Thursday April 18, 2024 
St. Jude the Apostle Knights of Columbus (KOC) Chicken BBQ
Great turnout at the St. Jude’s KOC Chicken BBQ. We served over 130 dinners. All to raise money for activities like Coats for Kids, Food Drives at Thanksgiving, and Adopt a Family at Christmas. Thank you to Steve Giuliano for a great meal, The Cookie Factory for the dinner rolls and Maureen Rogers for the Brownies.
East Side Neighborhood Tag Sale @ Hope 7 Community Center
Hope 7 Community Center will be participating in the East Side Neighborhood Tag Sale on Saturday, September 10th from 9am-3pm.
Great selections, great prices and a percentage of any food purchased (dine in or take out) from Carol’s place will be donated to Hope 7.
Hope 7 is located at 596 Pawling Ave.
Time to Register for the Sand Lake Garage Sale
SAVE THE DATE! Save your stuff. Sell your stuff. Register now for The annual Sand Lake Town-wide Garage Sale Sat. & Sun., Sept. 17 & 18 sponsored by the Sand Lake Business Association.
You can participate three ways. List your home garage sale and it will be publicized for free in all our social media and on our event map. Join our Vendor Corral open both Sat. & Sun. and rent a booth (two sizes) conveniently located on NY43 (corner of NY 43 & Averill Ave across from Eastview Dr).
Or travel among the home sales and the Vendor Corral to find treasures of all kinds! This is a wonderful opportunity to sell your crafts, antiques, collectibles, and items of all kinds. Great for sport teams, the Scouts, and social organizations too. To register your garage sale or reserve a vendor booth go to www.sandlakebusiness.com. Don’t miss our 2022 event!!
Village Wide Garage Sale
Please come and check out the East Schodack Village wide garage sale on September 10,2022, from 9-3.
This will be on Route 150, Country Route 7, and side roads like East Hill road and more. Check for signs.
Always have some great bargains!
The Nassau Sunshine Fund Wants You!!
Do you have time to give back to your community? Do you want to help your neighbors in need? The Nassau Sunshine Fund is looking for interested people to join our Board of Directors.
We are a charitable organization that has been making no interest emergency loans since 2009 to people who live within the Town of Nassau as determined by the tax map. All of the funds to make these loans come from loan repayments and donations. All loan application and repayment information is kept strictly confidential. The Board of Directors meets every other month and decides how loans are processed, how funds are raised, how the community is informed of this program and how our organization collaborates with other local charitable groups. During the pandemic we had been meeting using Zoom; we have recently returned to the Nassau Free Library for meetings on the first Thursday evening, every other month. We have a website where you may read more information about how we started and what we have done since the beginning.
Please learn about our organization at www.nassausunshinefund.org and consider joining our Board of Directors. Potential Board members are welcome to attend a meeting beforehand. You may use the Contact tab at our website to send a message; you may also send a request for information to Nassau Sunshine Fund, PO Box #10, Nassau, NY 12123.
We look forward to including you in our “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” efforts.
Woodlawn Cemetery Annual Meeting
The Woodlawn Cemetery Association, Inc. 111 Burden Lake Road, East Schodack will hold their Annual Meeting on Tuesday evening September 13, 2022 at 6:30pm at the East Schodack Fire House, 3071 NY Route 150 in East Schodack.
On the agenda will be the report of the Treasurer, discussion of general upkeep of the cemetery, including costs, election of Officers and Trustees as well as any other business that comes before the Association.
Donations for mowing, and upkeep of the fountain, are greatly appreciated and can be sent to Woodlawn Cemetery Assoc. Inc P.O. Box 14, East Schodack, NY 12063
All lot owners or their designated representatives are encouraged to attend, and your participation is most welcome. This is your opportunity to be part of the decision making concerning your cemetery. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact President Frank Curtis at 518-766-3318, or mail your comments or questions to Woodlawn Cemetery Association.
Brunswick Historical Society- Annual Bake/Tag Sale
Brunswick Historical Society is looking for vendors for our Annual Tag sale on September 10, 2022. Rain or shine.
We are located at 605 Brunswick Rd in Eagle Mills. We will be offering a limited number of spaces (1)- 8×10 for free. Don’t miss out. Sign up now.
Contact Tracy for more information at 518-279-3020 or email at president@nullbhs-ny.org.
Power Lunch Needs Reading Mentors
Do you enjoy reading to children? Do you have an hour a week to spare? Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs volunteer reading mentors for the Everybody WINS! Power Lunch program at
Van Rensselaer Elementary in Rensselaer as well as School 2 and School 14 in Troy.
Everybody Wins! is an innovative reading and mentoring program that increases children’s prospects for success in school and in life. Power Lunch pairs elementary school children one-to-one with volunteers from nearby businesses, colleges and the community. Once a week, reading partners enjoy conversation together at the school, and the adult reads a book aloud to the child while he/she eats lunch.
