Saturday April 20, 2024 
East Greenbush CSD Renews Pre-K Program for 2023-24
The East Greenbush Central School District will be offering a Pre-K Program for eligible 4-year-old students during the 2023-24 school year. The program, which is free for families, would start on the first day of school in September.
There will be slots for up to 61 students, including one section each at Donald P. Sutherland, Genet and Red Mill Elementary Schools, and seven students at the Early Childhood Education Center.
Students must be 4 years old as of December 1, 2023 and must be district residents.
Pre-K applications will be available at www.egcsd.org starting Monday, February 27.
All applicants will be entered into a lottery, which will be held Monday, April 17, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. in the Genet Elementary School auditorium.
Are You Ready for Your Lenten Journey?
Yes, it is that special time of year once again. The humbling yet exhilarating season of Lent is upon us. You may be looking for opportunities to interact with fellow “travelers” during this time of self-reflection.
Well then, how about the ecumenical Friday Lenten Services to share the good news with a variety of local clergy? They are held at the Church of the Covenant (the round church) in Averill Park.
A brief (about 30 min.) service begins at 12 noon and is followed by a soup-and-sandwich lunch. The first is Friday, February 24 and they will continue every Friday through March 31.
A free will offering will go to Unity House of Troy. Hope to see you there as we “travel” to our glorious destination, Easter on April 9!
Fred Erickson, Church of the Covenant
American Red Cross Babysitting Class
The American Red Cross Babysitting Class will be held at the Sand Lake Library on 3/18/23. For more information please contact Brenda at brendaleigh7@nullgmail.com
Elmwood Cemetery Association of West Sand Lake Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting of The Elmwood Cemetery Association of West Sand Lake will be held on Tuesday, March 7, at 7 PM, at Hoffay’s Harvest House, 489 Sheer Road, off of Rte. 150 out of West Sand Lake.
All cemetery lot owners and interested parties are welcome to attend. The meeting includes a brief financial report and election of Trustees as needed. Volunteers are appreciated. Ample lots are still available for purchase.
Art Call for an Averill Park Exhibition
Stratigraphy: Celebrating Layering in the Arts, is an art exhibition to be mounted at the Arts Letters & Numbers studios, Faith Mills, in Averill Park on May 27.
We are thinking of Amos Eaton – the first stratigrapher in the country, who mapped the route of the Erie Canal and the rock of our watershed – and of all the ways that art can be layered: the paint, the collage, the poetic images, the musical notes the stitches, the gestures, the impasto …
Deadline for proposals (all media, representational or performative) April 1. Deadline for delivery of material May 24. Sponsored by aGatherin’ with Arts Letters & Numbers. gather@nullagatherin.com.
Bingo at South Schodack Volunteer Fire Co.
The South Schodack Volunteer Fire Co. is having Bingo the first and third Sundays each month through May. Doors open at noon with card sales starting at 1:00 PM and games start at 2:00 PM.
South Schodack Volunteer Fire Co. 1563 Bame Rd., Castleton, N.Y. 12033 (518-732-2082).
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.
Sand Lake Center for the Arts Now Accepting Submissions for Juried Art Show
Artists of all media are invited to submit works for the 2023 Sand Lake Center for the Arts Juried Art Show. Submissions should reflect the concepts presented in the song I’m Going To Say It Now by Phil Ochs.
Lyrics:
I am just a student, sir, and only want to learn
But it’s hard to read through the risin’ smoke of the books that you like to burn
So I’d like to make a promise and I’d like to make a vow
That when I’ve got something to say, sir, I’m gonna say it now
Ooh, you’d like to be my father you’d like to be my Dad
And give me kisses when I’m good and spank me when I’m bad
But since I’ve left my parents I’ve forgotten how to bow
So when I’ve got something to say, sir, I’m gonna say it now
And things they might be different if I was here alone
But I’ve got a friend or two who no longer live at home
And we’ll respect our elders just as long as they allow
That when I’ve got something to say, sir, I’m gonna say it now
I’ve read of other countries where the students take a stand
Maybe even help to overthrow the leaders of the land
Now I wouldn’t go so far to say we’re also learnin’ how
But when I’ve got something to say, sir, I’m gonna say it now
So keep right on a-talkin’ and tell us what to do
If nobody listens my apologies to you
And I know that you were younger once ’cause you sure are older now
And when I’ve got something to say, sir, I’m gonna say it now
Artists should email JPEG or PDF examples to assvsubmit@nullgmail.com by May 15, 2023.
Show dates are July and August 2023. Artists should include a brief description of the piece along with the dimensions, weight, and any special displaying needs. No more than three submissions per artist. Artists of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels are encouraged to submit.
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.
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.
Sand Lake Historical Society Announces 2023 Schedule
SLHS will be presenting the following public programs, from January to June 2023:
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.
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.
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