Friday April 19, 2024 
Defensive Driving Class at Gilead Lutheran Church, Brunswick on October 5
Gilead Lutheran Church will host a 6 hour defensive driving class on Saturday, October 5, from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. This is a NYS DMV approved class that will offer a 10% reduction off your auto insurance and up to 4 points off your NYS driver’s license! Exciting and interactive PowerPoint presentation and never a test to pass the course!
Cost of this class is just $30 per person and must be paid at the door. Doors open at 8:30 AM. Lunch items will be available for sale for an additional cost.
Gilead church is located at 308 Brick Church Road (Route 278), Troy, New York 12180. We are handicapped accessible and have loads of free close parking. SPACES ARE LIMITED and will sell out fast -again- at this price!! To reserve your seat please call John at 518-279-9552. Please drive safely!
ALL proceeds from this class will be donated to the church.
France Magnifique
La Fédération Franco-Américaine du NY is sponsoring a trip to France, featuring the 75th Anniversary of D-Day & Normandy, April 23 – May 7, 2020. Rates include round trip air from New York, air taxes and fees/surcharges, hotel transfers, and 20 meals. Highlights of the trip: Paris, River Seine cruise, Normandy, Omaha Beach, Le Mont St. Michel, Loire Valley, 2-night Chateau stay, winery tour, Lyon, Les Halles de Lyon, Paul Boscuse Market, Avignon, Creme Brûlée Cooking demonstration, Nice, Monaco. Plenty of time to explore on your own. For more information, pricing or a brochure, call Lisa at Plaza Travel at 518-785-3338 or lisa@nullplazatravel.net.
EG Fire Company Announcements
East Greenbush Fire Company President Michael F. Lansing II proudly announces the recipients of the Barbara J. LehmannMemorial Scholarship Program for 2019. Through the Barbara J. Lehmann Memorial Scholarship Program, the East Greenbush Fire Company provides scholarship grants to qualified applicants seeking to advance their education in their chosen field of study. The 2019 recipients are Michael Preston, Adam Riley and Nicholas Cullum. Michael is entering The University of South Caroline and will major in Sports Management. Adam will be attending Springfield College majoring in a Physical Therapy curriculum. Nicholas will begin his studies at the College of Southern Maryland majoring in Fire Service Technology. The East Greenbush Fire Company commends these three college freshmen for their admirable academic achievements and pursuit of higher education.
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
Boy Scout Troop 2526 Return from Summer Camp
Boy Scout Troop 2526 returned early August from a week at Camp Read Scout Reservation in the Adirondacks near Brant Lake. Twenty-eight scouts attended and stayed in tents. We went to merit badge classes, learned new outdoor skills, played games, and generally had fun. Every evening, the camp offers different special events, and our Troop did everything! We participated in a counselor hunt, and rode a zip line, then dropped into a pond. We ate cream pies as quickly as possible without using our hands in a timed contest (and swept first, second, and third place!). Many of our scouts competed in a triathlon, where we had four relay teams consisting of an archer, a runner, and a swimmer, and we took first place! We made a pasta dish in a Dutch oven cooking contest. Our troop made its own flag in an artistic competition where we won first place! Most of our troop even woke up early and jumped in the lake for the Polar Bear Challenge. We also performed songs and skits at a campfire before the entire camp. Finally, as a troop, we attended vespers, a peaceful non-denominational service where scouts reflect on their experience. This gave us a brief moment to think about what is important to us during a very busy week.
On Friday, we challenged the camp staff to a game of Ultimate Frisbee, and we won! It was so much fun, and anyone in our troop who wanted to play participated. Together we developed teamwork and built friendships that should last a long time. At the end of the week, our troop won the Best of Scout Skills (BOSS) Award.
As the Senior Patrol Leader of Troop 2526, I want to thank all of the scouts who attended. We had a great group that got along well with one another, and supported each other through all of our events. I also want to thank the adults who helped make this camping experience possible. Thanks to a great summer, and a beginning to a new scouting year! If you’re interested, consider joining us!
-Tyler Michaels
September
September marks the ¾ point of the year;
The September of our lives is similar, in some ways:
September is never sure whether it is Summer or Fall.
We, too, are confused:
Are we old…or just getting older?
Whatever, September suggests that a lot of time has passed,
And there is a lot less time left.
