Thursday April 25, 2024 
Creation Care Series
The Eco-Team of the First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush, 1 Gilligan Road, will hold a monthly video and discussion series starting February 5th.
In each session, participants view a short minute TED Talk and follow with discussion. The sessions are held in Room 16 and will run from 11:00-Noon. If you would like to participate via ZOOM, please send a request to e.kevin.conley@nullgmail.com and he will send you a link. This series is intended to inform, but just as importantly, encourage us to talk to one another about the climate emergency that we are in and learn what actions we can take to protect and heal the earth. Topics for the series are shown below. Participants can attend one or all of the series.
• February 5 – The global opportunity to accelerate Africa’s sustainable future, Vanessa Nakate and Mary Robinson
• February 26 – A new social contract for global climate justice, Huma Yusuf
• March 26 – How wind energy could power Earth … 18 times over, Dan Jørgensen
• April 30 – What seaweed and cow burps have to do with climate change, Ermias Kebreab
Are You a Veteran?
VFW Post 7338, East Greenbush, at 100 Hayes Road is extending an invitation to all veterans in the community!
If you are a veteran, you are invited to visit our Post to see if you are qualified to be a member of this great organization here in our local community! If you are a veteran, and looking to contribute to your community, this is the place to be! We are open and have been for some time! We invite you to be a member of the world’s largest veteran organization!
Joining the VFW as a Life Member or as an ongoing Member can also make your family members eligible to join our VFW auxiliary. If you are already a Veteran, they are eligible to join the Auxiliary We need new members of our Post to help run our Post properly, and to continue to help YOU, our veterans, your families and our community. We want to continue to administer the many programs that will help us to keep our East Greenbush VFW post active for many years to come. Please consider joining our organization.
We have monthly Pancake Breakfasts, usually on the 3rd Sunday of the month! (Except July and August) Every month or so we are planning additional dinners alternating between either a Chicken Bake, Spaghetti or Roast Beef. We are going to have another “Night at the Club” with light fare, music provided by a DJ and dancing. We are open to the public and offer our hall for your meeting or family affair! We have a seating capacity for 125 people! We can be your 1st choice for all of your family activities! We offer reasonable rates and can accommodate your wishes!
Please contact us by emailing us at VFWpost7338@nullgmail.com or calling 518-477-7770 and leave a message with your name and number. Your message will be forwarded to another number which is checked every day. Your telephone call will be returned.
News From Averill Park CSD
In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students, staff and parents from all three elementary schools joined the PTAs in a Day of Service. Participants completed service projects to be donated to local shelters and organizations to assist those in need. Wellness kits for hospitalized children, people in shelters and even animals in rescue and humane shelters are some of the projects completed. Great job, everyone!
Congratulations to varsity girls basketball coach Sean Organ for earning career win No. 300 in a 57-38 victory over Columbia High School recently. Way to go, coach!
Algonquin Middle School students Amir Lyons, Anastazia Valachovic and Lana Valachovic attended the No Place for Hate annual STOP Conference at Siena College recently. While there, they worked with peers and met Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado.
As always, for the latest news from the District, please visit our website – averillpark.k12.ny.us. You can also follow AP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Submitted by Dr. James Franchini, Averill Park CSD Superintendent
Historical Society Receives Pomeroy Marker Grant
The Sand Lake Historical Society has been awarded a grant from the prestigious William G. Pomeroy Foundation for a historic marker at the current Sand Lake Center for the Arts (former Sand Lake Town Hall and 1835 First Presbyterian Church of Sand Lake).
The site has a remarkable history. The Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1805 and formally established in 1808. In 1835, the Presbyterians moved from worship space shared with the Baptists and Methodists (at the current Sand Lake Baptist Church) and built their own church. They remained there until 1967, when the Presbyterian and Methodists congregations merged to form the Church of the Covenant. In 1972, the old church was renovated and became Sand Lake’s first Town Hall (and forms the basis of the current town logo). After Town Hall moved to its current location in 1999, the building was transformed again into the Sand Lake Center for the Arts in 2003.
