Your Community 12.29.22

Recruiting AmeriCorps Volunteers 55+

CAPITAL DISTRICT – Community Caregivers has partnered with AmeriCorps Seniors and is actively recruiting volunteers who are 55+ join a national volunteer movement and help their neighbors.

Our volunteers provide support, at no charge, to older adults and individuals who need help to live safely and independently in their own homes. There are several flexible opportunities available such as grocery shopping and transportation. We currently serve Albany and Rensselaer counties.

For those that meet the income guidelines, there is even a modest stipend available.   

If your organization currently utilizes volunteers and would like to find out how we can partner or if you’re interested and have questions, please send us a note at americorps@nullcommunitycaregivers.org .
Also, Visit Community Caregivers at www.communitycaregivers.org.

Power Lunch Reading Mentors Are Needed in Troy

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs volunteer reading mentors for the Everybody WINS! Power Lunch program at School 14 in Troy. A free training will be held on Wednesday, January 4th. 1:00-2:30 pm at Hart Hall, 71 First Street, Troy NY.

Power Lunch increases children’s chances for success in school and in life through positive reading experiences with caring adults. Elementary school children are paired one-to-one with volunteer mentors from local businesses, colleges and the community. Volunteers read aloud to their reading partner once a week during lunchtime. Everybody WINS! mentors meet with students at School 14 and School 2 in Troy, and at Van Rensselaer Elementary in Rensselaer.

For more information about EW Power Lunch! and LVORC’s other programs and services, visit www.lvorc.org or call (518) 244-4650.

SHAC Community Center News & Thanks

During this holiday season we are grateful for the support of the community. This fall, our community has been making generous contributions towards our Annual Fund to help heat and winterize the Sky High Adventure Community Center (SHAC Center) at 27 Lake Avenue in Averill Park. We will now be able to continue programming year round thanks to the renovations made thanks to the generosity of our donors, volunteers, committee and board members. 

Since our soft opening of the SHAC Center in June of 2021, dedicated volunteers have also been creating programs and offering services for residents of Averill Park and surrounding communities. Future plans include services for veterans, seniors, and families needing after school programs and daycare, HVCC continuing Ed classes and much more.

Please take notice that it has come to our attention that many items mailed to us have not arrived at our address due to a clerical error not in our control. We believe the problem has been fixed with the help of the US Post Office, Postal Inspectors and the Inspector General’s Office. If you have sent a donation and did not receive an acknowledgement letter from us, this means that we did not receive your donation and would ask that you contact us at info@<SHACcenter.org or call 518-674-6348. 

Sky High Adventure Center, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and donations are tax deductible. We are grateful for every donation big and small and we are putting every penny of it to good use. 

If you have not made a donation yet, please consider making a donation online at www.SHACcenter.org/donations or you can scan the QR code below.

Sky High Adventure Center Inc
27 Lake Avenue,
Averill Park, New York 12018

www.SHACcenter.org | 518-674-6348

Averill Park CSD Announces Kindergarten Registration for 2023-24

The Averill Park School District has begun the process of registering boys and girls for the 2023-24 Kindergarten Classes. If you, or someone you know, has a child who will be 5 years of age on or before December 1, 2023 please contact the district registrar at 674-7050 extension 7201 to make sure that the child is listed on our school census. This will guarantee that you will receive all upcoming kindergarten information by mail. Registration paperwork will be started online and completed by appointment with the district registrar at the district office at the Averill Park High School during the month of February. Registration hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Registration forms are accepted by appointment. All paperwork must be completed by 02-28-2023.

New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164, requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter kindergarten and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child has all the needed immunizations. They are listed below.

Required Immunizations for Kindergarten (Number of Doses)

*Polio 4 (3 doses if 3 rd dose received after 4 th birthday)

*Hepatitis B 3

*Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis 5 (4 doses if 4th dose received after 4th birthday)

*Measles/Mumps/Rubella 2

*Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2

Age Requirements

Children who are five years of age on or before December 1, 2023 are eligible to attend Kindergarten this September. As a parent you have an option to enroll your child in school at age five or withhold your child until the school year in which he/she turns six. Children born between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18 must attend kindergarten in the coming school year. Children born between 7/1/18 and 12/1/18 may attend during the 2023-2024 school year or may wait until the following year.

Sand Lake “Show & Tell” Returns

The January 10th Sand Lake Historical Society program presents … you (or your neighbor)! Check your attic, your junk drawer, or that box on the top shelf of your closet – who knows what you’ll find? And bring it to “Sand Lake Show and Tell.” 

