested in other programs listed above. For information, directions or to express interest visit http://www.rensselaerplateau.org or call 518-794-9160.
Events Coming Up At Rensselaer Plateau Community Forest
May 30 will be a pretty busy day at the Rensselaer Plateau Community Forest. The Saratoga Mountain Bike Association will be hosting a Trail Building Workshop from 9 am to 1 pm and Lisa Hoyt, Director, Dyken Pond Educational Center, will lead a program called Forest Investigation for Families from 1 to 3 pm.
Trail Building
Are you interested in learning how to build and maintain a quality trail system? Would you like to get involved with building a brand new trail system in the Capital Region? RPA is working with the Saratoga Mountain Bike Association to host a series of Trail Building Workshops to teach the skills, techniques and science behind building and maintaining sustainable trails that could be used for a variety of activities. In the process we will break ground on a brand new trail system in the newly founded Rensselaer Plateau Community Forest. The overall workshop schedule includes three sessions. The first is on Saturday May 30, 9 am to 1 pm. Other sessions will be on Saturday July 11, 9 am to 1 pm, and Saturday Aug 8, 9 am to 1 pm. For more information and to sign up go to https://www.facebook.com/saratogamtb/events.
Forest Investigation
How are your detective skills? Join us to discover who lives in the Community Forest. We’ll explore the forest on a one-mile hike and look for evidence of creatures living there. Bring Field Guides and binoculars if you have them. For kids of all ages and families (suggested donation of $5 to $10).
The new 350 acre Community Forest, (approx. 220 Legenbauer Rd., Poestenkill, NY – off of Plank Rd.), will provide recreational access for Plateau residents and visitors, will serve as a demonstration area of best management practices for forest stewardship, and will provide other educational programs for adults and children. Learn more about it on the RPA website.
There are many other exciting events scheduled that may be of interest to you. Keep informed of what’s going on with RPA, more than 30 Alliance organizations and a wide range of other groups by checking out our new data-base driven calendar of events at http://www.rensselaerplateau.org/events.
Rensselaer County 4-H Shooting Sports
Archery
Rensselaer County 4-H is happy to announce that it will be starting an Archery Club to be led by two of our county Shooting Sports volunteers. Details for the club will come out soon, and we are currently registering members who are interested. The club will focus on a variety of archery related topics including: archery shooting, arrow repair, bow building, and primitive skills. This club is open to all youth 8 and above, and space is limited.
Youth Shotgun Training
Rensselaer County 4-H Shooting Sports is hosting a basic shotgun training for youth on June 20 from 8 am to 12 pm at the Green Island Rod and Gun Club in Schaghticoke. The course focuses on firearm safety and operation, and building skills for successful shotgun shooting. Participants must be 12 years old or older and have an adult partner for the training. Cost is $20 per youth/adult partner. Firearms, targets, and ammunition will be provided. Space is limited, and limited scholarships are available.
If you are interested in either of these programs or to register, please call the Rensselaer County 4-H office at 518-272-4210 or e-mail Leland Bunting at glb76@cornell.edu.
4-H is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension. Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities.
GLSP Morning Bird Walk To Dickinson Hill Fire Tower
Join local birder Mary Batcheller for a morning walk through the park’s forests on Saturday May 30, ending with spectacular views from the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower. The hike will meet at 7:30 am at the North Long Pond parking lot, accessible via the park’s winter entrance.
Mary Batcheller is an excellent guide for beginning birders, so feel free to look, listen and learn or to come share your own birding knowledge. The hike will travel along 1.5 miles of the old Fire Tower Road, through Northern Hardwood and Beech-Maple forest communities. Participants will have a chance to practice birding by ear thanks to the dense foliage along the trail, but binoculars are definitely recommended equipment.
Meet at North Long Pond parking lot within Grafton Lakes State Park. (Please do not park along Fire Tower Road as you will miss the group and there is no parking). Pre-registration requested: 279-1155.
The Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park restored the Dickinson Hill Fire Tower over several years, with hours of volunteering and community donations. It provides views of the Taconics, Berkshires, and Adirondacks for those who climb its eighty sturdy steps. Visitors are welcome to hike to the tower from the North Long Pond Road trailhead during state park hours 8 am until dusk.
Wood Memorial Road Race’s Thirtieth Year Proceeds Earmarked For Town Of Hoosick Community Pool
by Alex Brooks
The thirtieth running of the Wood Memorial Road Race was held on Saturday, May 16. It was good weather for running, not too warm, with overcast skies. A full complement of Lions Club members and Fire Department volunteers positioned throughout the course, and members of the Hoosick Falls Police Department and the Hoosick Rescue Squad were present. The field of runners, about 35, was somewhat smaller than in previous years.
