Guilderland Community Picnic.

The annual Guilderland community picnic will be held in Blessing’s grove, Wednesday, Aug. 28. This was decided upon at a meeting of representatives of the Red Men and the two churches of Guilderland, held at Temperance hall Friday evening. A feature of the picnic this year will be the children’s table. All of the children who attend the picnic will be served at a special table, and no effort will be spared to give them a good time.

Barn at Knox Destroyed by Fire.

The large barn and adjoining buildings on the Homer Frink farm, south of the village of Knox, was totally destroyed by fire on Thursday night, Aug. 1. The cause of the fire was unknown, but it was believed to have been of incendiary origin, as the barn was empty of crops and contained only some machinery and farm tools. When the flames were first discovered the building appeared to be afire around the entire outside.

The loss will be only partially covered by insurance. The property is insured in the Knox Insurance company for $1,300.

Voorheesville Man Offers Use of House for Soldiers’ Home.

W. S. Swift of Voorheesville has offered his house, which is situated eleven miles from Albany, and but a few hundred feet off the state road, to the government for use as a home during the period of the war.

The house is in good condition. It has twelve rooms, a large attic and bath facilities.

Mr. Smith in offering the house to the government says he wishes to do all that he can to help our soldiers. He has two sons, William Raymond Swift, with the American expeditionary forces in France, and Cyrus B. Swift, with a contingent at Camp Upton.

VILLAGE NOTES.

A new pop corn and peanut roasting machine arrived here last Saturday for Keenholts’ news room and has been the center of attraction every evening. The machine is run, heated and lighted by electricity. It must be seen to be appreciated.

— Contractor Edgar, who has the contract for the construction of the sewer system in Altamont, has encountered much difficulty in striking rock formation on a portion of the line on Grand street. The ditcher is now at work on a portion of the line on Fairview avenue, making good progress. Much of the digging in that section has had to be done by blasting and the use of pick and shovel. Mr. Edgar complains that the piles and rows of tile which have been placed along the streets of the village preparatory to laying them in the trenches, are being used as forts, runways, etc., by the children and some of the grown-ups of the village. Several of the tile have already been broken by careless children, some of them while their parents were looking on. This practice should stop. Tile cost money nowadays, and Mr. Edgar is not in a position to furnish them for the amusement of destructive children. Further, the practice of running and playing on the tile is dangerous to the children, and the pipes are not the only things that might be broken. There are the necks, arms and legs of the children to consider. We hope to see this form of amusement stopped.