Wednesday April 24, 2024 
Sand Lake Holiday Parade
The Sand Lake Emergency Services 6th Annual Holiday Parade will take place on Friday, December 7th. The parade will begin at 7PM and will be followed by Holiday Festivities put on by the Sand Lake Youth Department at Butler Park, located on Gettle Road. The parade will start at Miller Hill Elementary School and proceed down Route 43 to Old Route 66 and ending at Butler Park. Road closures will occur at 7PM; traffic will be stopped at the intersection of Routes 43 and 66 at Cumberland Farms, Eastern Union Turnpike, Burden Lake Road, Route 43 at Jiff-E-Mart, Lake Avenue, Old Route 66 and Gettle Road. Roads will reopen as the parade goes through town.
This year’s theme is “Toys” and we are teaming up with Toys-for-Tots. Toy collections will be held at the APSL Fire Department and WSL Fire Department Monday, 12/3 – Thursday, 12/6, from 5:30PM-7:30PM. You can also drop off toys at the Sand Lake Ambulance Garage anytime throughout the week. Toys will also be collected at the end of the Holiday Parade at Butler Park on Friday, 12/7.
We hope you will join us as we kick of the Holiday Season!
Free Parent Workshops to Address Technology, Anxiety and Stress
Part of the East Greenbush Central School District’s strategic plan for the 2018-2019 school year includes an increased emphasis on the “Whole Child” and Mental Wellness. The district acknowledges that this is a shared responsibility, so it is offering three free evening workshops for parents that will allow for collaboration and rich discussions regarding important topics.
The workshops include:
Keep the Tech in Check at Home (December 4, 2018). Recognizing and Coping with Anxiety (January 9, 2019) and Mindfulness at Home (February 5, 2019).
Each of the workshops will run one hour (7:00 to 8:00 p.m.) and be hosted in the Columbia High School auditorium. All parents of students in grades K-12 are invited to attend.
~Submitted by Mark Adam,
Public Information Specialist-East Greenbush Central School District
Ho, ho, ho! Santa Claus is Coming to Town!
The Defreestville and Wynantskill Fire Depart-ments invite families, friends, and neighbors to take a Photo with Santa this Christmas season on Saturday, December 8th. Everyone is welcome to take part in this free community event while visiting their local volunteer fire department and enjoying complimentary light refreshments. Plus, you’ll receive your very own photo with jolly ole’ Saint Nick himself! Santa Claus will be at the Wynantskill Fire Station (511 Church Street, Wynantskill) from 9 AM to 11 AM and then at the Defreestville Fire Station (350 N. Greenbush Rd, Troy) from 12 PM to 3 PM.
DFD and WFD would like to thank our co-sponsors in the North Greenbush Police Department for the refreshments. Well-behaved and leashed pets are welcome at the Defreestville station. Have a Merry Christmas!
Dewey Loeffel Remediation Conference
The public is invited to a free conference about potential cleanup options for the Dewey Loeffel EPA superfund site in the Town of Nassau. The site (with 46,000 tons of highly toxic waste dumped by GE, SI Group, and others), has polluted Nassau Lake, area groundwater, homeowner’s wells, and area streams. EPA will soon evaluate candidate cleanup technologies provided by GE and other responsible parties and determine what remediation will be done at the landfill. The conference will provide information to the public about current remedial technologies available to address the landfill and prepare the public to effectively advocate for their preferred cleanup option. It will involve presentations by companies using various technologies to clean up polluted sites and panel discussions by health and environmental professionals. The EPA selection process is the LAST CHANCE for several generations for the public in the Nassau and Schodack areas to advocate for which cleanup process they want for the polluted areas. Now is the time to educate yourselves, get involved, and advocate for the future vision of your towns.
The conference will be January 5th, 10AM-4PM, at the Comfort Inn, I90 Exit 10, Castleton.
Contact Dan Spilman (spilmandan@nullyahoo.com) for information.
North Greenbush Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting Celebration
On Saturday, December 8, 2018, the Town of North Greenbush will host its 4th annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony. Please bring your holiday cheer and help us celebrate. The parade will kick off from the front parking lot of St. Jude the Apostle School promptly at 6:00pm. The parade will continue directly to Town Hall for a tree lighting celebration complete with refreshments and surprises for the children from Santa himself.
