Alplaus Home Town News March 2004
Editor/Publisher: Art Harris Reporter: Betty Vedder
Our annual St. Patrick's celebration is scheduled for Sunday, March 14, 2004. As always a delicious and most generous meal will be served. The Irish banquet will feature corned beef, ham, cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rye bread, cake coffee, tea and soda.
This will be held at the Alplaus fire house hall from 4 until 6 p.m. The cost is $7 each. Come join us with a happy Irish smile and enjoy this special activity. It's a time when every one is Irish no matter what. If you have anything green to wear put it on, if you don't, come anyway.
Reservations must be in by Wednesday, March 10th, call
372-1124 and leave a message on the tape.
Alplaus Historical Society Meeting
The Alplaus Historical Society will hold a meeting at 2 pm on Saturday, March 20th at the Firehouse. We invite all who are interested in the rich history of Alplaus and its residents down through the years to attend.
We are especially interested in oral, written, and picture
records from years gone by. Remember, as Bob Culver says, "History
began yesterday".
Just when you can't stand another day of stay-indoors-cold-and-nasty-weather the sun decides to show us all it is stronger than the grip of ice and snow! Spring is on its way at last.
March is a busy month in Alplaus. With the celebration of Youth pot luck dinner at the church on March 6th, a St. Patrick's Day dinner on March 14th, the Annual Alplaus Resident's Association meeting on March 25th, and all the regular monthly happenings no one can say that there's nothing to do in Alplaus.
AWH
The postal service has several new stamps that will be issued throughout 2004. Available now at the post office is the very beautiful Pacific Coral Reef Stamp. Also available now is the Year of the Monkey. Upcoming and scheduled for release at the end of March will be a Dr. Seuss Stamp and a sure to be popular Art of Disney Stamp is scheduled to be released in June/July.
These are just samples of what will be released this year. I also have in stock the Breast Cancer Awareness Stamp, the Hero Stamp and the Stop Family Violence Stamp. These stamps cost $9.00 for a sheet of 20. The extra profit goes to the cause each represents.
With 2003 over and tax time upon us I have ordered many of the Federal Income tax forms you may need to file your returns. Sorry I have no state forms, but I am told they can be ordered on-line.
On another note, George Farrall, a local resident of Rexford, has recently published a book called The Amusement Park at Rexford. It is a very well written history of the park with plenty of old photographs. Many of the photographs taken are by deceased Alplaus resident Francis Spoonogle. I remember Francis as many of you do, walking the streets of Alplaus, chatting about the history of Alplaus and never being without his camera.
If you have an interest in purchasing this nostalgic book, it is available at the post office.
Think Spring,
Kathy Boyle
We had our first business meeting of the year last Monday night and are pleased to welcome three new members to the Auxiliary: Iris Scott, Donna Hastings and Vicki Stoodley. It's wonderful to see our membership growing.
We will start this year's fund raising by selling summer flower bulbs and perennials (this recent warm spell certainly reminds us that spring is coming!). You can order your flowers from any Auxiliary member or at the Alplaus Post Office through the month of April. We still have a number of our Alplaus sweatshirts available at the Post Office.
The Red Cross Blood Drive was such a success last year that we decided to hold it again. It is scheduled for Friday, April 30, from 2-7 pm. We will have a sign up sheet at the Post Office shortly. We have also scheduled our annual flea market and garage sale for Saturday, June 5th. Please mark your calendars with these dates.
We would like to thank Kim Sheely for decorating Alplaus Avenue with the beautiful swags on our street signs this winter and for the yellow ribbons on our trees.
Our next business meeting will be Monday, March 22nd, at
7:00 PM in the Alplaus Post Office. The Auxiliary is open to all women who
live within the fire district. We are always interested in welcoming new
members. Please feel free to attend any of our meetings. Call Vicki Watkins
at 399-0184 if you have any questions.
By Matt Hopkins and Cherie Vedder
All major indoor renovations are complete with the exception of the countertops and the installation of electrical and plumbing fixtures. YFC is in the process of interviewing candidates to manage the coffee-house.
For more information on the vision of Samuel's come to the pot luck supper at Alplaus United Methodist Church on Saturday, March 6th @ 5:30 pm.
Thank you for your ongoing support!!!!!!!!!!
By Bob Culver
Awards were presented at the Alplaus Fire Company Annual Banquet held at the Woodlin Club February 7, 2004.
Fire Company members, