Friday April 19, 2024 
Looking For Arts & Craft and Food Vendors for June 16th-18th Kiwanis Summerfest
The Kiwanis Club of Sand Lake is reaching out to Capital Region crafters and food vendors to take part in our annual, weekend-long Summerfest, one of the largest summer fairs in Rensselaer County.
The carnival rides, major area bands, adult and youth activities and evening fireworks during the June 16-18th event attract hundreds of people each year.
So this is an event you will not want to miss. Please contact Janet at jmalecki@nullnycap.rr.com for more information and to sign up.
AARP Defensive Driving Course
All RESIDENTS 18 AND OVER are Invited to Attend AARP Defensive Driving Course
Refresh your driving skills. Learn the new safety rules. You may be eligible for a reduction in your auto insurance.
Wed, May 31, 2023. 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.
Everett Wagar Senior Center, 2 Roxborough Rd., Grafton.
Course fee is $25 AARP member / $30 non-AARP member. Payment by check or money order (made out to AARP) is strongly preferred. If paying in cash, exact change is needed. Bring to course driver’s license and, if member, AARP card. 30 minute lunch break, recommend bringing your lunch. Can eat in classroom. Please arrive 15 minutes early.
Call to sign up at (518) 279-3413. Material needs to be ordered.
Donate your Clean NY Bottles & Cans to STRIDE Adaptive Sports!!!
Mention STRIDE Adaptive Sports –Your donation is given to STRIDE!
STRIDE matches volunteers and adaptive equipment to disabled athletes and wounded warriors to participate in over 18 different recreational sports programs LOCALLY!
Donation Locations:
East Greenbush – E.G. Bottle & Can Co. – 594 Columbia Tpke East Greenbush NY
Wynantskill – 6 Cent Redemption – 461 Main Ave Wynantskill NY
Rensselaer – 6 Cent Redemption – 550 South St Rensselaer NY
Ravena – Just Makes Cents – 2381 Rt 9W Ravena NY
Questions contact INFO@nullSTRIDE.ORG
DONATE Directly at WWW.STRIDE.ORG
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!
Pickleball Rensselaer County – Informative Open House: May 5th – APHS at 6:30 pm
We are a sport friendly group with a mix of playing levels. We are here to support, and promote local pickleball players in our community. If you already play pickleball or have an interest in learning how to play, we have a place for you in our pickleball family.
Your input is important. To help facilitate our Informative Open House please email your questions and suggestions to 002pickle@nullgmail.com. We are also seeking sponsorships and professional coaches to offer monthly clinics.
League of Women Voters of New York Will Present “The Story of Plastic”
CAPITAL DISTRICT – The Capital District Chapters (Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga & Schenectady ) of the League of Women Voters of New York will present “The Story of Plastic” on Tuesday May 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm via Zoom.
This documentary reveals the ugly truth behind plastic pollution and the false solution of plastic recycling. It explains how we got to our current global plastic pollution crisis and how the oil and gas industry has successfully manipulated the narrative around it. The Story of Plastic is a life changing, Emmy winning film depicting one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
Join David Sayer at 8:00 for questions and answers following the film. David is a Community Manager for the Beyond Plastics Virtual Group, a national grassroots organization begun by the President and Founder of Beyond Plastics, Judith Enck .
Please register in advance for this virtual meeting: https://tinyurl.com/StoryOfPlasticFilm. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Zoom meeting. If you have already seen the documentary, feel free to join the Q & A at the end.
Third Annual Lawn Sale
Nassau Lake Association (NLPIA) is looking for crafters, vendors and garage saler’s for our 3rd annual lawn sale on June 10th coinciding with the Nassau Community Wide Garage sale from 9AM to 3PM. Reserve your spot with a $15 donation towards the new NLPIA clubhouse (please bring your own table). There will be food and beverages available as well as a 50/50 raffle. Plenty of space and parking, located at the ball field, Nassau-Averill Park Road on the East side of Nassau Lake. Please contact Jim Prime (518)776-0041.