Today, the old church serves as the western gateway of Sand Lake’s only designated Historic District. With our newly-approved marker, visitors to the Arts Center, residents doing business at Town Hall, and folks “just passing through” will know they’re in a special and historic place. As we stated in the funding application to Pomeroy, the 1835 church building is an enduring symbol of Sand Lake community’s support for celebrating our history and the reuse of old buildings. Now we will have one of those fancy blue and gold markers to prove it!
Sand Lake Pandemic Remembrances
The Sand Lake Historical Society is putting together a book of remembrances by residents and businesses of the Town of Sand Lake so future generations will understand and appreciate all we went through during the Covid-19 pandemic. We’d love to include your story!
Did you:
• Work from home or in an “essential” job?
• Have a relative in a nursing home or sick with Covid?
• Have children learning at home?
• Have to close or make changes to your business?
• Spend more time outdoors or doing home repairs?
• Have some other experience you’d like to share?
Please submit your prose or poetry of 600 words or less describing your pandemic story. All experiences can be shared, whether they made you happy, sad, scared, crazy, brave, thankful, exhausted, etc.
Submit your story or any questions to: SLHSpandemic@nullgmail.com
Deadline for submissions is February 28, 2023. (SLHS reserves the right to edit stories.)
Find us on the Internet at https://sandlakehistory.org/; “Like” us on Facebook!
Artwork Needed for Community Wide Art Show
The First United Methodist Church at 1 Gilligan Rd. East Greenbush is looking for artwork of all kinds done by all ages for a Community Wide Art Show. The Art Show will debut on March 25th, 2023. All artworks will be due by March 19th at 2:30 pm.
The theme of the art show is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Art can have one item of the theme or incorporate the full theme. Please email Amber Telford at Youthleaderamber@nullgmail.com for the Art Work agreement form and any questions. You can also call 518-477-9693 and leave a message for Amber.
The Anchor Food Pantry
The Anchor Food Pantry after experiencing a significant increase of over 30% demand from 2021 to calendar year 2022 is seeking support
from our Schodack Community for canned goods and toiletries to meet our clientele’s needs at the present time.
Donations can be dropped off at the Anchor Food Pantry Mondays 430-630 pm, Tuesday& Thursday from 9am-130pm ,and the first Saturday of every month from 10am-1230pm. Additionally donations can be dropped off at Village Hall -Castleton or Schodack Town Hall during their regular business hours.
Bottles and Cans can also be dropped off @ 6Cent Redemption Center-9J, Rensselaer,NY; Monday-Saturday.
Kiwanis of North Greenbush Seeks New Members
The Kiwanis of North Greenbush is a newly formed chapter of Kiwanis International whose aim is to make a difference for children and their families in our local community and beyond.
Our chapter, formed in April 2022, consists of about 20 members who have enthusiastically provided many hours of service thus far: cooking @ Ronald McDonald House and Fisher House; creating comfort bags for foster kids; collecting food for needy Veterans; collecting for Bells of Life to support Albany Med Pediatrics; helping with clean-up and painting at Sky High Adventure Center, Averill Park.
If your New Year’s resolution includes volunteering, and this sounds like something you would like to be part of, we are always seeking new community-minded individuals for membership. Meetings are 2nd and 4th Wednesdays @ 7pm in NG Town Hall, Main Ave., Wynantskill.
To learn more, please join us for a Meet-n-Greet on Sunday, January 29, 12-2pm @ Fifth Tier Bakery, 197 Main Ave., Wynantskill. For additional information see www.NorthGreenbushKiwanis.com.
Wynantskill UFSD Kindergarten Registration Now Open
The Wynantskill Union Free School District has begun the process of registering new Kindergarten students for the upcoming school year.
Please visit our website at WynantskillUFSD.org or contact Kathy Fazioli in our main office for more information regarding registering for Kindergarten. You may call the main office at (518) 283-4600 or email kfazioli@nullwynantskillufsd.org
Wynantskill UFSD Pre-K Lottery Applications Are Now Available for the 2023-24 School Year
The Wynantskill Union Free School District has begun the process of registering students for the 2023-24 Pre-K program. Eligible students must be Wynantskill residents and be 4 years of age by December 1st, 2023. Applications collected will be entered into a random lottery in the event that there are more applicants than spots available.
