Editor/Publisher Art Harris

e-mail address: arthur.harris@earthlink.net

HTN web address:  http://www.alplaus.org

HOME TOWN NEWS

ALPLAUS, NEW YORK 12008

February 2007                             Vol. 131                                              No. 2

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Risky Business!

Alplaus firemen are shown below exiting a house with a basement fire in Woodhaven last fall. This picture is a graphic reminder of what Mike Sheppeck tells us on page 2 about house fires and our neighbors who put themselves at risk combating them.

 

   

Happy Valentine's Day!

Alplaus Church Events

Saturday, Feb. 10   Family Movie Night - "Cars"

Saturday, Feb. 24  Hawaiian Party/ Luau

All Invited - Call 399-6000 for info                         

 

What's inside

On the Hill………………………………………..2

January is Risky Busy-ness for AFD……........2

Alplaus Fire Department News………….…….3

Beatrice Sylvester………………………………3

Ladies Auxiliary………………………………….4

Gongs on Around Our Town……………..……5

Alplaus Bird Line………………………………..6

Samuel's Music Lineup….……………………..6

Dede Bell Moves to Saratoga………………….6

A Visit with Margaret Moss Ellis……….………7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On the Hill

As often happens, the lowest temperatures of winter 2006-07 are occurring just as the days are now getting noticeably longer. Another of nature's curious twists. With cold days and nights, the ski areas can make snow for the skiers and everyone else is happy with the thin cover we have on our lawns.

   With so many long time residents of Alplaus moving on to the next stages of life - smaller homes, apartments, etc. - it is nice to see the folks moving in pick up the Alplaus spirit of good neighborliness. They are keeping things rolling along smoothly at the fire department, the ARA, and all the things that make Alplaus a hamlet of friendly and caring neighbors…….AWH

Editor's note:  January calls for the AFD were not available at press time.

 

January is Risky Busy-ness for Alplaus Fire Department

by Mike Sheppeck

Alplaus Firefighters saw their busiest January since the great Floods of 1996, with 39 responses during the past month. This is well ahead of the pace in 2006, which saw a record total call volume of 234 calls for the year. With mutual aid between departments becoming ever more a fact of life in the volunteers, we can only expect to see these numbers escalate even higher in the future.

   Don’t let my wordplay in the headline fool you, although firefighting is of course a dangerous business, Alplaus firefighter's dedication to the training necessary to get the job done safely is well recognized. Life Safety is the first priority in firefighting, followed by Incident Stabilization and Property Conservation. These goals, in that order, are part of every incident, from medical calls, to motor vehicle accidents, to fires.

   In early January, Alplaus responded with Rexford to a basement fire on Ashdown Road.  A fire is said to double in size every minute, a quick notification to the fire department can make all the difference in the eventual outcome. Because the residents were home when it started, they were able to exit safely, and damage was limited primarily to the basement, with some damage to the living room & kitchen above. Once the fire had been knocked down, Alplaus firefighters conducted a search and were able to rescue the owner’s cat.  The thermal imaging camera that we received through a grant last year was helpful in searching for any possible fire extension; it is an indispensable tool, so much so that I’m not sure how we got by without it in the past.

   The last day of the month saw a fully involved structure fire on Paradowski Road in

East Glenville’s district. Alplaus responded together with other mutual aid departments.  Unfortunately in this case, the fire went un-noticed until the flames had breeched the roof. By the time the first units arrived, the roof had already partially collapsed. 

   Knowing that there was no one trapped inside, there was no need to risk putting firefighters inside the building, either for a search or for an offensive attack of the fire.  This type of defensive attack, commonly called ‘surround & drown’, involves putting water on the  fire solely from the exterior of the building. Sadly, due to the  advanced progression of the fire when firefighters arrived, damage   was extensive throughout much of the house.

   We have seen a number of new members join the department of late; their enthusiasm and appetite for training have given the Alplaus Fire Department a welcome boost. Thanks also to the local employers that actually let some of our firefighters leave work in order to respond to calls. These are the kinds of things that help to make Alplaus a great place to live; we all know the sense of community that resides here. Help us to help keep Alplaus the special place that it is. The Alplaus Fire Department needs you!  Perhaps more importantly, the Alplaus Fire Department IS you.

