Thursday April 18, 2024 
Parents Invited to Internet Safety Community Forum
This winter, Schodack CSD will offer Community Connection, a series of community discussions on topics facing students.
“Our goal is to educate our parents and community about what our students are dealing with today and share ways they can help their kids be safe and how they can help themselves be safe,” said Assistant Superintendent Michael Bennett.
Anyone interested is welcome to attend. All forums held at Maple Hill High School auditorium at 6:30 p.m.
“Mental Health and the New York State Mandate” on Thursday, Jan. 17. Presented by the Mental Health Association in New York State.
Call 518-732-2297 for questions.
~Submitted by Jason McCord
Communications Specialist, Schodack CSD
Defensive Driving Class
Gilead Lutheran Church will host a 6-hour defensive driving class on Saturday, April 6, 2019, 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. 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 279-9552. Please drive safely! ALL proceeds from this class will be donated to the church.
Upcoming Events at The Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center
• January 10th – Special Dinner w/Brian Zappel (Chicken Pattie w/Cordon Bleu Sauce) Call today for reservations 518-463-2166. Monday Through Friday, 9am-3pm. We are located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets.
• January 22nd – Sign Up For C.I.A and Vanderbilt Mansion Trip (9am).
Make Your Own Sundae after Lunch – For All Lunch Attendees, Call today for reservations 518-463-2166. Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm. We are located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets.
Culinary Institute of America & Vanderbilt Mansion Trip
Join us on March 7th. Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center proudly presents lunch at the Culinary Institute of America. Lunch will be Served in the American Bounty Restaurant; then off to the Vanderbilt Mansion a State Historic Site in Hyde Park N.Y. Vanderbilt Mansion With its Beaux-Arts architecture and Calvert Vaux Landscape is sure to spark anyone’s imagination. Call the Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center at 518-463-2166, Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
Everything Elvis Trip
Join us on June 17th-22nd – Memphis Tennessee/Tupelo Mississippi Elvis Trip. Join Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center for 6 days and 5 nights of Elvis. Visit the Elvis Presley Museum, the house where Elvis was born, the boyhood church he attended and Sun Studios where he first recorded. Tour Graceland, Graceland Plaza and so much more; sign up January 8th at 9am; call the center for more info. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime tour. Insurance Available.
Call the Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center at 518-463-2166, Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm.
Special Bingo
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, NY – Join the Grafton seniors for a Special Bingo, on Wednesday, January 23, at 12:30, sponsored by CDPHP. If you have any questions or would like to join us for lunch at noon, entrée; BBQ Chicken Pattie, for a suggested donation of $3.00, please contact the center at 518-279-3413.
January Birthday Celebration
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, NY – Join the seniors at the Everett Wagar Senior Center on Friday, January 11, at 12:30 as we celebrate January birthdays with our birthday chairperson Marcia Trask, cupcakes baked and donated by Caroline Church. If you have any questions or if you would like to join us for our noon lunch, (entrée; Chili w/Kidney Beans) for a suggested donation of $3.00, please contact the center at 518-279-3413 to reserve lunch.
Craft Day
Rensselaer County’s Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Road, Grafton, NY– Craft class for January will be held on Friday, January 18, at 11:00 am, sponsored by the Everett Wagar Senior Center. Join us for a fun-filled hour; all materials will be supplied. Please join us for a nutritious lunch at noon (Entrée; Hawaiian Turkey Burger) for a suggested donation of $3.00. All Rensselaer County seniors welcome, reservations are required for lunch; appreciated for crafts. Call 518-279-3413.
Repair Café
What do you do with a broken lamp? Or a sweater with a hole? Toss it? No way! The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson is hosting its next Repair Café at the Village Hall, 85 South Main Street, on Saturday, January 12th, from 11 AM to 3 PM. People visiting the Repair Café bring along their broken but beloved items. Volunteers try their best to make repairs, and it’s free of charge! At the January Repair Café, electrical, welding and seamstress services will be available. Do you like to fix things and want to volunteer? Contact us via email at gina.giuliano@nullgmail.com or stop by Repair Café. For more information about global Repair Café, visit Repaircafe.org.
EGCSD Schedules Meetings About Proposed Changes to School Boundaries for Bell Top, Genet & Red Mill
East Greenbush Central School District has scheduled three informational meetings to discuss boundary changes for Bell Top, Genet and Red Mill Elementary Schools to alleviate capacity issues at Bell Top due to current and projected enrollment growth in that zone.
The proposed changes will enable the district to maintain its class size goals, alleviate space concerns at Bell Top, maintain efficiencies of staffing levels and transportation services and provide continuity of instruction to all students.
It is important to note the proposed changes do not affect students who currently attend these schools or incoming students who will have siblings in these schools during the 2019-20 school year.
