| Editorial
HARRY
GARRY
June 21, 1899 – July 22,
2004
Much can be
said of our treasure, Harry Garry, who died this summer at the age of 95.
Although the Altamont
Enterprise and the Albany Times Union have offered
editorials as a tribute to Harry, I feel it is only fitting that our local
newsletter honors him as well.
Harry Garry was
first and foremost a devoted husband and father.
A true citizen of the world
and incredibly active in many community
affairs and concerns,
he was instrumental in many
organizations, which have been vital to our community
Harry was an advocate for the farmer and consumer. He was a
successful businessman, a talented musician,
an accomplished author, philosopher and a man of great faith. Harry
Garry was also my friend.
On the Sunday
before his passing, it became clear that Harry's time was drawing near.
It saddened me to realize that due to a previous and long-standing
commitment, there was the strong probability that I might be away at the
time of his Funeral Mass. When I mentioned this to
his wife Dr. Smith, she graciously
invited me to visit and say good-bye. In this way I was fortunate
enough to be one of those who had the opportunity to spend a few more
moments with him and
let him know how much I appreciated his friendship and counsel. I thanked
him for his support and encouragement throughout our long acquaintance,
and for sharing his faith with me. I told him how I especially enjoyed our
philosophical chats at my office, and that I learned and benefited from
his advice. One of the most
important things Harry shared with me was his belief that you must not
lose sight of what it is you have to give.
He often said if there is something you think you should do or say,
don’t be afraid to do it if it is what you love to do, or think you
should do. I like to think of this as Harry's Creed.
The
poem Almost Dancing, by Bridget Ball, seems to sum it up perfectly:
Don’t lose sight of anything that you don’t
share
- - - talent or love,
Or
just the chance to be there for someone who
needs you. You can’t save it up
For
that which you hold back is really lost
forever.
Don’t
lose sight of what it is you have to give.
For if you do
Then the world will have to live
without the gifts
That you alone can share.
Harry never lost sight of
what it was he had to give. He gave unstintingly, from the heart, and our
world has benefited from the many gifts he shared.
We have lost a treasure. I will miss my
friend.
~~ Patricia Favreau
|
FROM
THE SUPERVISOR
Summer turns to fall and the mountains
are ablaze with color, and the fall tradition of the crafting
next year’s
budget begins.
Rising employee benefits such as health care and a reduction in revenue
from the state are a few of the things that will need to
be taken
into account this year. The
town also expects to see higher tipping fees for its garbage as the cost
for all government services continues to rise.
The Town Board is working hard to keep these costs at
a minimum while maintaining the services
and quality of life we all want and deserve.
Here
in Berne there are some exciting new ventures that I would like to share
with you. First, I would like
to congratulate local lifelong residents Amanda Schanz and Christopher
Smith on the re-opening of The Maple Inn this fall.
As these small businesses begin to flourish again in Berne, I am
reminded of the many local enterprises that were a vital part of the
economy and life of the town when I was growing up.
These local businesses enrich our community by creating places for
people to meet and by offering employment opportunities for residents.
Please join me in congratulating and supporting Amanda and Chris.
A second exciting
development is The Big Backyard Program, which I
have been working on with Friends of the Helderbergs. Berne owes its rural
character to its rolling mountains, open fields and beautiful views, made
possible when large property owners choose to keep their land and retain
these beautiful open spaces. The
Big Backyard Program will help landowners
gain income from their land by enabling them to lease recreational
opportunities to private individuals.
For example, a bow hunter might be willing to pay a landowner up to
$1,500 for the right to use 150 acres of private land for recreational
hunting. While undeveloped land is taxed at a far lower rate than
developed land with houses and other improvements (thus the old saying
that “cows don’t go to school”), there is still a cost to the
landowner. With The Big Backyard Program,
we can capitalize on our rich natural resources to generate income to help
offset the cost of owning the land, and support our large property owners
in maintaining these open spaces. Our
“big backyards” also lend themselves to fishing, camping and hiking,
to name just a few possible recreational uses.
By making large stretches of undeveloped land available in this
way, both the landowner and the recreational user benefit. Some potential
“backyarders” have already shown an interest in this program. For more
information on this new program, please call or stop in to see me at Town
Hall.
As
always, I look forward to hearing from you regarding these or any other interests or
concerns. Have a very happy
and healthy fall and holiday season!