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Alplaus Fire Department News

by Bob Culver

Help Wanted.  There is a need for an "Apprentice Treasurer" for the Glenville Fire District 2 Board of Fire Commissioners. (This is the governing body for the Alplaus Fire Department.)

   The duties of the Treasurer include not only paying of the bills of the Fire District at the direction of the Board of Fire Commissioners, but also assisting in the preparation of the annual budget and monitoring of the various accounts and reporting this at each Board meeting (one a month, normally).  All of this must be done in compliance with Board adopted policy and various laws of the State of New York.

   The "Apprentice" would work closely with the Treasurer with the intent of standing for

 

 election when the current three-year term expires. While at this time there is no stipend allocated for an "Apprentice", the post of Treasurer does carry a small remuneration. The candidate must be a resident of Glenville Fire District 2.

   Persons with an interest in this position should contact District Treasurer Mike Cuoco, 9 Woodcrest Drive, and phone 399-0647.

Annual Banquet.  The Annual Banquet and Installation of Officers for the Alplaus Fire Company was held at the Woodlin Club on Saturday, February 3, 2007. This is where the Firefighters of the Year 2006 will also be honored. The banquet was too late to make the press deadline for the Hometown News; further details will be reported in the March edition.

 

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Beatrice Martha (Cooper) Sylvester

Scotia – Beatrice Martha (Cooper) Sylvester, 104, formerly of Schenectady and Alplaus, passed away Thursday, January 18, 2007, at the Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Scotia.

   Born in Schenectady on August 17, 1902, she was the daughter of the late Joseph R. and Lillian (Ackerman) Cooper.  She was a lifelong area resident and attended local schools.  She later went to further her education at Mildred Elley Business School.

   Married in 1934, Beatrice was predeceased by her husband, Frank A. Sylvester, who passed away in 1971. She was also predeceased by her brother, Remington and four sisters, Marguerite, Helen, Alice and Winne.

Survivors include her sons, Peter (Jo Anne) Sylvester of Rotterdam and Don Sylvester of Alexandria, VA; her daughter, Martha (the late Vilmos) Hadarics of Clifton Park; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

 

     The Sylvester family lived at the corner of Second Street and Butterfield Avenue.  Frank worked as a letter carrier, working out of the Schenectady Post Office.

   He was a member of the Alplaus Fire Company, serving as President for the years 1957 through 1959.  He was one of our early

   Funeral services will be private and held at the convenience of the family.

   Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to American Heart Association Northeast NY area, 440 New Karner Road. Albany, NY 12205.

 

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Ladies Auxiliary    by Vicki Watkins

2007 started with our post-holiday dinner at the Edison Club and the Chili Challenge at the Firehouse.  The Edison Club dinner was delicious and was attended by most of our members and several guests.

   Our Second Annual Chili Challenge was just awesome!   People came from far and wide bringing chili or hearty appetites to sample the delicious offerings.  The meeting room was filled with a lively crowd, tasty food and good cheer.  A special thanks to everyone that made this event so enjoyable.  We look forward to hosting the event again next year.

   

 

 

The Chili Challenge Champions were: 

1st Prize:           Kristi Casey

1st Runner Up:   Joe DeAngelis

2nd Runner Up:  Pat Beaver

3rd Runner Up:  Michelle (Beaver)                      Marsh

   We will be delivering welcome baskets to our new neighbors in the spring to welcome them to our wonderful hamlet.  If you have a new neighbor, please let us know so that we can add them to our list.

   Our next meeting will be Monday, February 26th at 7 pm at the Firehouse.  We will begin planning our spring and summer activities such as a Red Cross Blood Drive, a summer flower bulb sale, the annual Flea Market & Garage Sale and our Fourth of July float. 

  (Michelle, Pat, Joe, and Kristi with Keller)

   Please join us if you can and bring your ideas for new programs and activities for the year. If you have any questions please call Vicki Watkins at 399-0184.

 

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Click for valuable coupons!

 

Goings On Around Town

by Barb Casey

Proposed Yates Farm Project.  The Yates Farm town home proposal has resurfaced after more than a year. Concord Development has applied for a stream disturbance permit from DEC, which means that they plan to do work on the stream including widening it to improve the flow before there is building in that area. They've also applied for a federal wetlands relocation permit, which is overseen by the Army Corps of Engineers. Basically, this means that because they are building where there are presently wetlands, they need to have a plan for relocating or making new wetlands elsewhere on the property.

