Community Luncheon

by Margaret Weisl

The Alplaus Community Luncheon, at Alplaus United Methodist Church, will be held on Tuesday, May 10th, from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.

This will be our last Community Luncheon until the fall. I appreciate all the faithful attendees because we really do have a wonderful time getting together once a month.

It is open to the public and an event to look forward to with Good Food and Fellowship. Bring a dish to share if you can and come and join us.

What's inside

On the Hill……………………………………….2

Alplaus Fire Department Calls - April…………2

Samuel's is Open!............................................2

Alplaus Explorer Post 885………………….….3

Alplaus Residents Association News...………3

Alplaus Historical Society……………………...4

Culver Family Note.….…………………………4

Mary Van Riper…………………………………4

Glenville Seniors……………………………….4

Senior Spring Fling…………………………….4

Memories……………………………………….4

Ladies Auxiliary…………………………………5

Fourth of July……………...……………………6

Floating an Idea……………………..…………6

Day of a Firefighter……………………..……...7

On the Hill

May-flowers are certainly here in abundance. I'm not sure but what nature outdoes the best efforts of our cultivated gardens with the displays of wildflowers and trees in bloom that we see passing through the countryside. As in many other areas of life, the best we can do is often a poor imitation of the natural world around us.

Please remember your mothers and the mothers of your children next Sunday. Our debts to them can only be repaid with love in return. Flowers and a nice dinner out are good too.

…AWH

__________________________________________________________________________________

Alplaus Fire Department

April was an active month as shown by the call report below.

Old Timers' Night

The June 6th meeting of the Fire Company will be the annual Old Timers' Night and Inspection. There will be a "Guest Inspector" followed by a very short business meeting and then dinner prepared by the Ladies Auxiliary. All members and former members are invited to join us for this annual event.

Calls for April 2005


Date	Alarm Time	Incident Number	Call Type	Location	Number of Fire Fighters	Fire Fighters Hours
04 APR 2005	13:11	000043	Vehicle Accident	Glenridge Road	5	2.0
06 APR 2005	14:30	000044	Smoke Condition	Hetcheltown Road	6	1.4
08 APR 2005	10:46	000045	Other Emergency	Woodcrest Drive	5	11.7
11 APR 2005	18:58	000046	Other Emergency	Maple Avenue	8	2.3
14 APR 2005	09:02	000047	Other Fire	Vallywood Drive	4	1.3
16 APR 2005	09:28	000048	Medical Emergency	St. Jude Lane	10	8.0
16 APR 2005	20:56	000049	Other Emergency	Hetcheltown Road	4	1.2
18 APR 2005	22:13	000050	Vehicle Accident	Alplaus Avenue	11	5.5
20 APR 2005	09:53	000051	Medical Emergency	Glenridge Road	3	1.1
22 APR 2005	20:11	000053	Vehicle Accident	Maple Avenue	10	9.0
26 APR 2005	16:28	000054	Other Emergency	Bruce Drive	8	1.9
28 APR 2005	15:56	000055	Other Emergency	Maple Avenue	13	11.9
28 APR 2005	16:56	000056	Medical Emergency	Governor Drive	9	3.0
29 APR 2005	15:53	000057	Grass/Brush Fire	Vallywood Drive	8	7.9

Samuel's is Open!

After 5 long years of effort by dozens of volunteers, Samuel's, located in the old Alplaus Market, is now open for business. The staff says:

"Thank you for your support. Our 'soft' opening on Sunday, May 1st, was amazing. Our Grand Opening is Saturday, June 4, 2005. Please come in and see us."

Their business hours are:

Monday - Thursday 6 am - 9 pm

Friday 6 am - 11 pm

Saturday 8 am - 11 pm

Sunday not yet (need more staff)

Samuel's

258 Alplaus Avenue

Alplaus, NY 12008

518.399.9013
Aplaus Explorer Post 885

by Kathleen Sheppeck

The month of April provided lots of opportunity for training and community outreach. In addition to the usual monthly business meeting and twice monthly drills, the Explorer’s participated with the Fire Company in a 4 hour Sunday drill that covered safety and structure fire response. It gave the Explorers and firefighters alike a realistic scenario to discover their strengths and weaknesses in scene size up and initial attack. First Assistant Chief Haushalter ran a well planned and executed drill and we all took away something of value.

The Explorers also assisted in the Mayfair Daycare’s annual open house and fundraiser. They did a fine job of representing the Fire Company to the community and showing off the fire engine to the little ones. Always a big hit!

New Developments. If you’re interested in Concord Development’s proposed townhouse development, here’s the latest:

· Next step in the town process is the Glenville Environmental Conservation Commission (GECC) meeting on Monday, May 23^rd, at which environmental issues will be considered.