~~
Kevin Crosier
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TOWN
CLERK TOPIC
Election
Day – November
2, 2004
If you are a first-time
voter, or have changed your name or address since the last time you
voted,
then you need to obtain and complete a NYS
Voter Registration application in order
to be eligible to vote in the next general election which will be held on
Tuesday, November 2, 2004. First-time
voters will be required to provide a current
valid photo ID
at the polling place.
You
may register in person at the Berne Town Hall during registration days to
be held on Wednesday October 6, 5 PM - 9 PM and Saturday, October 9,
1 PM - 9 PM. These forms are also
available at the Berne Town Clerk's office
or the
Albany County Board of Elections. The
last day to register in person at
the Board of Elections is October 9.
Mailed in forms must be postmarked no
later than October 8.
To be eligible to vote you must be a
citizen, and have reached the age
of
eighteen by November 3, 2004.
If you know you will be unable to be
present
to vote in the General Election on
November 2, 2004 for reasons of illness,
studies, vacation, occupation or
business-related
duties, absentee ballot applications
may be obtained from the Town Clerk or
the Albany County Board of Elections. If you have any questions regarding
registration, absentee ballots or polling places, call the town clerk at
872-1448. All polling places are open from 6 AM to 9 PM on Election Day.
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| DID
YOU KNOW???
President
Lincoln declared the last Thursday in November as a national day of
thanksgiving in 1863 and was proclaimed by every president thereafter. The
date was changed a couple of times, most recently by President Franklin
Roosevelt, who set it to
be the
next-to-last Thursday
in November
in order to create a longer Christmas shopping season. Public uproar
against this decision caused the president to move Thanksgiving back to
its original date two years later. And in 1941, Thanksgiving was finally
sanctioned by Congress as a legal holiday, as the fourth Thursday
in November.
WWW.BerneNY.org
Keep
up with town news, notices, &
events at
the town website
www.BerneNY.org.
You’ll find the Courier on-line as well as town officers,
offices, and office hours. If
you do business in Berne, you should let people know by subscribing to the
on-line Business Guide. Keep
up -- on-line!
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LIBRARY
NEWS
It has been a busy summer at the Berne
Public library. More
than fifty school-aged children signed up for the New York is Read, White and Blue program.
Some of the activities sponsored by the Library included:
building beaver lodges; taste-testing
maple syrup;
New York State’s beverage—milk;
decorating tie-dye t-shirts; visiting with Rowdy the River Rat during
story hour; and singing with the Clifton Park Players.
Many
family members and friends gathered at the home of Jim & Jane O’Shea
for an afternoon tea to pay tribute to retired library board trustees Lee
Ann Connors, Margaret Kinnaird, and Alberta Wright.
Supervisor Crosier read
a Town Board resolution which recognized these three for their many years
of dedicated service to the library and
community.
EVENTS TO COME:
Movies
October 15 - 7 PM
- Raising
Helen
November 20- Harry
Potter Marathon
1PM:
Harry Potter
and the Sorcerer’s Stone
4PM:
Harry Potter
and
the Chamber of Secrets
December 17 -
7 PM-
Shrek 2
Game
Tournaments
Chess and
Checkers: Sept.
24 - 7PM
Scrabble
Tournament – Oct. 23- 7PM
SPECIAL
EVENTS
Write it
Now – 1st
Monday of the month at 7PM newly formed prose-writing group and will begin meeting on October 4.
New ideas and a short writing sample to share are requested.
Calling
all turkeys, hunters and bird callers.
Join us in the meeting room on October 23rd
at 7pm for the 1st
annual Berne Public Library Turkey Calling Contest.
Prizes for kids and adults, including a grand prize gift
certificate to Dick’s Sporting Goods.
Book and Movie Discussion – Come
to the library on November 6, at 7PM for a discussion of
the novel Mystic
River by Dennis Lehane, and return
on November 13 at 7PM
to watch this blockbuster movie.
Festival
of Trees in conjunction with the Berne
Historical Society Dec 4 &5. Come view trees decorated by
local organizations which will be displayed
in the museum rooms. Please call 872-1246 if your organization would like
to participate. top
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BERNE
HERITAGE DAYS
Many thanks to all of those who
participated in Berne Heritage Days 2004. Warm sunny weather , numerous
volunteers and large crowds of spectators contributed to a successful
event.
The Berne Town
Board has appointed Erin Willsey, Berne Heritage Days Coordinator for
2005. She and her steering committee have begun planning for the 2005 BHD event, which will be
held July 15, 16, 17, 2005. The
three-day program is anticipated to again begin with a dinner and evening
program on Friday; exhibits, festivities and fun at the Park on Saturday;
and a cemetery restoration project on Sunday. A return of some of the
historical attractions as well as some interesting and exciting new ideas
are being explored. Hopefully
historical elements, both in general as well as specific to Berne’s
history will be added. A
theme, the 60th Anniversary of the end of
WWII has been selected. Committee
members
are researching, searching and making contacts already.