Readers will be required to attend a training session. The first one will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 1:00p.m – 2:30 p.m. in Troy (location TBD). Other training dates will be announced. To register or for more information, contact (518) 244-4650 or litvoldirector@nullaol.com
Circles of Mercy Offers Thanks and Gratitude!
We continued to be simply amazed by the contributions of assorted school supplies that were received for the Cate’s Kids Back to School program.
The supplies have been donated by many friends of Circles of Mercy. In addition to St. Pius X Parish and St. Mary’s Church Clinton Heights, we offer special thanks to the parishioners from St. Michael’s Troy, St. John’s/St. Joseph’s Rensselaer, also the So. Rensselaer County Rotary, Maria College, County Waste, and the Christ Child Society, as well as many groups and individual donors. Thank you to everyone for your ongoing kindness and generosity.
As a result of receiving these donations we were able to provide back packs filled with needed school supplies to Circles of Mercy client families, children from CEO Rensselaer Family Resource Center Head Start Program, the Rensselaer United Methodist Church, the Southern Rensselaer County Boys and Girls Club and the Anchor Food Pantry.
We are Mercy and in this together – thanks again!
Sand Lake Historical Society Fall 2022 Program
The Sand Lake Historical Society has announced its program schedule for Fall 2022. Except as noted, all public programs are held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY 66, Averill Park, and begin at 7pm. A $5 donation is suggested for non-members.
On September 13, 2022, Sand Lake Historian Bob Moore will provide his annual update. This will be followed, on October 11th, with a program by Troy City Historian Kathy Sheehan on Gilded Age Troy (and the filming of the HBO series), to be held at the Sand Lake Center for the Arts (2880 NY 43, Averill Park). November 15th will feature Heather Bruegl, Indigenous consultant, historian, and Oneida/Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation member who will speak about Sand Lake’s earliest inhabitants. Our members-only Holiday Gathering returns to the Knowlson House on December 13th and January 10th will be another installment of “Show and Tell” where the community is asked to share “what’s in their attic”, as any recent findings of historical research.
Additional information and archived video of past programs are posted to the SLHS website – https://sandlakehistory.org/ and on our Facebook page.
Art Call for an Averill Park Exhibition
aGatherin’ is sponsoring a third Art Exhibition with Arts Letters & Numbers: “Erie, Eerie, Aerie, Wired, Weird & Wild – Art at the Border of Strange” to open October 26 for 3 days.
Inspired by the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal – that audacious slice through New York State – we choose the season of All Hallows Eve, to host art works in all media, representational or performative. The exhibition will be mounted at the Faith Mills Studios in Averill Park.
Deadline for proposals is October 1; deadline for delivery of material October 22. Contact Diane DeBlois, agatherin@nullyahoo.com.
Can You Help a Neighbor in Your Community?
Our volunteers provide older neighbors with friendly calls, visits, transportation to medical appointments, and grocery shopping. With just a little extra help from our volunteers, clients remain independent and in their own homes. We provide our services at no cost in Albany and Rensselaer Counties.
Here are some ways in which a volunteer can help:
Transportation: Rides to essential medical appointments and grocery stores..
Shopping: Accompanying a neighbor to the store or doing the shopping from a client’s list for groceries, prescriptions and personal items.
Friendly Phone Calls: Reassurance phone calls to provide an opportunity for conversation and socialization. Like a “friendly visit” but over the phone.
Friendly Home Visits: Weekly or biweekly visits to homebound people to provide social contact, as well as emotional and psychological support. Visits may include trips out into the community for activities (walks, local events, etc.)
Occasional Chores: Lawnmowing, assistance with household organization.
INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE? GIVE US A CALL OR SEND US A NOTE!
Phone 518-456-2898
Email: meredith@nullcommunitycaregivers.org
Refugee Welcome Center Seeking Playgroup Volunteers
The Refugee Welcome Center in Albany is looking for playgroup volunteers. We have a playgroup for preschoolers while their moms are in English class. You just need to like little kids, no education required. Our program starts back up in September. You can volunteer 1 or more days a week.
It’s only for a couple of hours. If you would like to find out more about this opportunity, please call Kasey at (518) 795-5678.
APHS Class of ‘72 Reunión
The Averill Park Class of ‘72 is planning its 50th class reunion to be held on September 24th. If you are a class member and have not submitted your contact information please send details to kakingsbury54@nullyahoo.com to receive event information.
The Anchor Food Pantry
In an effort to keep the citizens of the Town of Schodack informed for ways to aid the Anchor Food Pantry in their mission to help others we mention the following to pitch in.