· After the GECC considers the project and assuming they have no questions or concerns that need to be addressed, the Planning and Zoning Commission will discuss the project in mid-June.

· Another P&Z meeting will be held as a public hearing at a later date. More details in the June Hometown News after the GECC meeting has been held. The public is welcome to attend ALL committee meetings; just check the town website for specifics.

Residents have been busy determining the possible impact on Alplaus. Charlie Thompson did an informal traffic survey and feels that a traffic light at Maple and Alplaus will mean even more traffic through our hamlet.

Jim Norton took a hike through Woodhaven to look at the Yates cemetery plot, which is badly in need of maintenance and repair.

Cindy Olsen of Maple Avenue is asking residents opposing the development to sign a petition that is currently at the post office.

Whether you support it or oppose it, get involved and let your voice be heard. Call or e-mail if you want more information on any of the above. Quality of life in our community is at stake.

Barb Casey

ARA President

bcasey@skidmore.edu

399-5714

E. GRAY WATKINS

ATTORNEY AT LAW

GENERAL PRACTICE

REAL ESTATE

WILLS, TRUSTS & ESTATES      371-6125

CORPORATE LAW                      1745 RT. 9

PERSONAL INJURY               Clifton Park, N.Y.



Alplaus Historical Society

by Bob Culver

The regular meeting of the society will be held at the Firehouse at 7 pm on Thursday, May 19th. Anyone with an interest in the history of Alplaus is more than welcome to attend.

Culver Family Note

Allison Watkins, daughter of Mike and Cheryl (Culver) Watkins of Bluefield, WV was recently elected by her teachers to go to the State Capitol in Charleston for a day to serve as page for her State Senator. She was elected on the basis of her academic achievement and her positive attitude toward school.

Allison's proud grandparents are Bob and Alice Culver.

Mary Van Riper

Mary Park Van Riper, 91, formerly of Hill Street, Alplaus, died on April 8, 2005. She was the daughter of the late Aunt Jane and Herb Park and the wife of the late Karl Van Riper. Survivors include two daughters, Betsy Baker and Karla Kennedy, and four grandchildren.

She was a member of Alplaus United Methodist Church for many years. She was also an accomplished cellist and played with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra.

A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alplaus church.

Glenville Seniors

Dr. Rudy Nydegger will be at the Glenville Senior Center on Tuesday, May 13th at 1 pm. He will speak on depression.

Dr. Nydegger is a Professor at Union College and Chairman of the Department of Psychology. He has been in private practice as a Psychologist for many years. This is open to the public and planned as a relaxing get together with a cup of coffee and snacks. Anyone interested in this subject is welcome to attend.

Senior Spring Fling

The BIG BAND is back on Sunday, May 22nd from 2 to 4 pm to celebrate our Spring Fling. This will be an afternoon of dancing and listening to great music! Refreshments will be served while we are enjoying a delightful dance party.

Tickets are available at the front desk of the Senior Center. The cost is $5 per person and this, of course is also open to the public.

Memories

by Betty Vedder

A while ago, when I was in the Senior Center, Billy Revel came in. Since we are both Alplaus natives we enjoy talking about the old days. The Revel family lived at 10 Second Street where Mary Jackson now lives. They had three sons, Billy, Norton, and Robin, who was my age. Years ago their Father, Bill, Sr., decided to gather a few musicians together and form a band. This he did, but it wasn't a marching band nor was it a dance band as we might think of it. It was called different names at different times although the most significant name was "The Alplaus Hillbilly Band".

Now you can surmise just what kind of band it was. They played at the Firehouse, out at the Grooms Grange and all around and about the local area. The band players were Billy with his accordion, his father (Bill, Sr.), Lloyd Brinkman, Ray Davis and Judge Bruce. Yes, Bruce Drive was named after him, he lived on Bath Street and he was a Judge, well known and loved by all.

At the time I was in my early teens and knew of this popular band but too young to get out to hear them. I do remember my parents followed them and enjoyed listening and dancing to their music. The two younger Revel sons moved away from the hamlet but as Billy grew older he married Doris Pinckney. They live up on Saratoga Road in her family homestead. Some of you may have picnicked or partied at Pickney's Grove so you know where Billy lives. The next time I see him at the Center I'll see if we can revive some more memories to share with HTN readers.

Ladies Auxiliary

May and June are especially busy months for the Auxiliary. In addition to the Red Cross Blood Drive and the Annual Alplaus Village Wide Flea Market and Garage Sale detailed below, we are working on planting flowers, putting up the flags along Alplaus Avenue and planning for the Fire Company’s Old Timers Dinner.

