Friday April 19, 2024 
News From Averill Park CSD
Congratulations to Liam Rounds (Class of 2022) for earning a perfect score on a college-level Advanced Placement Exam in spring 2022. Not only did he earn a top score of 5, but he also scored the maximum amount of points on every single portion of the exam. Way to go, Liam!
All five of our buildings are participating in a Warrior Wednesday event each month. September’s theme was Self Awareness with students getting to know themselves, including their likes and dislikes, strengths and challenges, feelings and opinions, and how our mind influences our emotions, words and behaviors. Everyone did a great job during the first Warrior Wednesday of the year!
The Community Education Program is back! Register on the district website for classes such as Co-Ed Volleyball, Indoor Walking, Holiday Project, NYS Defensive Driving, Yoga, Dog Obedience, and more.
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
Special Meeting
Please be advised that The North Greenbush Town Board will have a Special Meeting for the presentation of the 2023 Preliminary Budget. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 3, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. at the North Greenbush Town Offices located at 2 Douglas Street, Wynantskill, New York 12198.
Respectfully submitted, Janice Hannigan Kerwin
Town Clerk, Town of North Greenbush
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.
Watervliet High School Class of 1971 and 1972 50th Reunion
The Watervliet High School Class of 1971 and 1972 are having a joint 50th Class Reunion on Saturday, October 29, 2022.
The event will be held at the Watervliet Elks, 501 4th Avenue, Watervliet NY from 6-10 pm. There will be a hot and cold buffet, DJ and cash bar. Price is $35/per person. Please RSVP by October 8th and join us for an evening of reminiscing, fun, music and food!
For more information, or to pay, please contact Charles Patricelli (cvpatricelli@nullgmail.com) 581-378-4051, or Sue Razzano Lotano (slotano@nullaol.com) 518-360-9945.
Columbia High School 1972 – 50th Reunion
Columbia High School, class of 1972, is holding their 50th Reunion on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at the Rensselaer Elks Lodge, Columbia Tpke., East Greenbush.
If you are a class member and have not been contacted please send information to chseg72@nullgmail.com.
Highlight Acting Troupe to hold Auditions for “A Christmas Ornament”
The Highlight Acting Troupe is pleased to invite you to auditions for their upcoming holiday performance of “A Christmas Ornament” written by Ronald Levan. Auditions will be held on Friday, 9/30 @ 6:30 PM and Sunday, 10/1 @ 2:00PM.
Location: Center Brunswick United Methodist Church Hoosick Road Troy NY
All adults and child ages 7 and are welcome to audition.
Written material will be provided for auditions. Singers are welcome to perform a brief Acapella song if they would like to be considered for a singing role.
Performance dates are December 2, 3, and 4.
For further information please contact Robin Dickinson @ robindickinsonsawyer.com
Doors of Hope Food Pantry and Thrift Store
All of us at the Doors of Hope Food Pantry and Thrift Store would like to thank the wonderful generosity of our communities who continue to amaze us with their generosity. Your donations amaze us both in variety and amounts! Your encouraging words and appreciation of our efforts make us feel that you are all a part of our team. Together, our Food Pantry is thriving and able to meet the needs of all those who request our assistance. We have also been able to send ten children to summer camp this year.
Doors of Hope assists in times of emergencies such as home fires. We help support the Sky High Community Center. When we have an overflow, we donate clothing and other items to local organizations such as Unity House and Grass Roots, as well as other community groups. We organize our yearly adopt-a-family for Christmas and coat collection. The Doors of Hope is open Monday through Friday, 9am to 4pm, and Saturday from 9am to Noon. Doors of Hope is open late until 7pm on Thursday. Be sure to drop by to say “Hi” and browse through our treasures! You never know what you might find and best of all, you’re helping your community at the same time.
Please remember, donations need to be clean and in good condition. Please call (518) 674-4048 before donating furniture to be sure we have space for it. Household goods, toys, holiday items and collectibles are always welcome, but once again, keep in mind that all things must be clean and in good condition. Also, please drop off your donations when the store is open until 3pm, Monday through Friday (until 7pm Thursday), and 11am Saturday. Please do not leave donations outside our door when we are closed. This can at times be overwhelming to deal with at the beginning of our day! With all the community support, and with all the volunteers of Doors of Hope, we are an incredible team, and great things can be accomplished! **Exciting News! We will be expanding soon!
Rensselaer Elks Lodge #2073 Community Awards
Friends,
As you know, Rensselaer Elks Lodge #2073 has been a staple in our local community since 1958. Our focus centers on a few important things. First, we aid the less fortunate. Second, we promote youth activities and scholarship. Third, we support our troops and veterans. And finally, we inspire Americanism, patriotism, and respect for the Flag. Since our inception, we have donated over $1.6 million back to those causes.
