Thursday May 2, 2024 
WICC to host Water webinar for Poestenkill Residents
POESTENKILL, N.Y.— The Water Insecurity Correction Coalition, or WICC, is hosting a virtual Water Town Hall on Wednesday, June 28th at 7:00 PM for Poestenkill residents.
Residents will learn about the conclusions produced by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Department of Health (DOH) from their investigation into the town’s PFAS contaminant problem. More information on the proposed solution to the PFAS problem – the new Water District being evaluated by the Town Board – will also be presented to residents.
Panelists from DEC, DOH, Rensselaer County DOH, and the Concerned Citizens for Clean Drinking Water (CCCDW) will partake in a Question and Answer session at the Water Town Hall. Residents can come and ask questions about the water district, the DEC report, and information on how they can ensure that the water from their wells is safe and clean.
The virtual event is free to the public. Residents can get the Zoom link to enter the webinar by RSVPing at yeswicc.com/poestenkill.
Water Insecurity Correction Coalition, Inc. is a youth-led nonprofit organization based in New York focused on eradicating water insecurity in all forms nationwide. WICC’s Upstate Water Contamination Project is an advocacy and citizen science program focused on emerging water crises in Upstate New York, specifically road salt contamination in the Adirondacks and Poestenkill’s PFAS contamination.
Village of East Nassau Meeting Date Change
The July meeting date for the Village of East Nassau has been changed from Wednesday, July 12 to Wednesday, July 19 at 7 PM
Village meetings are always the second Wednesday of the month at 7 PM unless otherwise noted*. Future dates for village meetings are as follows:
For 2023: August 9, September 13, October 11, November 8, December 13.
For 2024: January 10, February 14, March 13, *Monday, April 1, May 8.
News From Averill Park CSD
As a reminder, the Commencement Ceremony for the Class of 2023 will be held at the MVP Arena in Albany on Thursday, June 22 at 6:30 p.m. We encourage all family members and friends to attend. The event will also be livestreamed for those who cannot make it in-person.
Tyler Michaels recently received his Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. He did a presentation entirely in Spanish and answered questions from two native Spanish speakers, Dr. Alejandra Bronfman and Ildefonso Apelanz, from the Latin American studies department at SUNY Albany. Congratulations, Tyler!
Algonquin Middle School students raised more than $1,890 for Ronald McDonald House Charities! Way to go, everyone!
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
The Friends of Dyken Pond Awarded National Grid Grant
The Friends of Dyken Pond (FODP) has been awarded a generous grant from National Grid through their Project C Adopt A Park Program. The grant, aimed at the revitalization of Town and County Parks, funded ten brand new picnic tables at the Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center.
The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center provides high quality environmental education, outdoor recreation, and youth development opportunities. However, the lack of adequate seating had posed a challenge for visitors. Thanks to the generous grant from National Grid the FODP were able to address this need by acquiring ten new picnic tables.
We’d like to thank the many volunteers who gathered at the Center on National Trails Day to lend a helping hand. They dedicated their morning to various projects aimed at improving the Center’s facilities and maintaining its natural beauty. From trail maintenance and landscaping to amphitheater preparation for the summer season, our volunteers are essential to preserving and enhancing this cherished outdoor space. Following the morning’s productive efforts, FODP President, Chris von Schilgen, made a formal dedication of the new picnic tables, expressing gratitude to National Grid for their invaluable support.
The Dyken Pond Environmental Education Center is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year with a special celebration sponsored by Rensselaer County on July 9th(rain date July 16th). Please join us at the Center from 1:30-4:30pm. There will be music, food trucks, and wildlife educator, Kelly Martin with live birds of prey, plus miles of trails to explore.
The Friends of Dyken Pond extend their heartfelt appreciation to National Grid for their commitment to environmental stewardship and community engagement. As we look toward the future, we remain steadfast in our dedication to enhance the education, research, and appreciation of the natural resources found at the Center.
DANA Holds Annual Meeting
The DeFreestville Area Neighborhoods Association, Inc. (DANA) will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting on Thursday evening, June 29, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Woodland Hill Montessori School on Grandview Drive, in DeFreestville, NY. Members will elect directors.
Other business will be conducted as needed. Local land use, development and traffic issues, and other community based topics of interest will also be discussed. All DeFreestville area residents are invited to attend. Visit us at www.DANAInfo.org. The DeFreestville Area Neighborhoods Association, Inc.
Story Telling Night
July’s Storytelling Event at First United Methodist Church in East Greenbush, will be held on Wednesday July 5th at 7 pm . It will feature our own Christian Education Coordinator Amanda Trainor who will share her personal story of childhood trauma and addiction. She will present a historical view of the churches stance on mental health and how Martin Luther and John Wesley changed the churches views on depression and discuss how we can foster and build resiliency through the study of modern science and theology. Amanda has a dual Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology and Statistics and a Masters in Management and Behavior.
We will have light refreshments and a free will offering to benefit our youth.
Community Workshop to Explore What is a Door of Hope?
The ideas from the workshop will serve as the springboard for The Doors of Hope Community Mural Project, a collaboration between Arts Letters & Numbers, Doors of Hope, NOpiates Committee, Averill Park High School and the New York State Council on the Arts, where artists and high school students will create the Town of Sand Lake’s first public mural for the Doors of Hope storefront in the Route 43 Mall.
We invite you all to join us in this creative brainstorming session to share your ideas on What is a Door of Hope? No previous experience is needed, all ages and abilities are welcome. The workshop will be held on Sunday, June 25, 2023 at the Sky High Adventure Center, 27 Lake Ave, Averill Park, NY.