A Halloween
Party Fundraiser is being planned for Saturday, October 23rd from 4:00 to 9:00 pm at the
Berne Town Park. Although
still in the planning stages, a great evening with many fun and scary
events for all is anticipated. Among
the attractions will be live music by “Together Again,” a local band
from East Berne; haunted hayrides and various games and contests for
everyone. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available,
so start working on that award-winning costume.
Berne Heritage Days is
brought to you by volunteer
efforts. Many volunteers are
already assisting with BHD 2005, and are excitingly
helping to plan the Halloween Party.
Anyone interested in helping, or who may have information to offer,
please call Erin Willsey at 872-9081. Contact info
is available at the Town Hall, 872-1448.
and…
Remember these dates:
s October
23, 2004
s July
15, 16, 17, 2005
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DRY
HYDRANTS
INSTALLED
TO
IMPROVE
FIRE PROTECTION
In many rural areas, such as the
Hilltowns, a lack of water mains and domestic fire hydrants can impair a
fire department’s ability to do its job quickly and efficiently.
This makes the need for adequate water supplies around the Hilltowns a
necessity. Installation of dry hydrants into nearby water bodies
eliminates the inefficiency and complexity of long distance water
shuttle operations. This also allows access to water sources
directly from a roadway.
In any area
without water mains and domestic fire hydrants, the dry hydrant concept
can provide a simple, cost-effective solution to the need for water.
Dry
hydrant provide a rapid means of accessing water sources
whenever necessary, regardless of
weather.
Albany
County Soil and Water Conservation District (ACSWCD) worked with the
Berne Town Highway Department to install a new dry hydrant on Warner
Hayden Road. This site was located by Gerry O’Malley from the
East Berne fire department along with Tim Norray from the Berne fire
department. Funding for the installation of dry hydrants was secured
by Senator Neil Breslin and
Assemblyman Jack McEneny as well as the Albany County Legislature for
the improvement of fire protection for rural Albany County communities.
“Water safety as
well as accessibility should not be a luxury to the people of Berne, but
a basic necessity. I am very pleased that I was able to play
in role in the funding for the Town's installation of a dry
hydrant in order to provide a definite public safety
benefit." Neil D. Breslin D-Delmar.
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TAX
COLLECTOR TIPS
Town
of Berne property tax bills will be mailed to property owners on or
before January 1. Please
take a moment to review the bill for accuracy of name, address, and
property address. If you
believe you are eligible for any exemptions, please verify that you have
received those exemptions to which you are entitled.
When pay by mail, remembers to sent the entire
bill along with
payment. A receipted bill
will be returned to you if you check the appropriate box.
If you no longer have an escrow payment and have not yet received
your bill by January 10, please call 872-0331. Partial payments may be
accepted from those property owners who currently receive a senior
citizen exemption. Gerry
O’Malley, Tax Collector
will be at Berne Town Hall 9 am to 1 pm
on Saturdays in January. top
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ASSESSSOR
ADVICE
The basic Residential STAR exemption is available to all
homeowners on their primary residence regardless of age or income.
Those who have previously applied, and received, the exemption DO
NOT need to reapply unless they move.
Senior citizens (age 65 or older), who qualify for enhanced STAR
and/or the senior exemption to reduce property assessment must reapply
by March 1, 2005 and provide proof of income. Office
hours will resume on Wednesday nights,
January 7, 2005. For information call 872-1448.
HIGHWAY
HAPPENINGS
As summer comes to a close, most of the
Highway Department goals were accomplished despite the number of rainy
days. Some oil and storm applications remain to be done but now our
thoughts are turning towards winter activity.
The Highway Department will continue to
provide the safest possible roadways throughout the winter season.
Please be aware that crews need to plow and sand 75 miles of town roads.
With each crew averaging 3 ½ hours per route, and no 2nd
or 3rd
shift relief crew, it may be that long before your road is replowed.
Your patience is greatly appreciated.
The subject of MAILBOXES seems to be a no win situation for all concerned especially when snow
begins to accumulate. When snowplow operators plow close to mailboxes so
that mail can be delivered, snow coming off the end of the plow,
being compacted between mailbox and plow, may damage or destroy
the mailbox. If the operator fails to clean the area thoroughly, the
mail carrier will be unable to deliver the mail. And, although, it is
the responsibility of the addressee to keep the area free of snow, the
Highway Department is perceived as being responsible for undeliverable
mail situations. There are
times when drivers are faced with circumstances that cause damage to the
mailboxes, but please understand this is not intentional. If your
mailbox has been damaged, please contact the Highway Department 872-1521.