Your participation is welcomed – so bring on your floats, decorated classic cars, and costumed pets and join the parade! If you are interested in participating in the parade, please contact Lou Desso at 518-283-5313 ext. 10 or ldesso@nullnorthgreenbush.org
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to All!
Sincerely,
Lou Desso
North Greenbush Town Supervisor
Christmas with Elvis
The Brunswick Elks Lodge presents Christmas with Elvis on Sat., December 15th. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Price: $25 per person; includes dinner and show, cash bar.
Dinner is your choice of stuffed chicken breast or roast beef.
Please RSVP to Glen Browning at 401.499.5178 or
Brunswick Historical Soc. Holiday Open House
Brunswick Historical Society invites you to our Annual Holiday Open House at the Historic Garfield School located at 605 Brunswick Rd, Eagle Mills, Friday, Dec 7th, at 6:30 PM. Tree lighting at 7:00PM. Santa will be stopping by.
Refreshments will be served. All are welcome!
Never Forget
December 7th is Pearl Harbor Day. Join us at the Rensselaer Senior Center as we start the day at 11:15 with a presentation on diabetes. followed by Lunch at 12 consisting of Veal Pattie Marcella, potato, vegetable and dessert. After lunch, enjoy an authentic USO Show from 1944 hosted by Gary Ferris. This is a very special day for all of us; please join us. Call today for reservations. (518) 463-2166. We are located at East and Herrick Street, Rensselaer.
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.
“Internet Safety” on Thursday, Dec. 6. Presented by Schodack Police and administration. (For adults only.)
“Vaping and Other Dangerous Trends – High in Plain Sight” on Wednesday, Dec. 19. Presented by Rensselaer County Prevention Services.
“Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events – What you Need to Know” on Thursday, Jan. 3. Presented by Rensselaer Police Deputy Chief Warren Famiglietti.
“Mental Health and the New York State Mandate” on Thursday, Jan. 19. Presented by the Mental Health Association in New York State.
Call 518-732-2297 for questions.
~Submitted by Jason McCord
Communications Specialist, Schodack CSD
Scrooge is coming to Sand Lake Center for the Arts starting this weekend!
Scrooge (Bill Douglas) and Tiny Tim (Mara Carrig) sharing a special moment during rehearsal for this special adaptation of A Christmas Carol!
Scrooge finally comes to Sand Lake! SLCA proudly presents Charles Dickens immortal classic A Christmas Carol. This new adaptation is certain to put you in the holiday spirit. Come witness Scrooges’ journey as he travels through the past, present and future with the help of three magical ghosts, dedicated to showing old Ebenezer a new way of life full of warmth and charity. Directed by Brian Sheldon and Melanie Douglas. Performance dates Dec. 7, 8, 13, 14, and 15 at 8pm and Dec. 9 and 16 at 2:30pm. Tickets – Adults – $18. and Under 18 – $10. For reservations or information go to www.slca-ctp.org or call 518-674-2007. SLCA is located at 2880 NY 43, Averill Park, NY, is fully handicapped accessible, with free parking.
Outdoor Community Christmas Party
The community is invited to join in the celebration that will take place on Saturday, December 22, 5-7 pm at Emmanuel Reformed Church in Castleton, NY. We will be outdoors for a party to celebrate Christmas. What better time to have a party than to celebrate someone’s birthday! On December 22 we will gather under our pavilion to celebrate the birth of Jesus. There will be warm beverages and carols to enjoy before the Christmas Story is acted out. Then we will share a warm meal and goodies, make ornaments for the Christmas tree and just enjoy each other’s company as we listen to some Christmas jazz. We are located at 1150 Maple Hill Road in Castleton, NY.
Call 518-732-7766 if you need more information or go to www.EncounterERC.com
S.L Historical Society Annual Holiday Party & Pot Luck Supper
Join us at the home of Ron and Barbara Berti, 42 Schumann Rd., Sand Lake, on Tuesday, December 11th, 6pm. This will be an opportunity to share the dish (with recipe) that you bring for the pot luck supper, but also our family traditions: a story passed down through the generations, present-day tradition, a treasured decoration or favorite gift from long ago! You bring the pot luck dish; the Board of Trustees provides desserts! Members and guests are invited. Please bring a canned good or other nonperishable food item for Doors of Hope!