Lottery applications must be submitted by March 16th, 2023 in order to be eligible for the lottery drawing being held on March 20th, 2023. Parents will be notified of the results and have until April 1st, 2023 to accept their seat and fill out the remaining registration forms.
Applications received after March 16th will go on a waitlist should a seat become available.
Please go to our website to find the application at WynantskillUFSD.org
East Greenbush CSD Kindergarten Registration Information for 2023-24
The East Greenbush Central School District is now enrolling kindergarten students for the 2023-24 school year. To be eligible for kindergarten in September 2023, your child must turn five years old by December 1, 2023.
Kindergarten registration packets will be mailed to all eligible families in the district database during January 2023. If your child is not currently in the district database, please call the school your child will attend to have the registration packet mailed to you. The packet will provide you with a list of all the documents you need to bring as well as all the forms you need to fill out prior to registration.
For more information, visit www.egcsd.org/registration.
Averill Park CSD Announces Kindergarten Registration for 2023-24
The Averill Park School District has begun the process of registering boys and girls for the 2023-24 Kindergarten Classes. If you, or someone you know, has a child who will be 5 years of age on or before December 1, 2023 please contact the district registrar at 674-7050 extension 7201 to make sure that the child is listed on our school census. This will guarantee that you will receive all upcoming kindergarten information by mail. Registration paperwork will be started online and completed by appointment with the district registrar at the district office at the Averill Park High School during the month of February. Registration hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Registration forms are accepted by appointment. All paperwork must be completed by 02-28-2023.
New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164, requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter kindergarten and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child has all the needed immunizations. They are listed below.
Required Immunizations for Kindergarten (Number of Doses)
*Polio 4 (3 doses if 3 rd dose received after 4 th birthday)
*Hepatitis B 3
*Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis 5 (4 doses if 4th dose received after 4th birthday)
*Measles/Mumps/Rubella 2
*Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2
Age Requirements
Children who are five years of age on or before December 1, 2023 are eligible to attend Kindergarten this September. As a parent you have an option to enroll your child in school at age five or withhold your child until the school year in which he/she turns six. Children born between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18 must attend kindergarten in the coming school year. Children born between 7/1/18 and 12/1/18 may attend during the 2023-2024 school year or may wait until the following year.
New Winter Break Fun, Activity & Learning Program for Elementary School Kids
SKYHIGH Community Center, at 27 Lake Avenue in Averill Park, is now enrolling Rensselaer County area children ages 8-12 in our February 20th to 23rd, Monday through Thursday, Winter Break fun, activity and learning program. Children may be dropped off between 8:00 and 8:45. The program starts at 9:00am and ends at 1:30pm.
We offer a variety of creative, child-interest activities each morning including: arts & crafts, learning magic tricks, playing foam ball tennis, practicing improvisation acting with SLCA’s Brian Sheldon, having fun with music or song, designing and playing self-created games, maybe even making balloon animals and more. Children will be encouraged and supported to try new things. Each afternoon there will be an entertaining auditorium session or performance.
Early arrivers may being a light breakfast snack and all children should bring a light lunch.
The cost is $80 for the four full days and there is a $25 option for single day attending children.
We can always use adult volunteers. If a parent volunteers to help us all four days we will rebate a portion of the registration fee.
Registration has just opened up and we are limiting enrollment to 30 children. So if you are interested, don’t delay. Go to www.shaccenter.org. and sign up your child for this first ever in our community Winter Break Program.
If more information is needed you may email Joe at jbehson@nullnycap.rr.com.
Sand Lake Historical Society Announces 2023 Schedule
SLHS will be presenting the following public programs, from January to June 2023:
February 14th, Edmonia Lewis. East Greenbush Town Historian Bobbie Reno will discuss Edmonia Lewis, noted American sculptor of mixed African American and Native American heritage, born right here in Rensselaer County. You’ve seen her on a postage stamp, now come hear her story.