~~
Ray Storm
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WIND
FARMS
-
RENEWABLE
ENERGY SOURCE
It comes as no surprise that the
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has
identified a wind power resource in the towns of Berne and
Rensselaerville is
interested in the possible development of a windmill site in the
Hilltowns.
I have heard a lot of community interest from
individuals about the merits of joining in the renewable energy arena.
While researching various new projects in the state, I have encountered
many common concerns. Most often people are worried about scenic vistas,
noise, and habitat disruption. Surely, these are all valid reservations.
In response to these and other concerns, I think that there may be
another approach that could be much more suitable for a project locally.
Instead of thinking in terms of a large wind farm, a much smaller scale
may be the answer.
The only way to proceed toward a goal of locally
generated renewable energy is with strong community support. Of course,
this would not be the first time the
Hilltowns thrived with local power.
Think of all the water powered mills throughout this area during the
previous two centuries and the sustainable economy they supported.
One possibility is to look at powering a hamlet with
a single windmill. While this would not provide all the energy needs on
a 24-hour/7day schedule, during periods of “good wind” local needs
would be met and exceeded. The excess energy would go into the grid.
Similarly, during low production periods, outside power would be
purchased as we do now. In this model, a hamlet could look at forming a
Rural Electrical Cooperative or joining one of two local chartered Power
Authorities to retain control of their own power production. The
advantages of this are numerous
and include: savings, cheaper power
as an economic development tool, the
long-term stabilization of cost;
the
reduced reliance on foreign oil and reduction of coal-fired plant
emissions.
At this point the question is
—
Do Berne and Rensselaerville as
communities want to participate in leading the change in energy
production by sensibly managing the abundant natural resource that we
all live with and cope with—the
wind? Please register your opinion on the link set up on the Town web
site.
Thank
you for your interest,
Alexander
“Sandy” Gordon, Albany County Legislator – 39th District.
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| Hilltowns
Community Resource Center
The
leaves are changing colors, students and teachers have returned to school
and the Hilltowns Community Resource Center (HCRC) has
begun to coordinate its annual winter holiday program. This program is
designed to assist families struggling with economic hardship, which
leaves limited resources for clothing and gifts for their children during
the December holidays. Schools, religious organizations, community groups,
agencies and individuals refer families to HCRC for holiday assistance.
The
Christmas Program is a cooperative effort of individuals, families,
organizations and businesses interested in helping those in need.
Sponsors are asked to commit to a minimum of $50 per child.
You may call the office to discuss options available in sponsorship
(i.e. number of children).
Sponsors are given a list stating the families needs and desires to
use as guidance when shopping. Cash donations for sponsorship are also
welcomed.
The
gifts may be brought to the Open House on Sunday, December 5, 2004 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM, at
the Helderberg Senior Center on Route 443 in Berne. Children’s gifts
should not be wrapped (but do include wrapping paper, please) so that
parents know what has been purchased.
Donating wrapped gifts for parents is the decision of the sponsor.
All items should be placed into large plastic bags labeled with the family
code number that will be provided.
This will help us keep each family’s gifts separate and in order.
If you are interested in being a 2004 Christmas Program sponsor, please
call HCRC at 797-5256 by November 1st. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.
The Hilltowns Community Resource
Center also coordinates the distribution of the Times Union Fund for the
Elderly to senior citizens living in the Hilltowns.
To qualify for the fund, individuals must be over the age of 65;
maintain independent housing in the community;
receive Social Security Disability, or Social Security and no other income, or
Social Security with a small supplemental income. Please call HCRC
(797-5256) for further info.
|
One
Hundred Years Ago
(from
the Enterprise, Sept. - Nov., 1904; 3 cents/issue)
With the first week of September gone,
the Thompson's Lake correspondent reports that nearly all boarders have
left. "Again, quiet
reigns after a long and successful season." There will be killing
frosts there on Sept. 21& 22.
Berne reports that buckwheat is being harvested, and the apple crop
is abundant. "Apples to waste; to give away and to sell, if you can
find a buyer." Eventually, a gallon of cider will go for five cents.
Mr. Chesboro is closing the cider mill on November 14th,
and anyone still having cider there must pick it up.
The Berne cheese factory has closed for the season, so the creamery
has received an extra 10,000 pounds of milk for processing.