We’re looking for artifacts, photos, documents of Sand Lake’s history – or yours. Maybe old posters, printed placemats, souvenir plates, yearbooks, postcards – who knows? New for 2023: if you’ve been working on any locally-based historical research (a popular Covid pastime!) please come and share it.

Sand Lake Historical Society programs are held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY 66, Averill Park, beginning at 7PM. SLHS monthly programs are open to the public and are livestreamed on the SLHS website — http://sandlakehistory.org (archived video will also be posted there). 

A $5 donation is suggested for non-members. New members are always welcomed. Like us on Facebook.

Columbia Student Nominated for U.S. Presidential Scholar Program

Columbia High School senior Akkhil Morkonda is one of 25 New York State high school seniors to be nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, according to the NYS Education Department. Presidential Scholar recognition is one of the nation’s highest honors for high school students.

The program makes selections annually based on academics, school evaluations, transcripts, community service, leadership, and demonstrated commitment to high ideals.

“It’s quite an honor,” Morkonda said of his selection.

Morkonda is a High Honor Roll student, a member of the Math League and MasterMinds, and he was inducted into the Science National Honor Society this fall. He also competes on the Columbia Science Olympiad team, winning a sliver medal at the 2022 NYS Championships.

This past summer, he completed an internship as a technical assistant at a hospital in India.

Application to the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is by invitation only. Students chosen as U.S. Presidential Scholars receive a U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion in June.

“I sincerely appreciate the nomination of Akkhil Morkonda from my Assembly District that was put forth by Commissioner Betty Rosa as part of an elite group of students for the Presidential Scholars program,” said Assemblymember John T. McDonald III, who represents a portion of the East Greenbush CSD in the state legislature.

After graduating from Columbia in June, Morkonda plans to attend a four-year university and study biomedical engineering.

“Akkhil is a compassionate and thoughtful person who has a positive impact on anyone he encounters each day,” said Columbia Principal Michael Harkin. “It has been a pleasure being his principal and I look forward to his impact on the world in the future.”

Goff Middle School Cafeteria Begins Composting Program

Howard L. Goff Middle School in East Greenbush began a composting project earlier this month. As part of the project, students scrape leftover food on their lunch trays into a composting bin beside the trash can. Over a two-week period, 320 pounds of food scraps were collected. The scraps were dumped into a FoodScraps360 truck and then brought to the Town of Bethlehem’s Commercial Composting Facility where it is transformed into compost. 

Composting is a controlled process that converts organic materials into a nutrient-rich soil through decomposition, according to the EPA. It aids agriculture and landscapers by providing compost as fertilizer, but it also has environmental benefits, lowering greenhouse gases by “preventing methane emissions.”

The Composting Project began as an idea in the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and then became a Participation in Government project submitted by Columbia High School seniors this past school year. Those students included Kaiden Ring ’22, Jalena Kirkorian ’22, Maddie Hoffman ’22, Bella Condo ’22 and Faith Webb ’22.

“I am so excited to see a student-created public policy action plan put into place in our district,” said Participation in Government teacher Kelley Sheraw. “This shows kids that they can create and make change in our society.”

Now that the project has become a reality, Goff students are getting involved.

Students in Goff’s Garden Club and DOME Club created an instructional video for their classmates on how to compost. They are also assisting in the cafeteria during lunch periods.

Colleen Wise, the Food Service Manager who is helping with the project, said there are plans to add composting at Columbia later this winter.

“Food waste is a common challenge for school meal programs,” Mrs. Wise said. “We are excited to partner with FoodScraps360 to implement a composting program that will turn our food waste into a valuable resource.”

Sand Lake Historical Society Announces 2023 Schedule

SLHS will be presenting the following public programs, from January to June 2023:

January 10th, Sand Lake “Show & Tell” Returns! Check your attic, your junk drawer, or that box on the top shelf of your closet – who knows what you’ll find? We’re looking for artifacts, photos, old documents of Sand Lake’s history – or yours. New for 2023: if you’ve been working on any locally-based historical research (a popular Covid pastime!) please share it.

February 14th, Edmonia Lewis. East Greenbush Town Historian Bobbie Reno will discuss Edmonia Lewis, noted American sculptor of mixed African American and Native American heritage, born right here in Rensselaer County. You’ve seen her on a postage stamp, now come hear her story.

March 14th, The Rensselaer Glassworks. Phil Bernnard of the National Bottle Museum will discuss Rensselaer Glassworks, one of Sand Lake’s early industries (and gave us “Glass Lake”). Hear the history of the works, the succession of owners, and the technology of 18th and 19th century glassmaking. Phil is asking attendees to bring any “Glass Lake glass” specimens they have, too.

April 11th, Covid-19 History Project. Committee report and presentations and a sharing of experiences from the SLHS Covid History Project. Let’s make Covid history!