Please join us for our monthly meetings which are held the second Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7:30pm, at the Sand Lake Town Hall, 8428 NY 66, Sand Lake. Check out the Sand Lake Historical Society FACEBOOK page, or our website: sandlakehistory.org.
Children’s Christmas Party
The South Schodack Volunteer Fire Company and Ladies are hosting their annual children’s Christmas Party, Saturday, December 8th, at their firehouse on Bame Road. Doors open at noon. We welcome all children from infants to 12 years old to enjoy the festivities, music, and fun. Santa comes at 2pm. Come one-come all!
Grafton Festival of Trees with Craft & Vendor Fair
One Day Only! Join us on December 8th, from 10-3pm at the old Grafton Elementary School at the corner of Rt 2 and Babcock Lake Rd. Come see our hallway of themed, decorated trees while you do your Christmas shopping in our two galleries full of goodies. Trees will be judged and awards given. Yearly event at a new venue. Looking forward to seeing you.
Environmental Policy Lecture
Thursday, December 13th, Sand Lake Town Hall, 7 PM. Rensselaer Plateau Alliance “People of the Plateau” Lecture Series presents: Environmental Policy, Local Issues with Judith Enck, Environmental Policy Expert. Judith will lend insight into environmental policy and actions in Washington today and some of its long-term effects. She will also address her role with Hoosick’s PFOA water crisis as well as government rehabilitation efforts in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. $5 suggested donation.
Reduce Flooding of the Poesten Kill & Quacken Kill
Join us on Tuesday, December 11th, 7:30 pm, at the Poestenkill Firehouse, 182 Main Street, Poestenkill, for a
Public Meeting on Poesten Kill and Quacken Kill Flood Mitigation. Hurricane Irene did a lot of damage to our local streams, roads, homes, and bridges. Engineers, scientists, town and highway officials, and residents have been working on a plan to help reduce future flooding. We can’t control the weather. We can support natural and engineered systems that slow down and soak up water on its way downstream. For more information, contact Jim Bonesteel: 518-712-9211 or jim@nullrensselaerplateau.org.
Grant funding for a one-year watershed resiliency study has been provided by the NY State DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program, with support from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NEIWPCC or NYDEC.
Lights in Sand Lake 2018 Christmas Eve Luminaire Display
The Sand Lake Historic District creates Christmas Eve magic in Sand Lake! The neighbors on Routes 66 & 43 and our friends on Schumann Rd. will have our annual luminary display on Christmas Eve – Monday, December 24th. Lighting of the luminary candles begins around 7:00pm and will continue if weather permits or until the candles burn out. If you live in the area and want to participate, place luminaries along the road on your own property. For more information, please contact Dawn or Bruce at 518 674-5210 or by email at knivad@nullyahoo.com.
Dyken Pond Annual Yule Log Celebration
Join us on Sunday, December 9th, from 1pm – 4pm. We start the afternoon by sharing the traditional story of the Yule Log and the science of the Winter Solstice. Folks will be given a few hints before searching for the hidden Yule log. Once found it will be carried back and enjoyed at the outdoor campfire. We will then talk about some of the native animals of the area around the campfire while examining real animal furs and skulls before going on a children’s wildlife walk to look for evidence of animal activity. Holiday crafts and greens will be available to make and take. Hot chocolate and light snacks will be provided. Feel free to bring your own snack to share. People of all ages are encouraged to come out to this free informal program.
Pre-register by contacting Lisa Hoyt at 518 658-2055 or dykenpond@nullgmail.com. Please check the website or call (518) 658-2055 for possible program cancellations.
Gingerbread House Party
Join us at the Nassau Free Library on Saturday, Dec. 8th at 11am. Get in the holiday spirit and join us for an hour of gingerbread house making!
We’ll provide the houses, candy decorations, a holiday snack & hot chocolate! The whole family can join in the fun! Space is limited to 20 people. RSVP by 12/7.
Please register for this program by calling (518) 766-2715. The library is located at 18 Church St., Nassau.