Thursday May 2, 2024 
Sand Lake Baptist Church Strawberry Festival – A Huge Success!
Sand Lake Baptist Church would like to say “Thank you” to the estimated 400+ people who came out in the rain to attend this year! Another big “Thank you” to all those who volunteered to help out. It was a blessing to have Kevin Post from Youth For Christ come in and lend a hand. If you didn’t get a chance to say “Hi” to Kevin, he will be coming back for a return visit to deliver a wonderful message on July 9th during our regular Sunday service at 11 am.
If the Spirit moves you this Sunday, July 2nd, we will have Pastor Chuck Mosher from Hancock Baptist Church in Massachusetts visiting to deliver an awesome message. Again, all are welcome.
Another big “Thank you” goes out to Brother Gary Blauvelt for supplying live music at the Festival! His rendition of “Amazing Grace” to the tune of “House of the Rising Sun” was absolutely awesome! Brother Gary will be returning on Thursday evenings at 6 pm as the instructor to our 6 part (weekly) Bible Study series called, “A Case For Christ.” If you missed last week, there’s still time to be involved. The first session was mostly an introduction, so if it’s something you are interested in, session 2 starts at 6 pm, June 29th. We hope to see you there! There is no cost to attend.
The “Thank you” list wouldn’t be complete without recognizing the other adults and young adults who were there to help out in any way they were needed; Linda Warren, Steven Shoemaker, Shawn Chamberlain, Ariana Chamberlain, Evan, Talia & Isabel Moore and Lucas Nobre Geise. All of you were amazing!
The greatest “Thanks” is to our Lord and Savior, for giving us all of these blessings and so much more on a daily basis. May He continue to bless all of you as he has blessed us.
Faithfully submitted, Deacon Russ
News From Averill Park CSD
Congratulations to all of the Averill Park Central School District Class of 2023 graduates! Our students have consistently impressed us with their accomplishments inside and outside of the classroom over the years and we cannot wait to see what they do after graduation. Congratulations to the Class of 2023 and good luck in all of your future endeavors!
The Averill Park Central School District won three awards from the National School Public Relations Association for excellence in school communications. The top award in each category is the Award of Excellence. Awards of Merit followed by Honorable Mentions are also given in each category. Averill Park CSD earned an Award of Excellence for the Averill Park Magazine, as well as Awards of Merit for the Every Student Every Day Podcast, and the Averill Park High School Profile.
We hope that everyone has a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer vacation. See you in September!
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
Bethlehem Grange 137 Raffle Announcement
SELKIRK – Residential “Hannay Reel” Hose Reel
The Bethlehem Grange #137 is raffling a residential hose reel, generously donated by “Hannay Reel” out of Westerlo, N.Y.
The company is the leading manufacturer of hose and cable reels for fire/rescue, LP gas, petroleum and aviation fuel delivery. Although, they produce the garden reels, typically, they focus on the larger reels. So…..for the price of a raffle ticket, it could be uniquely yours. This hose reel is retailed at $510 and is stainless steel powder coated.
**** You can purchase a raffle ticket at any one of our events,Call Charles at 518-227-8954 , or Jackie at 518-810-6031 to purchase tickets. The cost is $2 for one or $5 for three tickets. The drawing for this raffle is September 21st after our barbeque.
We accept recyclable bottles and cans in the donation box. Proceeds from the bottles and cans goes towards the maintenance of our Historic Grange Hall, which is also on the National Historic Registry. Clothing, including men’s, ladies, and children’s clothing, shoes, boots, purses, belts, linens, stuffed animals, curtains, etc., are accepted in our Clothing Shed, open 24/7. We also collect non-perishable Food for the Food Pantry, used eye glasses and used hearing aids for the Lions Club. We also collect pull tabs from soda, beer, soup, seafood items and pet food, and hotel sample sized toiletries or trial sizes, which are then donated to the Ronald McDonald House. Bethlehem Grange 137 also accepts worn and tattered American Flags. Flags can be dropped off 24/7 in our Flag Collection Box in the front of our Grange Hall. We are also a chapter of Stars for our Troops. Bethlehem Grange is located at 24Bridge St., Selkirk, NY 12158
Red Cross Blood Drive
Red Cross Blood Drive at the First United Methodist Church, 1 Gilligan Rd., East Greenbush.
Saturday, July 15, 2023. 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
To schedule an appointment please contact the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS, or visit redcrossblood.org using sponsor code: eastgreenbush
YOUR DONATION CAN SAVE A LIFE.
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.
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.
Made By Hand With Love Outreach Mission
New: Summer Project Every Wednesday Evening- July 12-Aug 30, 6:00-7:30 PM, Room 16 at First United Methodist Church, 1 Gilligan Rd., East Greenbush.
Everyone, any age, is invited to help us make SOFT HATS for kids with cancer (hatsgiving.org). Hats will be sewn, knitted or crocheted. Learn a new skill or teach it to others. If your child is attending Vacation Bible School this is a perfect time for you to stay and chat with our group. Materials will be supplied.
Please contact us if you have questions. reginagwheeler@nullgmail.com aleta.schweigert@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.
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 Class of 1973 50th REUNION Update and Call For Help!
Attention all Columbia High School (CHS) Class of ‘73 Classmates! We’re holding our 50th reunion on October 7, 2023 at the Rensselaer Elks Lodge in East Greenbush starting at 5PM. You can join our ColumbiaHSClassof1973 Facebook group to get evolving reunion info and class news at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/columbiahsclassof1973. We need your help to reach everyone in our class and we hope you all will be there!
Please send us your contact info and that of any CHS-73 classmates, so we can share reunion details with everyone as they become available. We need your: Name (First – Maiden & Last Name), Mailing address, Email address and Cell phone &/or other phone #’s. Call Dom Indelicato @ 518 573-5227 if you have any ideas or questions and email us your contact info at ColumbiaClassof73@nullgmail.com .
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!
Rensselaer County 4-H Offers Food Preservation Workshops For Youth
The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County 4-H Development Program is holding two food preservation workshops for youth. Both workshops will be held at the Troy Senior Center, 1520 6th Ave., Troy.
These workshops are for youth who are 8 years and older. There is a registration fee of $10.00 for 4-H members, and $15.00 for non-members for each workshop. The first workshop will be held on Monday, July 17th at 6:00pm, and youth will make a Mixed Fruit Jam. The second workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 2nd at 6:00pm, and youth will be making Dilly Beans.
Pre-registration is required and registration will be limited. To register a youth, or for more information, please contact Eileen at emd32@nullcornell.edu.
For more information about this and other programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County, please call 518-272-4210. No one shall be denied the opportunity to participate or receive information based on their ability to pay. If you have special needs that we can accommodate please let us know at the time of your call.