HFCS Sports Roundup – Both Lacrosse Teams Make Sectionals
by Steve Bradley
BOYS LACROSSE
Vs. Lansingburgh – The boys lacrosse regular season came to an exciting end last Thursday when the team defeated Lansingburgh High 10 – 5 at the Hoosick Soccer Complex. The first meeting between the teams resulted in an 18 – 12 Lansingburgh victory. The win was made especially special because it was Senior Day. Seniors (shown in photo, left to right) Mark Hackett, Charlie Whitman, Damon Dubois, Jake Bakaitis Chris Scheilding, Head Coach Mark Marquart, Nick Schrom and Logan Hoyt enjoyed every minute of the upset victory.
The boys, for the first time in school history, advanced to sectional play. On Monday, the team made the quick trip to Cambridge to play the #2 seeded Indians. The Panthers did not win that game, suffering a 12 – 5 defeat. In a way, it was a victory, as Cambridge defeated the Panthers 15 – 0 in the regular season. It ended a very successful season for the team, not necessarily the won – loss record, but in the advances made by the original players of HFCS boys lacrosse. The seniors on the team didn’t even know the rules of the game a couple of short years ago. The Panthers end the season with a 6 – 9 record.
BASEBALL
Vs. Greenwich – The Panthers defeated Granville 6 – 0 in their final regular season game Thursday on the HFCS diamond. Wyatt Whitman pitched his third shutout of the 2015 season, sending 12 Horde batters back to the dugout with strikeouts. Noah Conety had a single and a triple, and scored twice to lead the offense. Shayne Richard had two singles and one RBI, while Garrett Wright drove in two runs with a single and scored twice himself. The teams regular season ended with an 11 – 3 league, and 12 – 6 overall record.
Vs. Johnstown – Sectional Play – The #4 seeded Panthers (13 – 6)hosted #13 seeded Johnstown (12-9) Tuesday. After scoring seven runs in the fifth inning, HF took a 9 – 3 lead into the seventh and final inning when the Johnstown batters began to click. With two outs and and a man on first, the Panthers found themselves clinging to a 9-8 lead. The man on first stole second, putting him in scoring position. But pitcher Wyatt Whitman (7 – 1) dug deep and struck out the batter for the third out. Alex Mendez had a double and single, and knocked in two runs. Wyatt Cushman had two singles and two RBI’s. Ryan Sanders had a two run single.
HF now advances to the next round, playing at home Thursday against Schuylerville. Should the Panthers win that game, they will play Saturday at Shuttleworth Stadium in Amsterdam. The time for that game is to be announced.
SOFTBALL
Vs. Granville – The Panthers Ladies also hosted the Granville Golden Horde last Thursday. Playing in their last regular season game of the year, the Ladies downed the Horde, 9 – 8 in a very exciting game that was decided in the bottom of the final inning. After spotting the Horde 6 – 0 in the top of the second inning, to get them right where they wanted them, the Panthers outscored the Horde 7 – 0 to put the Panthers up one, 7 – 6 going into the last inning. Granville scored two runs in the top of the seventh to grab an 8 – 7 lead. The Panthers came out and calmly scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning when senior Chelsea Stevens doubled to drive in two runs to win the game.
Winning pitcher Alyssa Ellis (4 – 4) helped her cause at the plate by going 2 of 4 and batting in three RBI. Erika Quackenbush went 3 of 4 with one RBI, while scoring three times. Chelsea Stevens went 3 of 4 with two RBI and Sydney Miller went 2 of 3 with two RBI. Abby Gilson and Cassie each recorded an RBI.
Vs. Wahconah Regional – The Panthers traveled to Dalton, MA, just northeast of Pittsfield, to play Friday. Wahconah won the game 13 – 1. Alyssa Ellis took the loss on the mound. Lindsey Tutunjian doubled and stole a base in the game. Two Wahconah hit home runs. Most regular season starters did not play in the game, with many junior varsity players competing.
Vs. Mount Anthory – The Ladies lost at Mt. Anthony, 6 – 0, Monday afternoon.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Vs. Emma Willard – The Ladies traveled to Troy to face the Jesters in the Jesters Senior Day game. The Panthers were very ungracious guests as they beat EW, 11 – 9. Kara LaFlamme had five goals, Jordyn Haynes, Caytlyn Springer and Ally Burdick each added two. Zaynah Poore had a tremendous game, stopping shots left and right to record 12 saves. Vs. Scotia – Sectional Play – For the first time in HFCS history the Ladies competed in sectional play, being seeded #7. Facing #2 Scotia on Tuesday, the Ladies fell 17 – 5. Rachael Lewsey and Jordyn Haynes each had one goal. Zaynah Poore had nine saves in goal. The team ends the season with a fine 5 -5 league, 7 – 9 overall record.
The Ladies have every reason to be very proud of their season as great strides were made. Competitive against all but the very best teams, the team had an outstanding season. These girls made groundbreaking progress for upcoming teams.
