At nearly any given time, you're sure to find a handful of neighbors talking about family or upcoming events.

"This is a community where we genuinely care about each other," says Judy Harris, cradling a bundle of mail from her box. "There's an enormous amount of community pride and spirit here, and everybody knows each other."

Located in a former grocery store on Alplaus Avenue, the main thoroughfare through the hamlet, the post office also features a community room that doubles as an art gallery, and shelves of books that comprise a free lending library.

Hand-painted murals of the hamlet decorate the walls over the service window and the rows of brass postal boxes.

Judy Harris' husband, Arthur, is the editor-publisher of the hamlet's newsletter, Home Town News. The newsletter was started during World War II as a way to keep in touch with residents who went off to war.

"We've lived here for 40 years," says Art Harris. "When I was assigned out of the area for two years, we rented our home here, so we could come back to it."

Mario Ciancetta is also picking up his mail and conversing with the Harrises.

"I remember when we first moved here. We were only going to stay for a year or two, because it wasn't the house we wanted. But the hamlet and friendly community aspect was binding. We stayed on and started our family here. Even if we wanted to move when the children were growing up, they would never have let us. Their bond to this hamlet is as strong as ours."

Standing nearby, Bob Culver, president of the hamlet's historical society, spots resident Cliff Hayes.

"Cliff spearheaded the World War II Alplaus Kids Reunion for a lot of the kids who went to school here," says Culver.

Hayes says they were able to locate 100 of the kids who grew up in the hamlet ranging in age from 55 to 90.

Judy Harris says the great thing about living in Alplaus is "you know that when the kids are at the neighbor's house, it's just as if they are at home."

Kathy Boyle, a 30-year resident and the postmistress, created the inviting interior of the post office. She estimates there are 200 homes in the hamlet, which spreads along both sides of Alplaus Kill.

The hamlet was formerly called "Aal Plaats," from the Dutch for "place of eels."

It was here where the French and Indians camped on the eve of the Schenectady Massacre in 1690. The south side of the hamlet borders the Mohawk River.

"There were originally a lot of camps along the Mohawk and Alplaus Kill, for people coming out from the city," says Culver. "There was a trolley line through here until World War II. You can still see some of the camps."

Many of the camps have been converted to year-round homes, and additional single-family homes have been built in various styles and sizes. Many have sweeping porches and generous lawns. In winter, the street signs are decorated with fresh pine boughs and bows.

There are several events in the hamlet to keep residents busy, including the annual garage sale, a Fourth of July parade, a holiday cookie sale, a Christmas party sponsored by the Alplaus Fire Department (next to the post office) and a winter Chili Extravaganza.

There's also a newly formed Alplaus Bird Line for bird watchers to report sightings and Samuel's, a popular neighborhood coffeehouse.

At a glance

Approximate housing values: $100,000 to $300,000.

Schools: Children attend Glencliff Elementary for K-grade 5; Iroquois Middle School for grades 6-8 and Niskayuna High School for grades 9-12.

Taxes: The equalization rate for the town of Glenville is 74 percent. Residents pay a combined rate of $14.64 per $1,000 for town and county and $25.04 per $1,000 for school. Taxes on a property valued at $175,000 would be about $5,138.