    My understanding is that both permits are likely to be granted. This does not mean the project is approved since there are many steps Concord still needs to take with the Town.

   Several ARA board members sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Conservation about the first permit request, asking that materials be made available locally (the Glenville library) and that the public comment period be extended so that we can look them over. I got a phone call that they will do both of those things, but I haven't yet heard when the materials will be at the library. Mike Sheppeck has also requested a copy of the plans, so you can check with him if you want to look at them.

   Our letter also said that we were concerned about flood storage loss and erosion downstream. We're concerned that the changes would cause further flooding in an area that has had problems. Without yet looking at the plans, it's hard to know. Finally, we asked to have DEC review the storm water pollution prevention plan filed by the developer to determine the overall impact on storm water drainage the plan might have. DEC might take this extra step, but they're not required to do so.

This is a very technical way of saying that we're continuing to closely monitor the situation. Let me or Mike Sheppeck know if you have any questions or suggestions.

  Sewers.  Our petitioners have been hard at work circulating the new petition and with less than two weeks on the streets, it's going very well so far. I've asked them to tally nos as well as yeses so that people can register how they feel about the petition. I'm happy to report that all of those visited seem to be very well informed. I hope you understand well what you're signing or not signing. Thanks to Kathleen Schnitzer, Keith Abatto, Christopher Breslin, Jon Rich, Gray Watkins, Charlie Story, and Will Atchinson for their hard work and many hours spent circulating the petitions. If you have not yet signed and would like to, please call me at home and I'll have a volunteer get in touch.

   Kathleen, Keith, Mark Kelly, and I also visited the constituent representative in Congressman McNulty's office on Monday, January 29th to ask for assistance, I've talked with County Legislature Chair Susan Savage about possible help from Schenectady County, and Supervisor Frank Quinn has talked to NYS Senator Hugh Farley and NYS Assemblyman Jim Tedisco on our behalf. We'll follow up with letters asking for assistance.

   I'm continuing to press the school district inclusion as well. Right now, the Town of Clifton Park says they need a letter of intent from the Town of Glenville to proceed, and the Town of Glenville says they want to wait until the petitioning is complete. I've asked that the letter be sent anyway and that it include the condition that the terms would not be valid if the current petition isn't successful.

   For those of us on the existing system, I continue to press the Town hard on questions about costs being assigned to us and how the numbers were developed. Contact me directly if you want more information on this. I'll send you a list of questions and answers if you request it directly.

Sidewalks.  My contact at the County tells me that the Safe Schools sidewalk initiative is on hold, until the summer, while they're training the people who will implement the program.

ARA Board Meeting and Annual Meeting.  The Alplaus Residents Association Board will be meeting on Sunday, February 11th at 7 pm at the firehouse. All are welcome to join us. We'll be setting the date for this year's annual meeting. I plan to suggest Thursday, March 22nd. We'll also establish a nominating committee for next year's board. Please let me know if you're interested in serving or would like to nominate someone. We'll also vote on our citizen of the year award and discuss possible speakers and topics. Let us know what you think!

Barb Casey, ARA President  

bcasey@skidmore.edu       399-5714

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Alplaus Bird Line     by Shawna Thompson

     

Now that we are experiencing weather a bit more winter-like, the signs of wildlife are all around us. Snow reveals the activities of many creatures we never realized were such close neighbors. Michele Mazur spotted rodent footprints in the snow surrounded by a perfect wing imprint and bird footprints. There is no way of knowing for sure which bird left that mark in the snow, but it’s a fair guess that the Red-Tailed Hawk had mouse for lunch that day!

     Or is that a fair guess? The day after the big ice storm in mid-January an adult Bald Eagle was sighted circling over the fields off Alplaus Ave. Jill Batson has seen the eagle on more than one occasion in that area. Maybe the wing imprint belonged to him.

     As reported January 2006, Alplaus is home to Great Horned Owls and probably other owls as well. Maybe one of them left the mysterious wing print in the field. Mice, voles, moles and other rodents abound in these fields and any one of them would attract a winged predator.

     Kirk Herrick reported a flock of Robins that has wintered in the trees at the end of Bath Street. When the weather was more mild, they were probably all right, but with this bitter cold and snow they may be wishing they had joined their cousins for the flight south!

