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ALPLAUS, NEW YORK 12008

November 2007                         Vol. 131                                               No. 9

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Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Alplaus Historical Society

                   by Cliff Hayes

A meeting of historical society has been scheduled for Saturday November 10th at 1 PM in the community room at the firehouse. The group will review/re-establish the goals set forth from its creation in December 2003. The meeting is open to everyone.

 

     

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

Web input address:  Alplaus12008@yahoo.com

HTN Editor/Publisher:  Art Harris

                                     PO Box 57

                                     Alplaus, NY 12008

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

 

 

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On the Hill

Lots of news in this issue from a new postal rate structure for packages (page 4) to expansion at the rowing center (page9) to a preschool fair (page3) and more. Further development of the rowing center is especially great news for Alplaus, enhancing our waterfront.

   Please note Kathy Boyle's article on postal rules and rates - they could change the way you prepare holiday gift mailings. Discuss this with the girls at the APO.

  A Happy and festive Thanksgiving to one and all from Judy and me….AWH

 

Alplaus Fire Department Calls for October 2007

 

Incident #

Date

Alarm

Time

Call Type

Location

# Fire-Fighters

Fire-Fighter hours

000246

31 OCT 2007

15:09

Air Boat Search & Re

Mohawk River

12

11.2

000245

30 OCT 2007

11:16

Mutual Aid Scene

Saratoga Road

7

1.9

000244

30 OCT 2007

06:39

Medical Emergency

Mountainwood Drive DDriveDrive

8

3.3

000243

30 OCT 2007

00:37

Mutual Aid Scene

Tryon Place

4

0.1

000242

23 OCT 2007

16:06

False Alarm Fire

Hetcheltown Road

5

1.7

000241

23 OCT 2007

13:03

False Alarm Fire

Saratoga Road

8

0.5

000240

23 OCT 2007

09:03

Alarm of Fire

Woodcrest Drive

7

1.5

000239

20 OCT 2007

11:15

False Alarm Fire

Hetcheltown Road

9

1.5

000238

18 OCT 2007

08:30

Medical Emergency

Elmwood Avenue

7

3.4

000237

18 OCT 2007

08:09

Water Rescue

Mohawk River

7

4.7

000236

16 OCT 2007

11:54

False Alarm Fire

Hetcheltown Road

7

2.5

000235

14 OCT 2007

14:47

Vehicle Accident

Maple Avenue

3

1.5

000234

14 OCT 2007

01:12

Medical Emergency

Woodcrest Drive

5

1.2

000233

13 OCT 2007

15:18

False Alarm Fire

Saratoga Road

4

0.5

000232

11 OCT 2007

18:24

Medical Emergency

Glenridge Rd

8

3.5

000231

11 OCT 2007

12:06

False Alarm Fire

Maple Avenue

6

0.5

000230

09 OCT 2007

15:21

Medical Emergency

Maritime Drive

5

3.5

000229

09 OCT 2007

13:24

Medical Emergency

Mountainwood Drive

8

4.3

000228

06 OCT 2007

15:36

Water Rescue

Mohawk River

9

9.2

000227

05 OCT 2007

19:53

Medical Emergency

Second Street

8

3.9

000226

05 OCT 2007

02:55

Medical Emergency

Elmwood Drive

7

4.4

000225

04 OCT 2007

21:42

Vehicle Accident

Maple Avenue

9

1.5

000224

03 OCT 2007

09:32

False Alarm Fire

Glenridge Road

4

1.3

000223

02 OCT 2007

13:17

Medical Emergency

Glenridge Road

5

2.4

000222

01 OCT 2007

13:40

False Alarm Fire

Glenridge Road

6

2.0

 

Please remember Veterans Day on November 11.

We owe our freedoms to their service and sacrifice

                        

Explorer Post 885

                                                    by Kathleen Sheppeck

The Alplaus Fire Department welcomed another new member, Cassandra Coppola, to Explorer Post 885.  The Explorers were busy this month helping out with the Fire Company's Annual Fund Drive, the Alplaus Run-Around and the Halloween Party.  It's always great to see these young people so willing to give of their time to support the Fire Department and the community. 

   With a crop of new members we have also begun their basic training, starting with the physical science of fire behavior.  This presents a great opportunity for the new comers to learn some unfamiliar concepts and for the senior post members to take a leadership role. 

   It's also great for the Fire-Fighters to review the basics like the fire tetrahedron. Most of us were taught in high school that the components of fire are oxygen, fuel and heat, graphically represented as the fire triangle.  This is not technically correct and is now taught and represented by the fire tetrahedron (a bit more formidable for the geometrically challenged).  The components necessary for combustion to occur are oxygen (oxidizing agent), fuel, heat, and a self sustained chemical reaction.  This is a key concept for students of fire suppression.  Removal of any one component the fire tetrahedron will extinguish the fire.     