Western Governors University Offers Two Scholarships for Rural NY Residents
To help remove rural barriers to higher education, accredited nonprofit and online Western Governors University (WGU) has announced the new Learn Where You Live Scholarships exclusively for residents of rural communities. Valued at up to $3,000 and awarded at $750 per six-month term for up to four terms, the scholarships are available to new or returning WGU students living in rural areas, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to the latest Census figures, 2.5 million New Yorkers live in rural areas, including 31.7% of residents (392,263) in the Capital Region.
“For many rural New Yorkers, it’s just not feasible to drive an hour or more to a college campus, especially if they have work and family obligations,” said Rebecca Watts, who oversees operations in New York as regional vice president for WGU. “Completing a degree program can change lives, families and communities, and WGU is doing what we can to remove the barriers of distance, time, and cost.”
In addition, for those New Yorkers who live in a T-Mobile service area for internet service, WGU offers the Online Access Scholarship, which provides students with a laptop, internet service and a webcam to pursue their education studies.
WGU has more than 60 online bachelor’s and master’s degree program in business, IT, education, and healthcare. WGU serves more than 3,400 students and more than 6,300 alumni in New York.
Both scholarship application deadlines are June 30 and more information is available at www.wgu.edu/learnwhereyoulive and www.wgu.edu/access.
Local Youth Climate Activists Fighting for a Sustainable Future
Troy Climate Action is a youth-led environmental organization established two years ago by Isabelle Relyea, a high school senior, who wanted to provide young activists with a platform to learn and express their passion for the environment. Since its inception, the group has been dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring the community to take action on environmental and social issues. They have achieved this through various initiatives, including trash clean-ups, climate demonstrations, postering campaigns, volunteering at local gardens, recycling drives, and informative seminars.
With over 130 informative posts on Instagram covering various environmental topics, Troy Climate Action has been actively engaging with their audience on social media platforms. The group’s page is an excellent resource for anyone looking to learn more about the environment. Troy Climate Action remains committed to educating and inspiring the community, with more events planned for this summer.
Stay up-to-date with Troy Climate Action by following them on Instagram and Twitter.
Book Nook Open at Transfiguration Parish
Stop by on Saturday morning, May 6, from 9:00 am until noon and check out the Transfiguration Parish Book Nook on Hillview Dr in Speigletown.
Such a great selection of novels by your favorite authors. May BOGO specials are on authors John Grisham and Iris Johansson.
Children’s books are 10/$1. Stop by and check us out! Thanks for your continued support and see you at The Book Nook!
Buy Mother’s Day Gifts at Trinity Church Lansingburgh’s Spring Fest on May 13
Trinity Church Lansingburgh will hold its 18th annual Spring Fest on the church grounds, 585 Fourth Avenue, Troy, from 9 AM until 2 PM on Saturday, May 13, 2023. We will be selling special spring flower arrangements, both fresh and artificial, in teacups and mugs – perfect for Mother’s Day gifts. Hand-crafted items, homemade baked goods and selected garden plants will be available for purchase.
There will be a basket raffle. Coffee and donuts and lunch menu items will be sold. Free tours of the historic church building and the graveyard will be given throughout the day. For more information call (518)892-8865 or visit www.trinitychurchlansingburgh.org.
Castleton-Schodack Memorial Day Parade
The Castleton-Schodack Memorial Day Parade will “step-off” on Monday, May 29th at 10:00am.
The parade will begin at the corner of Boltwood and Seaman Avenues and will conclude with a brief ceremony at Mountain View Cemetery. We will have five divisions with the VFW Post 7337 leading the parade. As we take time to honor those who served our country, we would like to show our appreciation to any veteran or Gold Star Mother in our community by asking that they join us in the special seating area that has been reserved for them during the ceremony.
