Alplaus Home Town News January 2004
Editor/Publisher: Art Harris Reporter: Betty Vedder
I would like to thank all of you for a record breaking December 2003 postal sales month. A very special thank you to those of you who made special "out of the way trips". It was wonderful seeing residents who have moved out of Alplaus still stop in to mail packages or buy holiday stamps.
Your business is really appreciated and I always enjoy chatting with you. The 2003 business year was successful as well, with increased sales over previous years. I am sure that 2004 will be even better with all your support.
Please feel free to stop by for a hot cup of coffee/tea/hot cocoa. We still have a few nasty cold months ahead.
Kathy Boyle, APO Postmistress
A belated Happy New Year to everyone. Judy and I started the New Year right in warm sunny Florida, but we came back to Alplaus in time to share the sub-zero weather.
Have you noticed? - The Weight Limit signs are up on Bruce Drive! Another victory for the citizens of Alplaus. Now we look for more progress for expansion of the community sewer system. Barb Casey reports for the ARA that the work continues, concentrating on reducing the cost.
I received the e-mail below over the holidays. It should be of special interest to those who were here in the 40's and 50's. It tells all of us that Alplaus is a pretty special place to live and especially great to grow up in....AWH
My name is George Clements. I grew up in Alplaus along with my brother Doug at 14 2nd Street in what is now Tom Donlon's address.
This coming October, October 1-3, 2004 to be exact, there will be a class reunion for Burnt Hills High Schools 50th class reunion. 1954 was the last year that residents of Alplaus attended Burnt Hills. Their reunion will also include prior classes so the turn out may be pretty good. For instance, my brother Doug graduated in 1952 and he and some of his classmates will be in attendance.
It was suggested to Doug that along with the class reunion that it would be nice to have an "Alplaus Reunion". The tentative date for that reunion would be Thursday September 30, 2004. Doug and I have e-mailed a few former Alplaus residents and they have shown a definite interest in such an event.
Doug and I have been compiling names that we remember. We have the addresses of some of these people but not all or even a majority of them. If you could help put the word out, we might get some more names. Mainly we are shooting for the "kids" of the 1940s, those that attended Alplaus School.
I keep in contact with the Coppolas and have asked Andy what he thinks of the idea, a reunion at the Alplaus Fire Dept. I know that Andy is an active member of the community.
My brother has made a list of family names of kids we knew and would gladly email it to you. Douglas Clements e-mail address is dclem68107@aol.com.
He lives in Florida and has mini reunions with his classmates down there. He is presently visiting with me here in California until the 13th.
I was a 1958 graduate of Linton HS. Doug went in the USAF after college in 1957 and I went into the USAF in 1962. We both made the Air Force a career and are now retired.
We both have many fond memories of growing up in Alplaus and "drop by" when we are in NY. We both think that this year could be that special "drop by".
We would appreciate any help you could give us.
Sincerely,
George Clements
georan@mchsi.com
We'll start off New Year 2004 with our annual post-holiday party on Tuesday, January 13th at 6 pm at the new Cornell's on North Jay Street. If you need a ride or would like to carpool please call Vicki Watkins at 399-0184.
If you are looking for a very warm sweatshirt during these cold days remember that we still have our specially designed Alplaus sweatshirts for sale at the Post Office.
Our next meeting will be Monday, February 23rd at 7 pm at the Post Office. Please come join us if you can or if you would like some information about joining the Auxiliary call Vicki at 399-0184.
Lou Vendetti from Van Bro Construction has furnished the majority of materials needed to finish our project. The generous financial contributions and consistent volunteer labor of especially Dick Flanders and other dedicated workers have put us on target for finishing the renovation in February.
We are currently searching for a person with some business experience to oversee the commercial aspect of running the new Coffee House which will serve our community. This will be a paid position. Any suggestions for a new staff person or continued financial support can be given to Cherie Vedder, 399-7093 or contact Y.F.C. at 293 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham NY 12110.
We are sincerely looking forward to opening the door for all our friends and neighbors who have patiently watched our progress with great interest for a long time. We're really going to make it and we'll surely keep you posted!!
Clifford F. MacNeal of 21 Woodcrest Dive passed away December 23 after a long illness.
