Tuesday April 16, 2024 
Run Once
It takes a village…
On behalf of Community, Work & Independence, Inc. and Tri-County United Way, we would like to thank everyone who volunteered, collected food donations, donated to and sponsored the Sixth Annual Stuff the Bus Food Drive that took place on November 1-2 at Price Chopper/Market 32 in Queensbury. Thanks to everyone’s efforts, the food drive raised 8.34 tons of food to benefit 20 food pantries in Warren, Washington and Northern Saratoga Counties! This was double the amount collected last year.
They say it takes a village and we agree. In June, the Stuff the Bus Planning Committee comprised of volunteers from our two agencies as well as the Family Association of Glens Falls, LEAP, Moreau Community Center, NBT Bank, Open Door Mission, Salvation Army and Washington County DSS began to plan the food drive.
In early October, 75 CWI day program participants and staff prepared food collection bins to deliver to 65 area business sites to collect food three weeks prior to the food drive and pick them up once filled. In addition, some of these individuals spent multiple days at Price Chopper/Market 32 prepackaging $5 and $10 bags of food for customers to buy and donate. Kudos to CWI’s Transit Connection team for providing the buses used to collect food donations.
Hats off to the many businesses who collected food donations prior to the food drive (visit www.cwinc.org for a complete list). Special thanks to the Golub Corporation for being our site sponsor for the food drive held at their Price Chopper/Market 32 store for the sixth consecutive year. The managers and staff provided outstanding support, supplied boxes to use as food collection bins, and items for the prepackaged bags.
Special thanks to our sponsors: NBT Bank, Stored Tech, Jaeger & Flynn Associates, Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co., G&S Printing, Hank’s Quality Flooring, Just-a-Buck Queensbury, M&M Digital Printing, Six Flags Great Escape Theme Park, and media sponsor Adirondack Broadcasting. We are grateful to the Kingsbury Volunteer Hose Company for allowing us to use their space for the pantries to pick up food donations as well as the SUNY Adirondack baseball team for help unloading food from buses. Last but not least, our sincere thanks to the 105 volunteers from the tri-county region who took time out from their busy schedules to help.
As you can see, it does take a village. By uniting to curb hunger, we are strengthening our community and making the holidays brighter for those struggling to put food on the table.
Our sincerest thanks,
Mark Donahue, CEO/President CWI, Inc.
Duane Vaughn, Executive Director Tri-County United Way”
Run Once
Holiday Message to Averill Park Fire Dept.
At this special time of year, the Board of Fire Commissioners of Averill Park- Sand Lake Fire District #2 would like to thank the men and women of the Averill Park- Sand Lake Volunteer Fire Department for their dedication and service to the community, and wish them a safe and happy holiday season. Fire Chief Paul Glasser, Jr. and Assistant Fire Chief Jason Robelotto lead this dedicated group of firefighters and firematic support personnel. Through continual training and hard work, our all-volunteer fire department responds to any fire related emergency, serious medical emergency, motor vehicle crashes, and various other calls for assistance as needed. These volunteers are the backbone of the service we provide. They always answer the call when requested. If you are an Averill Park –Sand Lake resident, please join with us to thank and support our local volunteer fire department. The Board of Fire Commissioners wishes everyone a safe and happy holiday.
Marty Andrews
Chairman Board of Fire Commissioners
Averill Park – Sand Lake Fire District # 2
12/13/2019 – 01/10/2020
Private Tour – Athens and the Aegean Sea
Have you ever wanted to explore Greece and some of its islands? Several spots are still open on our private tour of Greece July 21-July 30, 2022. Explore Athens and Delphi with a private tour director. Cruise to Samos, Rhodes, Crete and Cape Sounion with three shore excursions included. This trip includes Round-trip airfaire, hotels, guided tours, full-time tour director, breakfast and dinner daily, 4-day Aegean Cruise with cabin (lunch and non-alcoholic drink package also included on ship) and more.
For a complete itinerary with pricing please contact Mike Mensching at senor65@nullaol.com
Anytime
Rensselaer County Recovery Helpline
1-833-467-3123
Do you need help with substance use issues? Are you interested in volunteering for the helpline? The Rensselaer County Recovery Helpline offers information, local resources, and referrals for individuals and their families regarding substance use issues. The toll-free line is available 7 days a week from 9am-9pm. Each volunteer chooses shifts of 4 hours at a time to be on-call. When someone calls the number, a volunteer answers on their own smartphone, and can enter information to a database on their own computer, allowing for easy and quick access to resources. The information is sent to one of the 9 leaders, who will then assist the caller. If you or someone you know needs information, resources, or a referral for a substance use problem, call 1-833-467-3123. For more information, or if you are interested in volunteering, contact Renscohelpline@nullgmail.com
Feel Good
Run Once
Memoirs of an Amnesiac: More Daisies
At this time of New Year’s resolutions, here’s food for thought from humorist Don Herold. I came across this essay while in my twenties. Don was looking back over his life at the time, and now so am I.
“If I had my life to live over, I would try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would be less hygienic. I would go more places. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less spinach. I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary troubles.”
“You see, I have been one of those fellows who live prudently, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I have had my moments. But if I had it to do over again, I would have more of them–a lot more. I never go anywhere without a thermometer, a map, a raincoat and a parachute. If I had it to do over, I would travel lighter.”
“If I had my life to live over, I would start going barefoot a little earlier in the spring and stay that way a little later in the fall. I would have more dogs. I would keep later hours. I would have more sweethearts. I would fish more. I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would go to more circuses.”
“In a world in which practically everybody else seems to be consecrated to the gravity of the situation, I would rise to glorify the levity of the situation. For I agree with Will Durant, who said, ‘Gaiety is wiser than wisdom.’”
“If I had my life to live over, I’d pick more daisies.” — Don Herold
Back when he wrote those words, ‘gaiety’ meant cheerfulness. I might not agree with everything, but it helped me figure out what was important to me.
Ron McKee, Averill Park