September suggests that there are things to be done:
Birds think of migrating; Animals feed voraciously to pack on weight.
As the great thinkers, however,
We are often content to just sit in the sun and ponder,
Or, maybe read a book!
While our counterparts in nature are in a hustle,
It should bother us, not, to let Fall projects turn into Spring projects.
September is a month to be enjoyed;
Worry, not, about things that may go undone.
Tend only to the important stuff:
Family, friends and those in need.
What say, we all enjoy this September like never before;
Who knows…We could have precious few left!
-Llyod Barnhart
Averill Park
Letters to the Editor
Response to Article on NY Plates by Steve Sevits
You are so correct, Steve. Your last sentence “Is Albany thinking at all” .. give this some thought. A few months ago, Cuomo was complaining that there was a “shortfall in the budget”. Then he and Lt. Gov. Cathy Hochul were bragging about taking care of illegal aliens [a/k/a undocumented migrants] in the sanctuary cities, giving them “free” college, “free” housing, food stamps, Medicare and so forth. Now, everyone knows that NOTHING is ever “free”. Someone ultimately has to pay for it. So …. good idea to raise some money ….. for them. Comrade Cuomo and his administration don’t give two hoots about the New York residents who lived in this state all their lives, worked here, paid taxes here, raised their children here. We mean nothing to them – they have their agenda to turn this state into a Socialist state and the rest of us don’t matter. Shades of Nazi Germany.
Joyce A. Blauvelt
52-unit Apartment Complex Proposed for Poestenkill
A 52-unit 3 story apartment complex for tenants 50 and older was proposed to the Town Board on Aug. 22.
The developers are asking that the Town Board approve a “Planned Development District” allowing them to proceed with a project that violates the existing zoning laws.
All interested residents are invited to attend our Sept. 19 Board meeting at 7pm.
This project raises two serious issues for our Town: 1. High-density housing in Poestenkill; and 2. Housing for senior citizens.
In my 5-½ years on the Town Board, and 4 years on the Planning Board before that, these two issues had never been raised. Decisions on these very serious issues will have a permanent effect on our Town and way of life.
Therefore, I will propose creating two committees to fully study these issues prior to taking up any discussions of the proposed PDD.
One committee will study our land use laws which have been in place for decades. Our current zoning has no provisions for high density housing.
Most of our Town is zoned for single family residential housing with minimums of 1 or 2 acres per house. There are many good reasons why this zoning makes sense for our town. Without municipal sewer, large scale septic systems pose environmental risks. Do our residents support changing Poestenkill from a semi-rural community of farms and single family homes to a more urban community like Troy? How will high-density housing affect tax rates, traffic congestion, crime rates and the cost of fire protection?
The second committee will study the subject of senior housing. Is there an unmet need in our Town? Is there adequate senior housing available in the county? Is Poestenkill the ideal location for senior housing or are more urban settings with nearby shopping, dining and medical facilities more appropriate for seniors?
We should move forward (or not) carefully, professionally, with full public participation at every step of the way.
Dave Hass, Councilman, Town of Poestenkill dhass@nullpoestenkillny.com
Averill Park Mystery
In a town as small as Averill Park, it seems as if everyone knows everyone. However there has been a new face around that many do not know. It’s a black and white drawing of a smiley face, wearing a top hat with a cross in the center. These homemade drawings been posted in many locations. On churches, scattered around Stephentown, on Burden Lake Road, and on I-90 after getting off the entrance ramp from route 43. What could this homemade symbol possibly mean? One reddit user from a r/Albany forum states that it was the work of a local man attempting to spread awareness to the current opioid crisis. “It’s symbolism is that of a pilgrim and his hat represents making it through dark times with the support of others” (r/Albany). This can be further proven with a sign in Stephentown that states “PRAY FOR THE UNKOWN ADDICT” in large print with multiple face drawings around it. In history, hobos would use homemade drawings as a way to communicate with fellow hobos. The smiley face would signify a friendly area, the top hat would signify wealth, and the cross would signify anything religious. Is this what this mysterious face truly means or is there more to the story than what’s been told? As of most recently, these homemade drawings have started to disappear from their usual spots. Could this just mean the original maker of this drawing is simply done with spreading his message or has he become aware of the confusion he’s spreading across town? In the end, the mystery may always continue.
-Christopher Evans
Averill Park