A native of Yonkers, NY, he was a veteran of combat in World War II, serving in the European Theater of Operations. He worked for General Electric in New York City and later in Schenectady, retiring with 39 years of service in 1989.
He was married to Marion Montagriff in 1948. They were the parents of Glen P. MacNeal who lives in Bradenton, Florida and Linda S. MacNeal of Saratoga Springs.
Following Marion's death in 1976, he married Ellen Meldazes MacNeal who survives. Cliff is survived by five grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Cliff was a Life Member of the Alplaus Volunteer Fire Company, with 44 years of service. He had served in various firemanic offices including that of Chief.
The funeral service was held on December 26th and his remains are interred in the family plot in Oakland Cemetery in Yonkers.
Alplaus Volunteer Fire Company elected officers in December for the year 2004.
Social Officers:
Firemanic Officers:
Elected to the Board of Fire Commissioners on December 9, 2003 were:
Other Fire Commissioners are: Gary Withey and Don Cartwright.
District Treasurer is Mike Cuoco and District Secretary is Elizabeth Burke.
Alplaus Fire Dept Calls-December
Every year, the Alplaus holiday party is a delightful escape from the hype of the season. It's a lovely, low-key gathering with friends and neighbors that's one of my favorite Alplaus traditions. Thanks so much to Gray Watkins for organizing this wonderful event, held on December 13th; to new Town Board member Mark Quinn and Sue Corah for their wonderful renditions of favorite holiday songs; and to the big guy himself, Santa, for once again bringing a sparkle to children's eyes.
"Let me know how I can help." I've heard from so many people after our informational meeting on sewers who've said this. I gave an overview of the meeting in December's HTN, so I won't repeat what I wrote then, but would like residents to know that the ARA sewer sub-committee (Gray Watkins, Gary Withey, Art Harris, Rick Fleming, and me) is meeting with town officials on January 16th to see what progress has been made since our November meeting. But there are ways YOU can help, and here's how:
Stay informed Read this newsletter each month, ask to be added to my e-mail list on the subject (if you aren't already on the list, send an e-mail to: bcasey@skidmore.edu), and read flyers that come to your home on the subject. If you have friends in other communities with new systems, ask them about their systems-what worked, what didn't, what they would have done differently.
Get involved Offer to help to distribute flyers, talk to your neighbors about the issues involved and pros and cons, and attend future information meetings, including the annual meeting of the ARA, which will likely be held on Thursday, March 18.
Support your community The Town of Glenville listens most when they know that we are working together. Pay your ARA dues ($3 at the March meeting--what a bargain!) to support our activities; attend the annual meeting to find out what's going on; and volunteer to help at the parade, runaround, or holiday party. Better yet, ask about being an ARA board member. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing you're making a difference in your community. Talk to me or another current board member by mid-February if you're interested in joining. A strong ARA is our best chance of an agreement on sewers that is best for all of us.
Thanks to all of you who've e-mailed, called, or stopped me on the street to thank me for our efforts to pursue sewers for the rest of Alplaus. It makes a tremendous difference to know that our neighbors appreciate our efforts on their behalf.
Barb Casey, ARA President
399-5714
bcasey@skidmore.edu
On December 6, 19 hardy citizens ventured out in a horrendous snow storm to come to the Community Room at the Post Office and formed the Alplaus Historical Society.
It is a very loosely connected group whose hope is not to shape the future or preserve anything but rather to capture facts about Alplaus and its people before it is lost.
We wish to capture reminiscences, printed matter, pictures and any other memorabilia.
Any information anyone has will be welcome, contact Bob Culver, 399-0442, or Kathy Boyle at the Post Office, 399-8048.
Our next meeting will be January 31, 2004 at 2:00 PM at the Community Room at the Post Office. It is hoped to have Jack Donlon, a long time resident who now lives in Saratoga, tell us about his recollections of living in Alplaus.
Pray for no snow!!!
John Montone was born and raised on Second Street in Alplaus, educated in the Niskayuna school system and graduated from Niskayuna HS in 1994.
He was a member of the Alplaus Fire Department and now
is a firefighter for the San Diego Rural Fire Station #66 in San Diego.