For more information and/or to submit an idea for the Mural contact: Ira Baumgarten, 518-441-3535, irabaumgarten@nullgmail.com
Bread of Life” Food Pantry Poestenkill
We serve low-income individuals and families in and around the Poestenkill area. Open on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm. We offer a once-a-month three-day supply of food and non-food items of your choosing. We also carry wipes and diapers for infants and toddlers up to size six.
On a second monthly visit, we offer a partial food request of eggs, bread, milk card and fresh produce available plus a free extras table for you to choose from.
We invite you to come and check out what we offer and take home a supply of food to help your food dollars go further. We are located at the Evangelical Lutheran Church, 776 Rt. 351, Poestenkill, NY 12140. Any questions, call (518) 283-6045 and leave your name and phone number. Come and visit us.
Painting the Town Purple for Alzheimer’s
Please join us on June 23 – 25, as we Paint the Town Purple for Alzheimer’s. Please stop at any of the following locations and a portion of their proceeds will go towards the “2023 Walk to end Alzheimer’s.”
UNBREAKABLE NUTRITION *
AVERILL PERK *
BRAD’S PIZZA
SIX CENTER REDEMPTION – Accepting can and bottles all year round.
DOORS OF HOPE – Representative from the Alzheimer’s Association will be available to answer questions.
* Take a chance on one of our amazing raffle baskets at Unbreakable Nutrition & Averill Perk.
Share the Wear Clothing Swap – Troy Climate Action
Revamp your wardrobe and reduce textile waste at Troy Climate Action’s Share the Wear Clothing Swap! Join us on Saturday, July 1st, from 9am to 2pm at the Troy Farmers Market and be part of a sustainable fashion movement. The Clothing Swap is a fantastic opportunity for the community to exchange unused clothes for stylish pieces they’ll love.
This free event welcomes everyone to participate, whether you’re bringing clothes to swap, looking for new additions to your closet, or simply interested in learning more about divesting from fast fashion. Explore a diverse selection of pre-loved clothing items and discover hidden gems without spending a dime. Our aim is to create a sustainable resource for the community, and your participation plays a crucial role.
Don’t worry if you’re unable to contribute clothes; your presence and support are equally valuable. However, if you have gently worn clothes that deserve a second chance, we encourage you to donate them at the event. Every item donated contributes to reducing waste and supporting local charities.
Let’s take a stand against the fast fashion industry and divert clothing from ending up in landfills. Together, we can make a positive impact on our environment and promote a more conscious approach to fashion. Join us at the Troy Farmers Market and be part of the change!
See you there! Together, let’s reshape fashion’s future, one swap at a time.
Hope Lutheran Announces Operation Restoration VBS – Aug 7-11 8:30 – 12:30
MENDING as opposed to FIXING is about making things whole again, even if they look a little (or a lot) different than they did before. Kids will explore how mending means taking the pieces from something that is broken and putting them back together. As a community, we can practice gathering what’s been torn apart and working together to form something new and whole.
As always, there will be MUSIC! Bible Stories! Creative Activities! Nature/Science and Service Learning! Arts and Crafts! Restorative Yoga! And of course, SNACKS! There will also be parachute fun and maybe even some water balloons! We will hear stories about Jesus Feeding Thousands, the Good Samaritan, and Joseph Forgiving His Brothers. We will explore the Psalms, Prayer, and Parables! all in kid-friendly ways that help them learn to be kind, forgiving, and thoughtful. On Friday at noon, we invite families to join us to share some of the songs and ideas we’ve experienced. Our celebration is followed by an ice cream social! A registration form is available at the church’s website: Hopelc.org. Children ages 4 (potty-trained) thru 12 are most welcome.
As always, Vacation Bible School at Hope Lutheran is FREE! Our offering each day will be non-perishable food to donate to local food pantries which are in desperate need of supplies. We hope to see LOTS of returning campers as well as new ones in August. For questions or additional information, please email Marilyn Dyer (Mama Mare) at dyermm48@nullgmail.com. Hope is located at 470 Wintr St Ext in Defreestville.
East Greenbush CSD Launches New Online Registration Form
In an effort to simplify the Registration process and make it more user friendly for parents and guardians, the East Greenbush Central School District has launched a new online registration form.
Parents/guardians can register their child online at any time, whether the child is a new student transferring from another school district (K-12) or they will be entering as a Kindergarten student in the future.
To learn more, visit www.egcsd.org/register.
The Anchor Food Pantry
The Anchor Food Pantry would like to advise that if you cannot make it to the Anchor, we have 2 locations at Schodack Town Hall-Town Clerks Office and Castleton Village Hall during business hours for these municipal locations, to drop off food items in the bins provided.
Also you can redeem and donate bottles/cans for credit to our account at 6cent redemption center located on 9J -Rensselaer. Just inform staff to credit the Anchor Food Pantry account. As always we thank the Schodack Community for their past and continued support in our efforts to help those in these uncertain economic times.
Columbia High School Annual 70’s Reunion
Mark your calendar for the annual CHS 70’s Reunion on Saturday, August 19, 2023 at the Schodack Island State Park – noon until dusk. 1970-1979 attendees/graduates/teachers – but ALL alumni are welcome! $20 entry fee includes food, provided by the Committee members.
Join our Facebook page: Columbia High School 70’s Reunion for more info and updates OR contact Caroline Lynch Zeyak at elvis628@nullfairpoint.net. Spread the word – see you there!
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.