March 14th, The Rensselaer Glassworks. Phil Bernnard of the National Bottle Museum will discuss Rensselaer Glassworks, one of Sand Lake’s early industries (and gave us “Glass Lake”). Hear the history of the works, the succession of owners, and the technology of 18th and 19th century glassmaking. Phil is asking attendees to bring any “Glass Lake glass” specimens they have, too.
April 11th, Covid-19 History Project. Committee report and presentations and a sharing of experiences from the SLHS Covid History Project. Let’s make Covid history!
May 9th, Annual Meeting. Elections, annual report to the membership – and more!
June 3rd, (tentative) Annual Gala. Final date and location to be announced. Don’t miss this highlight of our year!
June 13th, The Pretty Fantastic Mr. Fox. Albert Rodmond Fox, industrialist, glassworks owner, State Senator, mover-and-shaker, and the Fox who gave us Fox Mansion. Learn about one of Sand Lake’s early leaders and speculate on why we live in Averill Park and not “Foxboro.”
All SLHS programs (unless otherwise noted) are held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY Rte. 66, Averill Park, beginning at 7:00 pm. More information at http://sandlakehistory.org/. Like us on Facebook.
North Greenbush 2023 Historical Calendars
We still have our 2023 Historical Calendars for purchase in the Town Clerk’s office at Town Hall. Stop by and grab one for $10.00 or $13.00 mailed. (Reduced price). We will gladly mail them out for you, just send in a check written out to the Town of North Greenbush for $13.00 and include the address where the calendar should be sent, and we will do the work for you.
The Town Clerk’s number is 518-283-4306 if you’re interested in a calendar or have any questions concerning the availability or process. Quantity is limited and when they’re gone…. they’re gone!!
Ecumenical Community Choir Seeking Members
The Festival Celebration Choir is seeking new members. Rehearsals are Mondays from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at First Lutheran Church in Albany, 181 Western Ave., Albany.
All voice parts are welcome. There are no auditions. The group is preparing a concert, Beyond Boundaries, for Sunday, June 4, 2023. For more information call Julie Panke (Scotia, NY) 518-370-5434 or visit festivalcelebrationchoir.org
Hudson Mohawk AHEC Announces Scholarship Opportunity
Scholarships available to support healthcare education
Hudson Mohawk Area Health Education Center (Hudson Mohawk AHEC) will be awarding ten scholarships of $500 dollars each to individuals who will be entering an approved healthcare related certificate or degree program at a local community college, university or training entity within New York State. Applicants must reside within the Hudson Mohawk AHEC ten-county service region, which includes: Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren and Washington counties.
Interested applicants can learn more about the scholarship opportunity by visiting the Hudson Mohawk AHEC website www.hmahec.org or emailing admin@nullhmahec.org
Applications are due no later than Monday, March 17, 2023. Awards will be made in May 2023.
Hudson Mohawk Area Health Education Center (Hudson Mohawk AHEC) seeks to develop, and strengthen the healthcare workforce in Albany, Essex, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Warren, and Washington counties.
For more information about Hudson Mohawk AHEC please visit our website at: www.hmahec.org.
Raise Your Voice Singing Competition Sponsored by CASA
The 8th Annual CASA “Raise Your Voice” Singing Competition which will be held June 29th, 2023, will be holding auditions on May 2nd and 3rd, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 603 State St., Schenectady, NY. We need to advertise now for Teens and Young Adults, ages 13-24 so they can schedule appointments for the auditions.
It would be very helpful to have it run more than once. Singers will be competing in one of two categories: Show Tunes, Theatre, & Opera-or-Rock, Pop & Country(no profanity). Solo or Duo performers can qualify. Top 25 Finalists will perform at Proctors for the chance to become the winner! Cash prize and trophy for the First and Second Place Winners in each category!
This is a major fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Abused and Neglected Children). To schedule an appointment for an audition, please call the Center for Community Justice at 518-346-1281 ext. 330 or 518-709-6288 or email rvaughn@nulltheccj.org.
Community Caregivers
Community Caregivers, a Nonprofit agency, has continued to expand in Rensselaer County! We have over 50 clients but not enough volunteers to serve all of these nice people. Are you looking to help someone in your community remain living independently with a little assistance from you? We need your help!