These changes will affect incoming Kindergartners and any newly registered Grade 1-5 students for the 2019-20 school year whose primary residence is within one of the affected areas of the district and who will not have siblings within these schools in 2019-20.
Parents of both incoming kindergarten students and current students are invited to attend the following informational meeting: January 14 at 6:30 p.m. in the Genet Conference Room.
If you have any questions, please contact the Registrar’s office at 518-207-2062.
Capital View Toastmasters host open house with guest speaker
Event is free to the public. Capital View Toastmasters (www.capitalview.toastmastersclubs.org), invites residents to its open house to meet members and watch speaker Paul Jamison talk about the importance of communication skills for today’s professional.
“Capital View Toastmasters provides a supportive and positive environment where members have the opportunity to develop their communication and leadership skills,” says Mary Howard, President for Capital View Toastmasters.
After hearing from Mr. Jamison, members and guests will enjoy a regular Toastmasters meeting that will include prepared speeches, Table Topics™ (impromptu speeches) and evaluations.
Club member, John Cardazzi, will be the Table Topics master. “Table Topics are one of my favorite parts of the meeting,” says Cardazzi. “This is where guests and members are randomly selected to speak for one to two minutes. It helps you think and speak clearly on your feet.”
Toastmasters Open House
Date: Wednesday, January 16, 2019
Location: East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way, East Greenbush, NY
Time: 12:05 PM – 1:00 PM
For more information, email Mary Howard at mthdwh8000@nullyahoo.com.
Capital View Toastmasters meets each 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 12:05 PM at the East Greenbush Community Library, 10 Community Way in East Greenbush. For more information about this event and the club, please visit www.capitalview.toastmastersclubs.org.
Town of Sand Lake Community Forum on Creation of Dog Park
The Sand Lake Town Board is sponsoring a Community Forum on Wednesday, January 23, 2019, in the Town Hall Courtroom at 6:30 p.m. regarding the possible creation of a dog park. Several residents have expressed interest in a dog park. Your opinion – positive or negative – is important because it will determine whether or not this project moves forward. Speakers will be at the Forum to discuss possible plans, legal ramifications, experiences of other communities, and answer your questions. This meeting will be streamed online. If you have questions, please call Supervisor Nancy Perry at (518) 674-2026, ext. 112.
Catholic Charities Representative in New Lebanon and Stephentown
This month, the Catholic Charities social services representative will be in New Lebanon and Stephentown for persons aged 60 and above, and/or their caregivers, on Thursday, January 24, 2019. She will be at the New Lebanon Library from 10 am to 1 pm, and at the Stephentown Library from 1:30 to 4:30 pm. In addition to providing information about senior services, she is also able to connect caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s or other dementias to a NY State funded program that provides free support services for those family caregivers. Persons from any community in the eastern sector of Columbia and Rensselaer Counties are welcome. You may walk in or call 518-925-0682 to make an appointment.
There is no charge for this service provided by Catholic Charities Senior and Caregiver Support Services and sponsored by the Seniors’ Ministry of Immaculate Conception/St. Joseph, New Lebanon. For further information you may call the Catholic Charities staff person directly at the number above, or contact Mary Linton, RN, 518-733-0469.
NYS Approved Defensive Driving Class
On Sat., January 19th, from 9 am to 3 pm, there will be a New York State approved Defensive Driving Class to benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Rensselaer County. Save 10% on your base auto insurance for the next three years and be eligible to receive up to 4 points off your driving record according to New York State Department of Motor Vehicle guidelines.
The class will be held at the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Rensselaer County, 544 Broadway, Rensselaer, NY 12144. Fee is only $35—bring a friend $30 each. Registration is required and can be made by calling the Club at 518.465.3403 or Raymond Frankoski at 518.286.3788.
Class size is limited. Additional information is available by calling Ray Frankoski.
What to Expect when you’re looking to Become a Homeowner
Are you starting to think about home ownership? A lot of the language used in a real estate transaction is foreign to most buyers and many are uncertain if they would qualify for a home purchase.
Join us at the Troy Public Library on January 15th at 6:00 pm for this presentation by several guest speakers who will cover what’s involved in purchasing a home from start to finish, with the goal being to minimize the fear factor and stress associated with the home-buying process. The goal of this program is to make you comfortable enough to investigate the home-buying process further on your own with confidence.
Our guest speakers will include Jaymie Denny, a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, Tom Herkenham, a real estate attorney, Mike Rushford, a lender with Allied First Bank, and David and Kim Huhtala, licensed home inspectors.
This program is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is recommended. For more information and to register, call the library at 518-274-7071 or online at www.thetroylibrary.org. The Troy Public Library is located at 100 Second Street, Troy.