     Barb Casey suspects Mike Kroder’s little brown birds may be Carolina Wrens. They do have a distinctive, and very loud, call. If Mike spots these birds again maybe he can get a closer look and solve the mystery. And if you spot anything interesting, call the Alplaus Bird Line at 399-0490 and share it with the rest of us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Samuel’s   February 2007 Music Schedule (all 7-9 pm):

Friday, 2/2                   Red, Red Wine; The Nightlife

Saturday, 2/3               Ed Salvo

Friday, 2/9                   Random Victim; On the AM; Atlantic

Saturday, 2/10            Morijah

Friday, 2/16                 On the AM

Saturday, 2/17            John Birchler

Friday, 2/23                 This Morning Song

Saturday, 2/24          OPEN MIC NIGHT

 

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Dede Bell Moves to Saratoga

by Art  Harris

You may have noticed her garage sale last week or the wistful walks she took around our hamlet in the past weeks. There comes a time in our lives when you have to move on to a new stage. This past week has been Dede's time.

   She has sold her home, thinned out her possessions and moved to Woodland Commons on Lawrence Street in Saratoga. Her new address is:

Dede Bell

Woodlawn Commons

156 Lawrence Street Apt. 218

Saratoga, NY 12866

   Dede and her family have lived in Alplaus for the past 30 years and her daily presence will be sorely missed. She promises to visit and welcomes visitors to her new home in Saratoga. Drop her a note or card and take her some greetings from Alplaus.

 

 

A Visit with Margaret Moss Ellis

                by Cliff Hayes

During a visit to the Glenville History Center, a picture of the class of 1920 from the Alplaus School had been a recent acquisition from the Ellis family. The picture was taken in the front of the building with the full class in attendance, about 90 students.  A copy was obtained for the AHS & some research began.

   First, was a review of the 1920 federal census determining the names of children of grade school age in the Alplaus area.  With the help of Emma Speidel, her brother-in-law was a name that appeared on the census. She identified Stanley Speidel & also Margaret Moss from the picture. Margaret is a resident of Baptist Health & Rehabilitation Center. 

   Visiting Margaret was an enjoyable experience; since at age 98 years young with a beaming smile & positive outlook, one could tell she has had a bright full life.  Margaret has a few medical problems, but as she points out, “I’m harmless” being also very witty. She has a brilliant mind & was eager to talk about the old days of Alplaus.

   Her parents raised Margaret in Alplaus, Frank & Winifred Moss who came to Alplaus in 1908. They first lived on Mohawk Avenue (Peterson’s home) & later to Hill Street (Miller’s home). She attended Scotia High School via the trolley system & completed the Ellis nursing program. Margaret married her high school classmate, Harry Ellis, had 3 children & resided in Scotia.

   About Alplaus, she remembers when the school was renovated to 2 levels with the enhancement of inside plumbing. With 4 classrooms only 2 grades per room instead of 4 grades per room became a reality.  Mrs. Shilling was a teacher & leader of the Campfire girls, precursor to the Girl Scouts. Members of the Campfire girls were required to fabricate their own uniform & held meetings during the summer at the Alplaus creek, in the wooded area behind the Yates mansion & at Lake George.

    Memories of the 2 feuding farmer families of the Cashins & the Bernings from the days of living on Mohawk Avenue brought many laughs to Margaret. She also has distinct memories of the locomotive wheel that was placed on the corner of Mohawk & Alplaus Avenues by Mr. Timeson & Mr. McDonald when these men tried to start a fire company in Alplaus in 1917. The wheel with a large mallet was a form of a fire alarm in the village to alert the residents of trouble.

   Margaret’s father was the first president of the Alplaus Fire Company finally organized in 1930. Frank Moss emigrated from England to Schenectady in about 1903 & was an expert pattern maker for GE & gardener in his spare time. Among his building projects was a large greenhouse built on the grounds of their Mohawk Avenue residence and later moved by a team of horses to their new home on Hill Street.

   Margaret also remembers the great flood of 1914, which flooded a good portion of Alplaus along the creek washing away the bridge.  While the bridge was being reconstructed, a rowboat was stationed at the bridge piers for travel across the creek. Problems occurred when people misplaced the oars used for the boat. Might have been a little deviltry involved as Margaret states?

   Thanks to Margaret & her family for this historical information on some happenings in the old days of Alplaus.