He was chosen by his peers to appear at the Gillespie Air Field in San Diego
where President Bush gave a morale boost after surveying some of the damage
done by the blazes of the 280,000 acre cedar fire in San Diego County in
late October.
On Sunday, January 25th at 1 p.m., the Seniors are planning the return of the Covered Dish Dinner - Italian Style. This is back by popular demand and is to be held at the Senior Center. All are invited to come; please bring a dish to share.
Roger Story will be there along with his keyboard along with Peter Rizzo's Good Time Band. If you plan to come please sign up at the Meal Center or call there at 393-1946.
For information call Betty at 399-0427.
This very special Senior Center program will feature the Burnt Hills Community Big Band, a 17 piece orchestra. It will be held Sunday, February 1st, 2 until 4 p.m. Come listen or dance to "Our Music of the Forties", remembering Glen Miller and Tommy Dorsey.
It will be a great afternoon to warm up the season. Refreshments served with cabaret style decor. Cost is a $2 ticket per person; tickets sold at the front desk of the Senior Center. Reservations with tickets are required by Friday, January 23rd.
Please call the Senior Center at 374-0734 if you want further
information.
The monthly luncheon will be held on Tuesday, January 13th at 11:30 a.m., weather permitting. Winter months can sometimes become so gloomy it helps to get out to enjoy the company of others.
All are welcome to come to Fellowship Hall in the Alplaus
Methodist Church for an afternoon of fellowship and good food. Bring a dish
to share if you can and plan for a happy get-together.
Niskayuna
School District Beginnings-II
by Carlyle "Kirk" Herrick, September 2003
(Continued from the December, 2003 Home Town News.)
Attitudes softened somewhat after we established that Alplaus would also be a major contributor to a central district. That would not be through buildings to give, but through a really big real estate assessment on the railroad yards strung out along Alplaus Road. Then we talked about the problems in each local district and how a central district might relieve them. The high school problem was most acute in Van Antwerp and when we discussed converting that existing building to a high school and adding a new grade school in that area, Ray changed his mind and moved around to my side of the table.
Stan immediately felt increased pressure on his position and brought replacement support to the next meeting; one of his school board members, Lou Rader. That was a pivotal move because Lou was a decisive individual with a strong personality. Together Ray and I recapped the problems and solutions for Lou, who was quickly convinced in favor. In turn Lou convinced Stan privately, but regrettably we still had no deal, so formation of Niskayuna Central remained a dream; a dream stalled by some unspoken, unidentified barrier.
I sensed that worry over possible future election contests for seats on the central school board might be an obstructing factor, so I proposed a gentleman's agreement. It was a simple verbal agreement: no one of us chairmen would campaign for a seat on the central school board; ever. That arrangement was agreeable to all. Fortunately it resolved the final difficulty and brought consensus that each of us would work enthusiastically to form a central district. The rest is pretty much history. The chairmen of each district convinced their respective school boards who in turn convinced their district residents, and Niskayuna Central came into existence on August 1, 1953. Mission accomplished!
A bit later I learned, from a confidant of one chairman, that the final barrier to consensus approval of the central school district was a concern that I would dominate the new central school board as I had dominated the meetings of the chairmen. I was dumbfounded. Yes I had led the discussions by virtue of being prepared, but I had never imagined that the other chairmen, who were much older than I, might interpret that leadership to be domination. Anyway, the gentleman's agreement to avoid membership on the new board of education was just the right touch to allay that concern. With the exception of the chairman from Rexford, the participants in that gentlemen's agreement observed it faithfully over the intervening years.
Was the gentlemen's agreement that led to forming the Niskayuna Central School District the final episode in this series of unlikely events in my life? Most probably it was. Yet there still remains the remote possibility of one more unlikely episode wherein I somehow join the board of education. It could be either by election, or by honorary appointment for a day as part of the anniversary celebration. Without any question such action would place the concluding cap on this long string of unanticipated and unlikely events.
All three of our children are Niskayuna Central School
graduates. While at the time they may have seemed not to be terribly distinguished,
in retrospect the results have been very satisfactory. When questioned about
whether I would willingly repeat this investment of time and effort, my
answer is a resounding YES.