Food donations of canned goods and tolletries can be dropped off at both Castleton Vilage Hall (lobby area) and Town of Schodack Town Hall at the Town Clerk’s offices drop box during regular business hours. Also 6 cent Redemption Center -9J- 550 South St-Rensselaer NY is accepting bottle/can returns for the Anchor. Just let clerk on duty to credit the Anchor account. As always we thank all for their continued support of the food pantry.
Poestenkill “Bread of Life” Food Pantry
When struggling to purchase enough food to last the month, consider coming to the “Bread of Life” food pantry in Poestenkill.
If you are low income, we are here to help. We are located in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Poestenkill, 772 Route 351, Poestenkill, NY 12140.
Open on the first and third Thursdays of every month from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm both days. Please bring proof of your address in the form of a utility bill or other official documents.
Along with food products, we are offering baby diapers, wipes and food items for infants and toddlers to those who are low income.
We wish to help those in need in and around Poestenkill. You may leave a message at (518) 283-6045. Thank you to all who have donated. If you wish to donate, make checks payable to ELCP and note in the memo “Food Pantry” and mail to ELCP, P.O. Box 167, Poestenkill, NY 12140. We put every dollar to good use.
Hope 7 Food Pantry
TROY – The Hope 7 Food Pantry located at 520 Pawling Avenue, Troy NY serves the East Side of Troy, Wynantskill and Northgreenbush.
Pantry Hours: Mon-Fri – 9:30am-11:45am; Thursday – 5pm-7pm. Last Saturday of each month 9:30am-11:45am
What to bring: Proof of residence (Troy’s East Side, North Greenbush, or Wynantskill) – (utility bill to your address in your name). ID’s for each person residing in household.
St. Jude the Apostle Knights of Columbus Bottle & Can Donations
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!
8 Tips for an Informed Conversation about Domestic Abuse
Domestic abuse, also called Domestic Violence (DV), can be in one or more of these forms – emotional, verbal, financial, sexual and technology-based.
1. NEVER BLAME THE VICTIM: We tend to blame the victim by asking, “What did she/he do, to be treated that way?” We don’t ask this question to other victims. Instead, we need to ask: “why does he/she choose to abuse?”. Let the victim know that the abuse is not their fault and they deserve safety and respect.
2. TRUST THE VICTIM’S PERSPECTIVE: Often, abusers deny their partners, the right to make their own choices. Taking a victim-centered approach by prioritizing their needs and wants, empowers them. Ask the victims what they need to feel safe and offer the desired support.
3. LET YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS KNOW THAT DV IS NOT A “PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER.” DV is a crime under the Violence Against Women Act of 1994/96 which affords equal protection to women and men. One in three women and one in four men will be a victim of severe physical violence in their lifetime. Victims of DV are in every age, economic status, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion and education. They are the family members, neighbors, coworkers or friends of some of us.
4. CHALLENGE THE WIDELY-HELD MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DV: “why doesn’t the victim just leave?”, “only physical violence is DV” and “it’s a private, family matter”. We need to be aware of multiple hurdles to leaving, for example – the safety of children & pets, financial security, and reaction from the family and community.
5. HOLD THE OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE: If it is safe to do so, impose social consequences on the abusers, like telling them they’re not welcome for the family dinner or to hang out, until their abusive behavior stops. Stop condoning their abusive behavior by saying “boys will be boys” or “that person would never abuse.” Family, friends and community members telling the offenders that their behavior is abusive, is a powerful deterrent against DV.
6. COUNTER THE STEREOTYPES: We need to counter inequalities and rigid gender roles like sexism and racism and educate the youth to reject these ‘-isms’.
7. BE AWARE THAT ABUSE IS ROOTED IN POWER AND CONTROL: Strategically isolating the victims from family and friends is a common tactic of the abuser, to gain power and control. Abusers may trap their partners by withholding, lying about or hiding financial assets which are forms of financial abuse.
8. WE CAN PREVENT DOMESTIC ABUSE WITH EDUCATION AND ACTION. These are some of the ways: start an informed conversation about DV with your loved ones, support the local DV agencies by donating your time and money and giving wide publicity to the 24/7 DV Hotlines, to make them as well-known as ‘911’. These agencies provide confidential and comprehensive services to the victims: empathy, guidance, counseling, legal and safe shelter support for the entire family.
Equinox 518.432.7865
Unity House 518. 272.2370
YWCA of NENY 518.374.3386
Wellspring 518.584.8188
National Hotline (800) 799-7233
St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services 518-271-3257
How to Prevent ‘Domestic Abuse’
Domestic abuse is also called Domestic violence (DV). It is a crime under the Violence Against the Women Act of 1994/96 which affords equal protection to women and men. DV can be emotional, financial, verbal, psychological, physical, sexual, and technology-facilitated abuse. It is affecting millions of individuals across the United States regardless of age, gender, economic status, religion and education. We can prevent DV by spreading awareness, challenging the myths and confronting the abusers.
INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY LEVEL
NEVER BLAME THE VICTIM: We tend to ask “What did the victim do to deserve the abuse?”. Instead, we need to ask: “why does the abuser choose to abuse?”.
TRUST THE VICTIM’S PERSPECTIVE: Listen to and believe the victim to empower them to make their own decisions. Tell the victim that the abuse is not their fault and they deserve safety and respect. Ask them what they need to be safe.
TAKE A CLEAR STAND THAT DOMESTIC ABUSE IS NOT A “PRIVATE FAMILY MATTER.”: One in three women and one in four men will be a victim of severe physical violence at some point in their lifetime. Each day, an average of three women die at the hands of someone who claims or claimed to love them. Every abused person is someone’s sibling, parent, friend or co-worker.
TELL THE VICTIMS about the DV Hotlines: Equinox 518.432.7865; Unity House 518. 272.2370; YWCA NENY 518.374.3386; Wellspring 518.584.8188 and the U.S. National Domestic Violence Hotline 800.799.7233. If the victim is in immediate danger, call 911. Support your community by volunteering or donating to the DV agencies.
CONFRONT THE OFFENDERS: If it is safe, tell them that their abusive behavior is unacceptable. Impose social consequences like not welcoming for family dinner or to hang out, until they stop their abusive behavior. Study ‘bystander intervention training’ on YouTube and put it into practice.
EDUCATE THE CHILDREN AND YOUTH about healthy, unhealthy and abusive relationships. It is some of today’s children who will become tomorrow’s abusers and victims. Discuss DV at the family table and encourage everyone to respectfully speak up without fear when something doesn’t feel right. Set a healthy example by not using coercive measures to control your children’s’ behavior under any circumstance. Be respectful to everyone, irrespective of their age and sex. Losing your ‘cool ‘, is a big “No,’. If parents have difficulty managing their emotions, they need to seek help.
COMMUNITY LEVEL
CHALLENGE THE WIDELY-HELD MYTHS ABOUT DV AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY: That ‘DV’ means only physical violence’, it’s a “private family matter’, ‘the victim is weak’ and the victims can “just leave”. In reality, the woman is at the greatest risk of being hurt or even killed when trying to leave or after leaving. She has to carefully plan her escape, to protect herself, her children and pets and ensure financial security.
CHALLENGE THE MYTH THAT THE ABUSERS “LOSE CONTROL”: Not true. They don’t “lose control” at work, with friends and other family members! Abuse is a conscious choice rooted in power and control over the partner. Challenge the inequalities and ‘isms’ like sexism, racism, classism and patriarchy on which DV thrives.
GIVE SUSTAINED PUBLICITY TO THE DV HOTLINE NUMBERS through all the media until they are as well-known as ‘911’. Make sure DV brochures are always visible at public places like libraries, town halls, workplaces, doctor’s offices, religious places and community centers.
ORGANIZE DV AWARENESS CAMPAIGN EVERY OCTOBER. DV agencies can provide the publicity posters, brochures and speakers.
Hotlines of Domestic Violence Agencies: Equinox 518-432-7865; Unity House 518-272-2370; YWCA NENY 518-374-3386; Wellspring 518-584-8188; National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233; St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services 518-271-3257
Newly Diagnosed with Parkinson’s? Consider Attending PD SELF – Parkinson’s Self-Efficacy Learning Forum
CAPITAL DISTRICT – A national program being offered in Albany. The program provides people newly diagnosed with Parkinson’s with an in-depth understanding of the disease and the tools to manage it with confidence. There is no cost to attend. Registration is required. Space is limited. Care partners are encouraged to attend.
This year the program, starting in September, has been adapted to be fully online. Find out more at www.cdparkinsons.org/pd-self
Knocking out Alzheimer’s
Team “Knocking out Alzheimer’s” is partnering with the Alzheimer’s Association.
Return your bottles and cans and help the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Through an arrangement with
Six-Center Redemption , Two Locations:
461 Main Ave Wynantskill (Corner of Sharpe and Main Ave) & 550 South Street Rensselaer.
No need to count the cans or bottles, no waiting or standing in lines to feed your cans or bottles into a machine.
If you can’t drop off, contact us we will even pick up!
The Alzheimer’s Association will receive six cents for every container you donate to the cause. Simply drop off your containers and say:
“These are for the Alzheimer’s Association.”
The mission of the Alzheimer’s Association is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health.
The first survivor of Alzheimer’s is out there, but we won’t get there without you.
Join the fight with your bottles & cans!
Check us out on face book : Knocking out Alzheimer’s
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