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Wendy [Michelle Mazur] with Tinkerbell [Lauren] & Peter Pan [Matthew] and other assorted Lost Boys [& girls] at the firehouse 2007 Halloween Party.

 

BH-BL MOMS Club Hosting Preschool Fair

                        by Kristi Casey

The Moms Offering Moms Support (MOMS) Club of Burnt Hills - Ballston Lake is hosting a preschool fair at the Burnt Hills Public Library on the corner of Lakehill Road and Lawmar Lane on Tuesday, November 13th from 6:30 – 8:30pm. 

   There will be preschools from Scotia, Glenville, Burnt Hills, Ballston Lake, Ballston Spa, Schenectady and Niskayuna represented.  Parents interested in finding a preschool will be able to speak with all the schools to get a better idea of what schools might provide the best fit for their child. 

   For more information or to have your preschool participate, contact Kristi Casey at 370-4401 or MOMSClubBurntHills@gmail.com.

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Ladies Auxiliary

     by Vicki Watkins

We held a going away party in the tradition of an English tea to honor Alice Culver and Robin Driskel who will be moving away soon.  As a charter member, over the past 39 years Alice has been a dear friend to all and a major contributor to our many endeavors.  Robin was our President for seven years and her inexhaustible energies and ideas will surely have a lasting effect on our group.  They both will be sorely missed. 

   The Holiday Cookie Sale has been such a success that we will be baking again this year!   Come to the Post Office on Saturday, December 8th from 10 am to 2 pm to stock your pantries with our delicious holiday treats.  If you don’t have the time to bake during this hectic time of year, let us do it for you!

   

  

The winners of the Alplaus Photo Contest have been selected and will be featured in our 2008 Houses of Alplaus Calendar.  This wall calendar is just beautiful and we thank all of you who submitted photos.  You will be able to view the calendar shortly on the Alplaus website and the Post Office bulletin board.  They will be available for $14 at the Post Office or can be ordered by phone at 518 399-8048 (shipping can be arranged for out of town orders).

   November is when we traditionally prepare fruit baskets for our neighbors in need of some cheer.  We will deliver these baskets a little later this year and include some of our holiday cookies.  Please let us know if you have any names to add to our list.

   Our next meeting will be on Monday, Nov 26th at 7 pm.  If you are interested in attending or learning more about us, please call Vicki at 399-0184.

   Happy Thanksgiving to all!

 

 

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Alplaus Post Office News

                                                by Kathy Boyle

The holiday mail season has arrived.  I should have holiday stamps by November 10th.  For many of you mailing holiday packages, it may be the first time you may be made aware of the May 14, 2007 changes such as First-Class Mail shape-based pricing, Priority Mail dimensional-weight pricing, and International Mail product redesign.

   Proper packaging plays an important role in this year's holiday shipping.  First, choose a box that is suitable for the contents and weight of your item(s).  Using a larger box than needed - even though the contents may weigh the same may cost you more at the counter.  Practicing "right-size" shipping will help you avoid additional costs of Priority Mail dimensional-weight or balloon-rate pricing.  If you are reusing a box, obliterate or cover all previous labels and markings.  All packages must have return labels.  Make sure parcels are securely packaged and taped and that the address labels are large and legible.

   Many of us send greeting cards this time of year.  Be sure you have the correct amount of postage on them so they are not returned to you.  Greeting cards are more available then ever in various shapes and weights and include "musical" cards.  Many of these cards weigh more than 1 ounce, and, if the card appears to be square, it may be subject to an additional surcharge of $0.17 in addition to the applicable letter-size First - Class postage.  Due to there size, many square greeting cards exceed letter-size standards and are priced as large envelopes.  With many people sending gift cards instead of parcels, I get asked about insurance for them.  Gift cards can only be insured for full value if they are sent registered mail service.

   I have a supply of flat rate priority boxes $8.95 (domestic mailing) and regular priority boxes in stock.  Heavier mail items may benefit from the flat rate prices. I will also be getting in more padded packaging products.

If you have questions regarding your parcels you can go to www.usps.com.  There will be explanations of all the pricing criteria now in effect.  You can also get zip code information and a ton of other info.  The site also has a calculate postage section that you can click on. All kinds of forms are available for printing.  You can also take advantage of the click & ship labels as well as pick up service. 

   This time of the year I get a lot of people coming in with "old" stamps to use up on their packages.  Some of these stamps have no denomination on them.  If you go to http://pe.usps.com, click on quick service guides.  Type in on search QSG 604a Basic Standard for all mailing services-Non denominated postage. They have a list of stamps going back to 1975 that will give the value.  If that whole search thing is too complicated or you don't have a computer I have a list in the Post Office.

International rates:

First class one ounce:

Canada & Mexico $0.69             flat rate boxes $23.00