Book Nook News
The Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish in Speigletown will be open on Saturday morning, January 19 from 9:00 am until noon, with our January sale. All books whose authors’ first or last names begin with “J” are half-price. For example, James Patterson, Iris Johanson, J.A. Jance, etc. It’s a great opportunity to keep stocking up on your winter reading! Please stop by and see all of the new donations that have come in. Donations can be dropped off at either entrance of the church during office hours.
See you at the Book Nook!
Looking for a bargain?
The Church of the Redeemer Thrift Shop has earned an excellent reputation by offering quality merchandise at very reasonable prices. We’ll be open on Thursday, January 10th, from 3 to 6; and Saturday, January 12th, from 9 to 2, weather permitting.
You’ll be amazed at the vast selection of clothing, jewelry, household goods, puzzles, games, Avon collectibles, wall décor, picture frames and so many one-of-a-kind items! Ask to see our handicapped equipment.
The shop is located at 1249 Third Street in Rensselaer on CDTA bus route #214. Enter through the parking lot on the Catherine Street side and be pleasantly surprised.
Garden Club of East Schodack
The Garden Club of East Schodack will hold its next meeting on Friday, January 11, at 7 p.m. The meeting will take place at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church on Hoags Corners Road in East Schodack. The public is welcome!
Our speaker will be master gardener Marthanne Linacre. Marthanne will speak about gardening shortcuts and garden hacks. Please join us for a great presentation with refreshments following.
Memory Mixers
MEMORY MIXERS- a welcoming environment for individuals with memory changes and their care partners to spend time together and meet others.
Hosted by Eddy Alzheimer’s Services & Eddy DayBreak
*Music and a Meal*
Thursday, February 14, 2019 – 1:00pm – 2:30pm
East Greenbush Library
10 Community Way
East Greenbush, NY 12061
Supported by Rensselaer County NY Connects
February Events at The Rensselaer Senior Center
February 5th – Join the Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center as we welcome the New Year with a dinner and a show featuring Paul Slusar “Chinese New Year” (Asian Beef). Entertainment by Paul Slusar. Call today for reservations 518-463-2166. Monday through Friday, 9am-3pm. We are located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets.
February 14th – Special Dinner (Open Faced Turkey Sandwich) Entertainment by Rob Carson. Call today for reservations 518-463-2166. Monday Through Friday, 9am-3pm. We are located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets.
February 26th – Join the Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center with a dinner and a show featuring Donny Elvis Singing your favorite Elvis Songs “King of Hearts” Elvis Day w/Donny Elvis (Sausage with Noodles and Gravy). Call today for reservations 518-463-2166. Monday Through Friday, 9am-3pm. We are located in Rensselaer on East and Herrick Streets.
We Are Still Signing Up for The Following Trips:
*Culinary Institute of America And Vanderbilt Mansion Trip, March 7th, 2019. Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center proudly presents lunch at the Culinary Institute of America. Lunch will be Served in the American Bounty Restaurant then off to the Vanderbilt Mansion, a State Historic Site in Hyde Park, NY. Vanderbilt Mansion with its Beaux-Arts architecture and Calvert Vaux Landscape is sure to spark anyone’s imagination. Call 518-463-2166 Monday-Friday 9am-3pm
*Everything Elvis Trip, June 17th -22nd – Memphis Tennessee/Tupelo Mississippi.
Join Rensselaer County Rensselaer Senior Center for 6 days and 5 nights of Elvis. Visit the Elvis Presley Museum, the house where Elvis was born, the boyhood church he attended and Sun Studios where he first recorded. Tour Graceland, Graceland Plaza and so much more! Call the center for more info. Don’t miss this once in a lifetime tour. Insurance Available, Call 518-463-2166, Monday-Friday 9am-3pm.
In 2019, we will be having new shows and trips; we also will continue to offer Tai Chi, Aerobics, Silver Sneakers, Line Dancing, Wood Shop, Community Service Sewing Group, Art Class and a new class coming soon “Geneology”. We offer great Meals daily at 12 Noon; we do ask you to call and make a reservation at 518-463-2166. The center is open Monday-Friday from 9am to 3pm see old friends and meet new ones.
Always looking to receive Donations of good and gently used clothing and shoes for our corner boutique; all proceeds benefit senior programs.
Book Nook January Sale
The Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish on Hillview Drive is open on Saturday morning, January 19, from 9:00 am until noon, with our January sale. All books whose authors’ first or last names begin with “J” are half-price. For example, James Patterson, Iris Johanson, J.A. Jance, etc. It’s a great opportunity to continue stocking up on your winter reading! Please stop by and see all the new donations that have come in. We are always looking for more books, so please continue to drop off your gently-read donations at either entrance of the church during office hours.
Thanks again for your continued support and see you at the Book Nook!