Alplaus Post Office News

            by Kathy Boyle, APO Postmistress

Summer is now officially over so the coffee pot will be perking again at the Alplaus Post Office. Busy times will be upon us again at the P. O. With upcoming election information, holiday catalogues, and holiday mailings.

   I have ordered more priority mailing boxes and holiday stamps should arrive in mid-October. Many offices ran out of holiday stamps last year so purchase early.

   I have a listing of military service APO and international holiday mailing deadlines for anyone who wishes to send economy (slow boat--but cheap) or airmail packages abroad.

Hello to Fall Harvests!  

Pumpkin carving open house on the 28th of October from 2-5 pm at Samuel's

Kailyn Sheppeck Wins AFD Scholarship

The Alplaus Fire Company announced in June that Kailyn Sheppeck, daughter of Kathleen and Mike Sheppeck on Alplaus Avenue, won their annual college scholarship. She has been very active with Explorer Post 885 which operates out of the Alplaus Fire House. In fact Kailyn became a fire person in training as soon as she turned 18, the minimum age to volunteer as a full-fledged fire person.

   Congratulations to you Kailyn on this award of a scholarship and for your service as a fire person protecting all of us in life, limb and property! And congratulations to your mom and dad too.

Goodbye to Summer

Alplaus Fire Company News

New Members.  The Company has been fortunate to have seven new members this year.  They are Chris Breslin, Omar Hay, Alex Lushpinsky, Steve Myers, Autumn Perrino, Kailyn Sheppeck and John Szarowski.  Omar and Kailyn are alumni of the AFD Explorer Post 885.  Welcome to all of our new members!

New Equipment.  We now have a Bullard Thermal Imaging Camera, which can be used to present a visual display of the relative temperature of objects.  This is useful in seeking "hot spots" in walls etc., or locating victims in a smoke filled area.  It can even be used in searching for a lost person outdoors.

   This very expensive item was obtained through a CEDAT grant.  Capt. Mike Sheppeck went to Orlando, Florida for training in its use and is training our members.

Ladies Auxiliary

by Vicki Watkins

The Ladies Auxiliary kicked off our fall season with a covered dish supper last Monday night. It was wonderful to get together again after our summer hiatus with delicious food and new ideas for future activities.  We also welcomed our newest member, Margaret Rockwell.

   We will be hosting the other Glenville Auxiliaries on Wednesday, October 11^th and have arranged for a presentation on “Self-Defense: Personal Safety and Awareness for Women” by Tracey Nethaway and Brendan Gillooley from the Glenville Police Dept.  They are in the process of developing a series of self-defense classes which the Auxiliary plans to sponsor for all interested community members.  We will keep you posted.

join us at the fire station for lots of fun, tricks and treats.  The Auxiliary also bakes pies, cookies and other goodies for the Election Day Bake Sale at the Firehouse on November 7^th.  We’ll be there from 6:00 am until the treats run out.  Please remember to vote.

   Many thanks to Gary Withey and his crew for taking down the flags along Alplaus Avenue that we’ve enjoyed since the spring.  They’ll be back again next year.

   Our next meeting will be on Monday, October 23^rd at 7:00 pm at the Firehouse.  If you are interested in attending or learning more about us, please call Vicki at 399-0184. 

Goings On Around Town

by Barb Casey

Alplaus Run-Around.  As the temperature cools and the leaves become brilliant, we know it’s time for the Alplaus Run-Around.  An entry form with details is included in this month’s edition of the Hometown News.  Feel free to make copies, give them to family and friends, or bring them into the office.  Help us get the word out about what a fun time the race is. 

   For more information about the race, check out www.alplaus.org or e-mail race organizer Andy Gilpin at gilp18@hotmail.com.

Sewer Update.  If you’ve seen crews walking around Alplaus recently, chances are they’re from a firm that’s bidding on the Alplaus sewer project.  A call for bids was sent out and bids are due October 10^th.  Should the accepted bid be at or under the petitioned amount of $2.1 million for the project, some work would begin this fall with the bulk of construction happening in the spring.

   A few more notes on that:

• Although recent drops in petroleum costs will act in our favor, it’s still not a given that the bids will be at the petitioned amount.  We’ll need to wait and see, and I’ll have an update by e-mail when we know more.
• Pump station locations are not yet finalized, but conversations are being had with the Alplaus Church and property owners on Hill Street and on the end of Mohawk Avenue.

Sidewalks.  I mentioned in the spring that we’re exploring the possibility of a sidewalk on Alplaus Avenue from Alplaus to Glencliff School.  Safe Schools, a federal initiative, provides 100% funding for approved projects.  Although we thought the standards for that project would be out in September, the word is that they won’t be out until January.  We’re not yet sure which side of Alplaus Avenue might be best for this, but if you’re a resident of that street, I’d be interested in hearing your feedback about the proposal.

Alplaus Historic District?  At a recent meeting of the Alplaus Residents Association board, some representatives from the Glenville Open Space Committee came to talk to us about the possibility of registering Alplaus as a historic district. 

   With this federal designation, there are NO restrictions on homeowners as to any changes you can make to your property, but we would be protected with an additional review process from any changes that the government wants to impose on us.  There were many questions and lots of additional information we need before we even consider such a step. 

   Residents would have a chance to vote on whether or not they wanted Alplaus to be a historic district, and we’ll set up an informational session when we know more.  In the meantime, Bob Culver, Chair of the Alplaus Historical Society, will talk with his group and try to gather more information about the designation.