Twentieth Century progress continues.
South Berne notes that a fine exhibition of "'moving
pictures" will be shown at the church.
East Berne says, "The telephone line has been extended to West
Berne. It is about time for South Berne to get busy and begin to live.
Plenty of people over there have the necessary collateral,
too." RFD mail service
has arrived. West Berne
reminds RFD patrons to "kindly stamp their letters" or wrap
money for stamps securely in paper, rather than leave loose change in
their mailbox. For the letter
carrier, loose change means "oft times pennies are dropped and lost
which must come out of himself."
Those killing Lake frosts of September will be succeeded by snow.
On Sunday, November 13th, snow will start and when it
stops on Monday, parts of Berne have 16 inches.
At Thompson's Lake, the roads are impassible, and Monday's noon
mail does not arrive until 4 p.m. As
the Berne RFD writer put it: "I'll not mention our 16 inches of snow
as most of you have probably heard of it."
And, as Thanksgiving approaches, Berne reports that Ed Pier is
making the fur fly: he has trapped 14 skunks and seven muskrats.
100 Years Ago was written by George Christian.
He is Editor of the Lake Association newsletter, in which this
column regularly appears. If you have an
historical article you would like to share in the Berne Courier
please contact the Courier editor
at 872-1448.
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|
| JUMPING
INTO SUMMER
The
Berne Summer program for children in grades 1-12 was even more successful
than last year’s program. Word got around quickly and the courses filled
up to bursting. Children in grades 1-4 chose three of the seven courses
offered in school each week; Slimy Science was very popular thanks to Mr.
McCoy, chemistry teacher at BKW. Mr. Fish came all the way from New York
City to entertain us with his circus antics and then explained each trick
scientifically so that many young magicians went home satisfied about how
magic works. Wright’s Delights added the finishing touch to a wonderful
two weeks by giving all the children ice cream and sprinkles. Many thanks
to Kim for her generosity.
Children in grades 5-8 experienced a wide variety of
activities that included the ever- popular bicycle ride along the banks of
the Hudson led by Jim Hamilton &
Kevin Crosier; boating & fishing directed by Willard Osterhout and
friends from Warner’s Lake; the unusual activity of tickling fish while
learning the ins and outs of fish farming at SUNY Cobleskill; archery at
the Blue Barn, orienteering at Thacher Park and a trip to the USS Slater
in Albany. Some even tried their hand at Yoga and the healing arts.
Something a little more adventurous was offered to
youngsters in grades 8-12 at their suggestion. “Wild Wednesdays”
offered a White Water
tubing trip and a long cycle ride, die to lack of interest, some trips were
cancelled. Please share your ideas with the youth council, so that the
summer can be made more interesting for
high
school students!
Thanks to all the teachers and leaders of the summer
program, and those members of
our community who worked hard for our children..
The number of children enrolled
in the program indicates that Berne is THE
place to be in the summer!
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|
Fox
Creek 5K
Race
For the sixth straight
year the day dawned clear and bright for the Fox Creek 5K road race.
The field was packed with excellent runners who provided excitement
at the finish line.
The course
record was smashed by last year’s record holder, Chuck Terry of Albany.
The 22-
year-old recorded a blistering time of 16:04.
The first female runner to cross the line in 9th
place overall was 16 year-old BKW runner, Sarah Furman of West Berne, in
22:27. Chuck was followed by
former BKW star, Ryan Walter, 19, who clocked in at 16:46.
Voorheesville runner and past winner, Ben Greenberg, 35, having
just recovered from injury, finished 3rd
in 17:00 flat. Bob Giambalvo,
55, from Delhi smashed the male 50-59 record with an impressive time of
17:43, finishing 4th.
Local runners performed well; Berne Postmaster, Jim O’Shea
finished 6th
in 21:18, closely followed by BKW runner Richard Geist (1st
13-15 M) in 21:19 and another former BKW runner, Brian Hupe,
(1st
16-19 M) in 21:21. Other local
runners who placed in their age group include: Abigail Swint, Claire
Della Rocco, Hannah O’Shea, David Haverly, David Sikule, Gale Della
Rocco, Christine Sikule, Laura Zuk, Stephanie Zuk, Katrina Emmerich,
Natalie Drahzal, Robert Rivers, & Wilma Warner.
Complete results available at www.hmrrc.com/results/04fox.htm.
Race director Jim Hamilton extends a big thank you to the
unsung heroes of the race The Volunteers for without
them the race would be impossible and could
not have run smoothly.
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