Today, we remain equally committed to service to our community. To that end, we would like to bring back the old “Greenbush Award”. This award seeks to recognize local individuals who have gone above and beyond in service to our community. The area in question covers East Greenbush, North Greenbush, Rensselaer, Schodack, Castleton-on-Hudson, Nassau and West Sand Lake. Organizations including fire departments, police departments, civic organizations, fraternal organizations, veterans organizations and churches, among others, are eligible.
We are holding an event at our Lodge on Saturday, November 5th at 6:00 PM to honor the recipients. Only 20 tables of eight will be offered on a first come, first serve basis. The cost per table is $200 and will include a roast beef dinner, live music and a cash bar will also be available.
If you have someone you want to honor for their exceptional work, please sign up for your table and let us know. Only full tables will be offered. RSVP by October 24, 2022 via e-mail at 2073elks@nullgmail.com
We look forward to seeing you there!!
Best regards, Greg Collins
Community Caregivers Announces New AmeriCorps Seniors Program
Community Caregivers announced today that it has received a federal AmeriCorps Seniors Demonstration grant to recruit additional 78 volunteers, age 55 and older, to serve Albany and Rensselaer counties. Volunteers will select from several types of opportunities to serve their community and the number of hours they’re able to commit. This program will expand Community Caregivers’ presence in the Capital Region where it has been providing service opportunities for older Americans since 1994.
Community Caregivers is a nonprofit organization whose volunteers help people in our community who need assistance to be able to continue living safely and with dignity in their own homes as they age. Volunteer service opportunities include providing rides to medical appointments, grocery shopping, brief respite care, friendly home visits and phone calls to clients in need. The new Americorps Seniors program will bring additional service opportunities, including helping out-patient veterans at the VA Hospital, cooking in a commercial kitchen for pop-up soup kitchens, working at local food pantries and administrative office work.
“We are excited for this opportunity and appreciate the recognition at the federal level of the important work Community Caregivers does” said Community Caregivers’ Executive Director, Lee Lounsbury. “Additional volunteers will be able to provide even more services to those in need in the Capital Region through our Neighbors Helping Neighbors approach.”
With this new funding, Community Caregivers will utilize the skills and experience of seniors in the Albany and Rensselaer counties to increase clients social support, capacity for independent living, food security, and access to medical care. These AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers will provide nutrition/food support, companionship, transportation, respite services, referrals, education/training, and outreach.
AmeriCorps Volunteers are eligible to receive a stipend for their services if they meet age and income eligibility requirements. Anyone interested in applying to become a trained AmeriCorps Volunteer should contact Community Caregivers at americorps@nullcommunitycaregivers.org to learn more and sign up for an orientation session.
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.
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.
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 North Greenbush.
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!
FREE Helplines 24/7
ALCOHOLISM, DRUG ABUSE AND PROBLEM GAMBLING 877-846-7369 or Text 467369.
CHILD ABUSE is when a person does serious physical injury, creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury or engages in sex with a child in their care and when a caregiver allows someone else to abuse the child in their care in a similar manner. 518- 474-8740.
CRISIS FOR FOOD, HEALTH, HOUSING, HUMAN TRAFFICKING, EMPLOYMENT AND TRANSPORTATION: For non-emergency help for paying your bills or to help someone, get the most up-to-date information by calling United Way 3-digit number -211.
DOMESTIC ABUSE of an intimate partner is ‘ridiculing, humiliating, putdowns, isolating, manipulating, ordering, intimidating, threatening, beating, sexual coercion and controlling money’. The abused person, family member or friend can anonymously call one or more of these agencies: Unity House 518-272-2370; Equinox 518-432-7865; St. Peter’s Crime Victim Services 518-271-3257; YWCA NENY 518-374-3386; Wellspring 518-584-8188; National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233.
HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE WITH RELATIONSHIPS: Dating, personal safety and supporting others. 866-331-9474 or Text ‘LOVEIS’ to 22522.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING: Human trafficking crime occurs when a trafficker uses fraud or coercion against a person to solicit labor or engage in commercial sex acts. If the person engaged in commercial sex is under 18 years, it is a crime even when force, fraud, or coercion is not used. 888-373-7888 or Text 233733.
SEXUAL ASSAULT: Eight out of 10 sexual assaults are committed by someone who knows the victim. Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network 800-656.4673; Albany County sexual assault hotline 518-447-7716.
SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE offers confidential crisis and prevention resources for people in distress and their loved ones. Call 988 or 800-273-8255.
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