May 9th, Annual Meeting. Elections, annual report to the membership – and more!

June 3rd, (tentative) Annual Gala. Final date and location to be announced. Don’t miss this highlight of our year!

June 13th, The Pretty Fantastic Mr. Fox. Albert Rodmond Fox, industrialist, glassworks owner, State Senator, mover-and-shaker, and the Fox who gave us Fox Mansion. Learn about one of Sand Lake’s early leaders and speculate on why we live in Averill Park and not “Foxboro.”

All SLHS programs (unless otherwise noted) are held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY Rte. 66, Averill Park, beginning at 7:00 pm. More information at http://sandlakehistory.org/. Like us on Facebook.

Tutors are Needed in Rensselaer County

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs volunteer tutors in Rensselaer County and Albany County, and you can help! As a tutor you can develop new skills, make friends, and see how your efforts make a difference in your community. Would you like to help someone to read and write, or to speak English as a new language? 

We can train you. A tutor training workshop starts on January 21 at the Albany Public Library. To find out more, join us for a Volunteer Opportunities Information Session via Zoom at 12:00 noon on January 10. Contact mhellerlvorc@nullaol.com to register. Visit the website for more information: www.lvorc.org

February Break Drama Camp w/Elyse Young

 Town of Malta Parks and Recreation Department announces FEBRUARY BREAK DRAMA CAMP for ages 10-15 will run Tuesday, February 21 through Friday, February 24 from10:00am until 3:00pm. 

The camp will be taught by Malta’s Artistic Director Elyse Young and will include acting skills, vocal techniques, theater games, crafts, rehearsals and performance of a short play. Camp and performance will take place at the Malta Community Center, One Bayberry Drive, Malta.

 For more information, go online to www.maltaparksrec.com or contact Town of Malta Parks and Recreation Department at (518) 899-4411.

Community Caregivers

Community Caregivers, a Nonprofit agency, has continued to expand in Rensselaer County! We have over 50 clients but not enough volunteers to serve all of these nice people.  Are you looking to help someone in your community remain living independently with a little assistance from you? We need your help! 

Our volunteers can take someone to the doctors, grocery or other errands as well as visiting and calling. We have a simple orientation process. Call Heidi Buono, Rensselaer County Service Coordinator, at (518)366-9173 or Meredith Osta, Volunteer Coordinator, at (518)456-2898, if you would like to volunteer. To learn more or donate to our agency, see Community Caregivers.org.

Center Brunswick UM Church Announces Financial Scholarship for 2023 Tamarac Graduates

The Finance Committee of the Center Brunswick United Methodist Church has announced that it will award $500 to a student to be selected from the Tamarac High School Class of 2023. The money may be used for any type of expenses related to further education. Students do not have to belong to this Church, any other church or religion to be eligible for this award.

Interested students must apply for this award no later than March 1, 2023. The application can be obtained from the school’s guidance department or from our website at (www.CenterBrunswickUMC.company).

This award is given in memory of Harold and Mabel Keyes through a trust funded by their last will and testament. Mabel taught in the Brunswick schools and continued teaching Sunday School at Center Brunswick UMC for many years after she retired. Through this award, her love of helping young people learn and grow will continue to reach the youth of our community.

The Center Brunswick United Methodist Church is located at the intersection of Routes 7 and 142 in Troy.

Historical Calendars

The 2023 North Greenbush Historical Calendars are now available for purchase. They contain old time pictures including Frank Houser’s Store and Gas Station, the old Defreestville Hotel, the St.Jude’s Horse Show and much more. 

Calendars are for sale at the Town Clerk’s Office in the Town Hall on Main Avenue Wynantskill (518) 283-4306. The cost is $12.00 (exact change or check made out to the Town of North Greenbush.) If you want it mailed the cost is $15.

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

The Anchor Food Pantry is gearing up for the upcoming holidays and ask for community generosity at this time of year. 

We ask for  holiday items of canned goods, and toiletries that can be dropped off at The Anchor during business hours of Monday 430pm-630pm and Tuesday and Thursday 9am-130pm.  Remember also that drop off is available at the Town Clerk Ofc @ Schodack Town Hall, and Castleton Library @ Village Hall-Village of Castleton -on Hudson NY during the library business hours Monday-Saturday. 

Also this reminder that bottles and cans can be credited to the Anchor account at the 6 cent Redemption Center located on 9J -550 South St-Rensselaer  Monday-Saturday during their business hours. Just inform the clerk to credit the Anchor Food Pantry account.

As always we thank the  Schodack community for its continued support in aiding our mission to assist those in need during these uncertain economic times.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Rensselaer 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!

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