Our volunteers can take someone to the doctors, grocery or other errands as well as visiting and calling. We have a simple orientation process. Call Heidi Buono, Rensselaer County Service Coordinator, at (518)366-9173 or Meredith Osta, Volunteer Coordinator, at (518)456-2898, if you would like to volunteer. To learn more or donate to our agency, see Community Caregivers.org.
Center Brunswick UM Church Announces Financial Scholarship for 2023 Tamarac Graduates
The Finance Committee of the Center Brunswick United Methodist Church has announced that it will award $500 to a student to be selected from the Tamarac High School Class of 2023. The money may be used for any type of expenses related to further education. Students do not have to belong to this Church, any other church or religion to be eligible for this award.
Interested students must apply for this award no later than March 1, 2023. The application can be obtained from the school’s guidance department or from our website at (www.CenterBrunswickUMC.company).
This award is given in memory of Harold and Mabel Keyes through a trust funded by their last will and testament. Mabel taught in the Brunswick schools and continued teaching Sunday School at Center Brunswick UMC for many years after she retired. Through this award, her love of helping young people learn and grow will continue to reach the youth of our community.
The Center Brunswick United Methodist Church is located at the intersection of Routes 7 and 142 in Troy.
Bread of Life Food Pantry Donation Request
The “Bread of Life” food pantry in Poestenkill has just begun our 8th year of serving our community and neighbors. As we see food costs rising dramatically, we realize more donations of food will be needed.
When you are shopping for grocery’s, we would greatly appreciate it if you would pick up a few food items to donate to our pantry. Here is a list of our most requested staple food items that our guests want..
Breakfast cereal for adults and kids, sugar, flour, baking oil, bottled apple juice, canned fruit, canned hash, canned chili, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, cookies and snacks, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, canned baked beans, instant and ground coffee.
Just a few of these items two times a month would be so helpful for our neighbors in need. You may drop them off at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Poestenkill,side entrance in the container. We check it daily and date and shelve each item for our open dates. Please check use by and expiration dates before donating. Thanks so much for your help. Our contact number is (518) 283-6045.
St. Jude the Apostle Knights of Columbus Bottle & Can Donations
WYNANTSKILL – Help Support Local Charities – St. Jude the Apostle Knights of Columbus has teamed up with 6 Center Redemption located at 461 Main Avenue in Wynantskill to accept bottle and can donations that have a NYS deposit.
This is to support local charities and those in need.
• Bring your clean, NYS deposit empties to 6 Center Redemption in Wynantskill.
• Say they are to support the St. Jude the Apostle Knights of Columbus.
• They do the rest, that’s it!
Thank you for your support!
Hudson-Mohawk Search & Rescue is Looking for Volunteers to Join our Team
CAPITAL DISTRICT – If you enjoy being outdoors in the wilderness, working with others to help people, follow directions well and have a willingness to learn, then our SAR team might be for you! Prior knowledge is helpful, but definitely not required as we provide the training. Check out our website at: www.humsar.org for more information.
Search and Rescue Volunteers Needed
CAPITAL DISTRICT – the Tri-State Emergency Team is recruiting volunteers to provide wildland and underwater searches within a 100 mile radius of Waterrford, NY. This includes all aspects of field and underwater search. The Tri-State Emergency Team responds when requested by NYS Forest Rangers and other police agencies throughout New York State, Western Vermont and Massachusetts.
We are looking for certified scuba divers, experienced boat handlers, and people who enjoy hiking and the outdoors in general who wish to help people in need. The team will provide training and complete support as needed. Our headquarters is located in Waterford. Applicants need not live in Waterford to volunteer. If interested, please call 518-237-6744 or visit our website at www.tri-stateemergencyteam.org
New York State Commission for the Blind
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) provides free vocational rehabilitation and other services to legally blind New York State residents, including children, adults, and older adults. NYSCB assists participants in achieving economic self-sufficiency and full integration into society. Call toll-free (866) 871-3000 or visit our website: visionloss.ny.gov