The Red Cross Blood Drive will be Friday, May 13^th from 1:30-6:30 pm at the Alplaus Firehouse. This is a wonderful opportunity to give. According to the Red Cross, the U.S. blood supply suffers from chronic shortages and is often less than two days away from "empty." There have been several changes to the donor eligibility guidelines so if you have any questions about your ability to donate call 1-800- GIVE-LIFE or visit their website www.givelife.org. Please make an appointment by calling Robin Driskel at 399-4911 or the Post Office at 399-8048. Walk-ins will be accepted. Please call today.

Coming up, we have the Annual Alplaus Village Wide Flea Market and Garage Sale on Saturday, June 4^th, from 9 am-4 pm. Tables at the firehouse are $15 or you can bring your own table and rent the space for just $10. Please call Robin at 399-4911 to make the necessary reservations. If you are interested in having a garage sale at your house and would like to be put on our map, please sign up at the post office with Kathy. The fee is $5. The cook shack will be open for both breakfast and lunch and we will be offering our usual delicious menu.

Our next meeting is Monday, May 16^th, at the firehouse (please note this change in date). We will be starting at 6:30 pm so that we can enjoy a covered dish supper before our business meeting. If you are interested in joining the Auxiliary or would just like to know more about us please call Vicki at 399-0184. We are always interested in welcoming new members.

by Barbara Casey

Uncle Sam needs you! Alright, it’s not Uncle Sam, but your Alplaus neighbors who need you to help with Fourth of July festivities. The festivities this year will celebrate the 75^th anniversary of the fire department. It requires a small army of people to set up, work at, and break down the various activities for the week. There is a sign-up sheet in the post office (or you can contact Barb Casey at 399-5714 or Mike Sheppeck at 399-7115 if you’d like to help out in some way), but please join us. It’s not much work, it’s a lot of fun to get to know your neighbors better, and it can’t happen without you.

Please feel free as well to make a monetary contribution to the effort. All donations are welcome and can be sent to ARA, PO Box 185, Alplaus, NY 12008. If you’d like it to be a contribution in honor or in memory of someone, please let us know and we’ll include that information in the list of activities we publish.

Sunday, July 3rd Ecumenical Church Service at the firehouse pavilion

Sunday, July 3rd Alplaus Block Party at the firehouse pavilion

Monday, July 4th 31st Anniversary Alplaus Fourth of July Parade down Alplaus Avenue past the firehouse

Please join us for all of the activities!

Floating an Idea

Want to get together with your neighbors for something fun? Consider creating a float in the Alplaus Fourth of July parade, celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Alplaus fire department.

Creative, funny, patriotic—you decide! And putting it all together is a great way to bond with the neighbors. If you’re interested in being a float “captain” for a street float or some other organization of neighbors, contact Mike Sheppeck at 399-7115 or by e-mail at Sheppeck@earthlink.net.

Did we mention prizes? There will be wonderful prizes for the top three floats. Look for details in the June Hometown News.

by Cliff Hayes

From a story this past February; John Montone grew up in Alplaus.

Officials said a 76-year-old woman and her daughter were in the vehicle when her daughter got out of the truck to check on some animals at a home on a hillside above a pool.

According to NBC 7/39, the woman's daughter said that when she came back at about 1:15 pm, the truck was gone.

After rolling about 200 feet down the embankment and into the pool at a house in the 3400 block of Alta Loma Drive, the crushed vehicle came to rest on a pool tarp, which temporarily was able to hold up the vehicle.

The elderly woman was trapped in a pickup truck Monday afternoon after it rolled hundreds of yards downhill and began to submerge in a swimming pool.

Rescuers attempted to get the woman out of the crushed cab of the vehicle before the collapse of the tarp, which some people were holding onto to keep the truck from going under.

The truck slowly submerged, however, and the woman was under for about a minute before she could be extricated.

The victim was unconscious when rescuers took her out of the truck, but after performing CPR, she began to breathe again on her own, according to officials, who said the woman was taken to Grossmont Hospital.

John Montone of the San Diego Rural Fire Department pulled the woman from the vehicle.

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Art Harris

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

HOME TOWN NEWS

ALPLAUS, NEW YORK 12008

May 2005 Vol. 129 No. 5

New Developments. If you’re interested in Concord Development’s proposed townhouse development, here’s the latest:

E. GRAY WATKINS

Just a Day in the Life

of a Firefighter

THOMAS H. CULVER 399-5557

BLACKTOP

EDITOR/PUBLISHER Art Harris

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

HOME TOWN NEWS

ALPLAUS, NEW YORK 12008

May 2005 Vol. 129 No. 5­­­­­­­­­­

New Developments. If you’re interested in Concord Development’s proposed townhouse development, here’s the latest:

E. GRAY WATKINS

Just a Day in the Life

of a Firefighter

THOMAS H. CULVER 399-5557

BLACKTOP

May 2005 Vol. 129 No. 5