Thursday April 25, 2024 
News From Averill Park CSD
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the United States and a brand-new basketball court with lines for Pickleball is coming to Poestenkill Elementary School (PES). The Town of Poestenkill has secured donations for materials to create the new court at zero impact to taxpayers. During the day, students will utilize the new court. When school is not in session, on evenings, and on weekends, the community will be allowed to use the space. Thank you to all involved in making this project happen.
The Algonquin Middle School SL@AMS Club met recently to make birthday cards for homeless children, as part of their yearlong effort to bring birthday joy to those in need. Great job everyone, keep up the good work!
Congratulations to Bailee Lange for being named a Suburban Council Second Team All-Star in varsity soccer!
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
Friends of Fort Crailo Annual Meeting
Join us at the Friends of Fort Crailo’s annual meeting, to be held on Saturday, November 5th, at 12:30 pm at the Rensselaer Public Library. The Friends are dedicated to supporting the mission of Crailo State Historic Site: to preserve and interpret the Dutch Albany past for current and future generations. The annual meeting is a prime opportunity to learn more about the work undertaken by the group, how to become a member, and what volunteer opportunities are available at the site.
After a general business meeting, the public is invited to join us at 2:00 pm for speaker David Voorhees, director of the Jacob Leisler Institute, who will talk about the work undertaken by the Jacob Leisler Institute in Hudson, NY. New York State has a rich history dating back thousands of years, however, the 109-year period under English rule, when the region’s diverse Indigenous, European, and African populations combined to created a cosmopolitan, turbulent society with ties throughout the Atlantic World, remains understudied. This talk will focus on the creation of the Jacob Leisler Institute for the Study of Early New York History and its mission to collect, preserve, and disseminate information relating to this formative period. This program is free to the public. Rensselaer Public Library is located at 676 East Street. For more information, please call Crailo at (518) 463-8738.
Sand Lake Ambulance Finishing Up It’s 2022 Fund Drive
Sand Lake Ambulance (SLA), is finishing up its 2022 Annual Fund Drive in the Town of Sand Lake. Mailers should have arrived. We apologize for the timing, the slips were not supposed to coincide with tax bills. SLA is close to reaching its ambitious goal of $37,000 but it needs your help to go over the top.
It has certainly been a challenging time but we are still here although things like Covid have made it difficult to stay open. Inflation is tough on everyone and that includes us. As you can imagine filling an Ambulance with gas is getting brutal and the prices on all our other equipment and maintenance fees are skyrocketing as well.
Remember, it is your generous support, which is greatly appreciated, that goes a long way toward keeping this service available in the town.
Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish is Open
The Book Nook at Transfiguration Parish on Hillview Drive in Speigletown is open on Saturday, November 5 and November 19 from 9:00 am until noon. There are a lot of new donations appearing on the shelves, so please stop by and begin stocking up on your winter reading.
Clive Cussler and Fern Michaels are the BOGO free authors for the month. Donations are accepted at the parish during office hours (M-Th 9-2).
Please do not drop off donations outside of the church. Thanks for your continued support and see you at The Book Nook!
Capital District Chapter Columbiettes November Meeting
On Sunday, November 6th, 2022, The Capital District Chapter Columbiettes will host their November Chapter Meeting at 1:30 pm at the Waterford Knights of Columbus Council #237 , 76 Grace Street, Waterford, 12188. (Directions 787 exit at Rt 32/N, Cohoes Rd/ Saratoga Street, turn left at Vanderwerken Avenue continue to Grace Street. From the North Rt 32 South to Vanderwerken Avenue continue to Grace Street,).
Capital District Chapter President, Linda Cotch will preside!
Deck the Halls – Muitzeskill & Schodack Landing
Join your neighbors to celebrate the holidays. Decorate your home between 11/25/2022 – 1/1/2023. Register your street address by 12/9/2022 at 4cpmuitzeskill@nullgmail.com to win prizes and to be included on a list of decorated homes. The list of street addresses will be publicized. Prizes will be awarded by random drawing from registered addresses.
This event is organized by The Four Corners Partnership. The mission of The Partnership is to promote and provide quality activities and services that will contribute to the physical, emotional and social well-being of our community. FB.com/FCPcommunityhouse.
WGU Announces Scholarships for NYS Teachers
The Teachers College at nonprofit Western Governors University’s (WGU) School of Education will mark American Education Week (Nov. 14-19, 2022) by announcing its WGU Loves Teachers and Become a Teacher scholarship programs for current and future education professionals who wish to pursue bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in the Teachers College.
Each WGU Loves Teachers and Become a Teacher scholarship is valued up to $4,000 and designed to help current teachers improve their skill set in the classroom or move into administration, and support future teachers in obtaining the required credentials to start a rewarding career as an educator.
As the 2022-23 school year began, school districts across New York state reported significantly more unfilled teaching jobs than usual. The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) union estimates that 180,000 teachers will need to be hired in New York over the next 10 years. Recruiting for the state’s teacher pipeline is crucial with NYSUT also projecting 87,000 retirements within five years.
WGU is doing its part to address this growing concern, graduating 1,414 New York–based students from the Teachers College. The university’s licensure preparation programs in the state include special education, sciences and mathematics, all of which have been identified by the New York State Education Department as subject shortage areas.
“Children across New York deserve well-trained educators who reflect their diverse communities,” said Rebecca Watts, Ph.D., who oversees New York state as Northeast Regional Vice President of WGU. “These scholarships won’t just open doors to new career opportunities. They’ll create role models for New York’s K-12 students — especially among aspiring teachers who would otherwise not have the time, resources or support to pursue that goal.”
New and enrolling WGU students may apply by December 31, 2022 for the WGU Loves Teachers scholarship or the Become a Teacher scholarship by visiting wgu.edu/aew.
Bread of Life Food Pantry Donation Request
The “Bread of Life” food pantry in Poestenkill has just begun our 8th year of serving our community and neighbors. As we see food costs rising dramatically, we realize more donations of food will be needed.
When you are shopping for grocery’s, we would greatly appreciate it if you would pick up a few food items to donate to our pantry. Here is a list of our most requested staple food items that our guests want..
Breakfast cereal for adults and kids, sugar, flour, baking oil, bottled apple juice, canned fruit, canned hash, canned chili, ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, cookies and snacks, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, Parmesan cheese, canned baked beans, instant and ground coffee.
Just a few of these items two times a month would be so helpful for our neighbors in need. You may drop them off at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Poestenkill,side entrance in the container. We check it daily and date and shelve each item for our open dates. Please check use by and expiration dates before donating. Thanks so much for your help. Our contact number is (518) 283-6045.
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