Alplaus Website.  Have you taken a look at the www.alplaus.org website lately?  If not, check it out.  ARA board member Bud Watson has done a terrific job giving the website a facelift, and will be incorporating information as he gets it from the various Alplaus organizations, including the fire department, ladies auxiliary of the fire department, and the historical society.  Businesses in Alplaus or other groups with their own websites are invited to put links to their site on www.alplaus.org.

  Have photos or information about an upcoming event?  Applications for a race or activity?  E-mail them to Bud at alplaus12008@yahoo.com.  Our only request is that the items have a connection to Alplaus.

   I like to hear from residents with your opinions about these and any other topics that are on your mind.  Feel free to call or e-mail any time.

Barb Casey, ARA President

bcasey@skidmore.edu

26th Alplaus Run-Around   by Andy Gilpin

The 26^th Alplaus Run-Around will be on Saturday, October 28, 2006, in Alplaus with two events: a One-Mile Fun Run starting at 10 am, and a 5K Race at 10:30 am.

   Entry fees are $5 for the Fun Run, $10 for the 5K Run. Both events start and finish at the Alplaus Fire House at the corner of Alplaus Avenue and Bruce Drive.

   Day of race registration will be open until 9:45 am.  Looking to make this year’s event something special and it could be a perfect warm-up for the Stockade-a-thon.

and female finishers, and special prizes to the first male and female from the Alplaus Fire District.

   Pre-registration entry forms are available at the Alplaus Post Office, the Parkside YMCA in Glenville, the Clifton Park YMCA, Goldstock’s Sporting Goods at 4 Freeman’s Bridge Road, Scotia and at Alplaus.org.

   The Alplaus Residents Association and the Alplaus Fire Department sponsor this annual event. (See HTN last page for race application.)

   For more information, call 366-2675 and ask for Andy Gilpin.

________________________________________________________________________________

Hazel Forwood Bundy

Hazel Bundy, 96, of Lebanon, Ohio died Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at the Otterbein-Lebanon Retirement Community. Hazel married Francis Pettit Bundy on October 24, 1936 in Springfield, IL. They lived in Alplaus NY for 47 years, before moving to Otterbein.

   She was active as a pianist during her entire life. In Alplaus and Schenectady, she was accompanist and pianist in various musical groups. At Otterbein-Lebanon she continued activities as a pianist. Hazel was full of curiosity and was an enthusiastic international traveler, birdwatcher, equestrian, and Northeast Women's Soaring Champion.

   She is survived by her husband, 4 children, John F. Bundy of Rosman NC, David S. Bundy of Syracuse NY, Suzanne B. Moffat of Chester VT, and Freda B. Hofland of Los Altos Hills CA, 2 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

   Private funeral services have been held by the immediate family. Memorials, if so desired, may be sent to the Otterbein-Lebanon Benevolent Fund, 585 N. State Rt. 741, Lebanon OH 45036.

(Hazel's obituary and memorials may be viewed on the Alplaus website, www.alplaus.org. You can post memories of Hazel on the site also - e-mail them to Alplaus12008@yahoo.com.)

Samuel’s Coffee Talk

Samuel's cordially invites you to a pumpkin carving/decorating open house Saturday, October 28 from 2-4pm - all ages welcome!!  Tools and pumpkins will be provided by Samuel's, you bring the fun! 

     We will also be hosting an open house on Halloween from 5-7pm with live music by Marissa Crary along with free candy, cider and doughnuts.

   Happy Fall, come to Samuel's and enjoy the leaves and beautiful weather before the snow!

………..Samuel's Staff

Alplaus School Bell

                        By Cliff Hayes

The past 2 issues of the HTN have had articles about the former and present grade schools in the Alplaus area. The history of the bell that was located at the pinnacle of the old Alplaus School on Maple Av should not be forgotten.

   The purpose of the bell in present times is the same as an electronic audio indicator.  Below is a reprint of the demise of the bell.  Pictured is the bell, which is on display at the Glencliff School along with the bell from the old Rexford School.  The inscription reads:

 “Alplaus School circa 1847-1956”.

Reprinted from HTN April 1987:

Preservation of the Alplaus School Bell

By Min Congdon

The bell rested on the dormer of the old Alplaus School for a few years after the school district was incorporated in the Niskayuna School District.

   The school board saw fit to give the bell to Mr. Betts to call children on his estate.  Mr. John Youngblood referred Betts to contact Ken Coyle in the Alplaus Fire Company to get the bell off the school.  Betts and Coyle went up to the roof of the school and found rusty nails in the slate and forty feet to the ground was unsafe.

   Betts was to hire a crane to get the bell.  Coyle called Elmer Pfaffenbach on the phone and let him know what was going on, as he was assistant chief.  Elmer said that the bell was not going to leave Alplaus.  We felt the bell was dear to the old timers and should not leave the district.

   The next night, Irving Pfaffenbach, Ken Coyle and his son Chris took one hundred feet of one inch rope, a brace and big drill to school, bored a hole in the peak and lowered the rope to the window of the dormer for safety.  Coyle fastened the rope to the bell, waited twenty minutes to see if anybody was alerted before lowering the bell to the ground.  The bell was taken up to Elmer Pfaffenbach’s barn and hidden over the milk house.  Years went by and who swiped the bell?

   Mr. Reeves Congdon was talking to Elmer Pfaffenbach about the bell from the Rexford School in the hall of Glencliff School and if the bell from Alplaus School could be found it would also be put in the school.  Mr. Pfaffenbach gave Reeves Congdon the bell.