We are honored this year to have as our Grand Marshall for the parade Mr. Jeff Conlin, an Army Vietnam veteran. The Community Appreciation Award will be presented to Carol and Bud Wilkinson, in recognition of their many years of volunteer service to our community. Our guest speaker will be Ryan Marshall, an Air Force OIF OEF ODF veteran. Please join us on the day that we honor those who have served their country so valiantly.
Elmer A. Grogan Scholarship
Applications are being accepted for the scholarship award of $300.00 for the best essay on “What Freedom Means To Me” by a graduating senior from Brunswick Central School District or Berlin Central School District including home schooled or those going to private school who live in the two districts who is continuing on with his or her education. The essay should not be less than 250 words or not more than 500 words. The scholarship is being given by the Carner, Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340 in memory of a former member Elmer A. Grogan.
The deadline for applications is June 2nd. Applications are available at the guidance counselor offices of both high schools or contact Commander Claus at LClaus@nullrensco.com and should be mailed to Carner, Etman, Smith V.F.W. Post 6340, PO Box 361, Grafton, NY 12082, Attn: Commander Len Claus
Dunham Hollow- West Stephentown Scholoaship
The scholarship committee announces the availability of the Dunham Hollow-West Stephentown Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Frank Johnson. It is open to anyone (graduating senior, post graduate, or adult wishing retraining) living within the boundaries of the Averill Park School District and has been accepted to a trade or vocational school.
The deadline for submission of an application is May 15th. Scholarship applications may be obtained by contacting the Averill Park High School guidance department at 518-674-7025 or by emailing jcuilla@nullcfgcr.org.
5K Run/Walk to Promote Literacy in Albany County and Rensselaer County
The Literacy 5K Run/Walk will be held on Sunday, May 7 at the Corning Preserve in Albany. Runners and walkers of all ages and abilities are welcome to participate. Registration and packet pick-up opens at 8:30 a.m., the Youth Mile begins at 9:30 a.m., and the 5K Run/Walk starts at 10:00 a.m. Awards will be given to the fastest runners. For full details and to register, visit Zippyreg.com. Proceeds will make it possible for Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County to offer literacy programs and services at no cost to adults in Albany County and Rensselaer County.
Nancy Benz, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County, says “We’re excited to continue this family-friendly event, which LVORC has offered every year since 2002. This is our first time at the Corning Preserve, and we hope to see a good turnout from our supporters in Albany, as well as our longtime participants from all over Rensselaer County.” This year’s event sponsors include Cohoes Savings Foundation, Stewart’s Shops, Blasch Precision Ceramics, HMS Agency, Inc., Aflac, BBL Companies, Hannaford and The Record/The Saratogian.
Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County trains volunteers to help learners improve their ability to read, write, speak and understand English; empowers learners to be advocates for themselves; and educates the community about literacy issues. LVORC also offers math, computer, and financial literacy; English Literacy Civics and citizenship prep; and Everybody WINS! Power Lunch reading and mentoring for children. New volunteers are always welcome. For more information, visit www.lvorc.org or call 518 244-4650.
Wednesday Night Food Truck Event is back in North Greenbush!
We hope that everyone had a great off-season time the past couple of months. We are contacting you to let you know that we will be having Food Truck Night again here in North Greenbush!!! The Town of North Greenbush is looking for food trucks to participate in the WEDNESDAY Night Food Truck Event for the 2023 season.
We will again be having Food Trucks @ town hall between 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. We are planning on the start date of Wednesday, May 24th. This year’s event will go all the way to August 9, 2023. We are asking anyone interested in participating again to contact the Town Clerk, Janice Hannigan Kerwin, @ 518-283-4306 or feel free to email anytime at townclerk@nullnorthgreenbush.org if you have any additional questions.
Sand Lake Historical Society Announces 2023 Schedule
SLHS will be presenting the following public programs, from January to June 2023:
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.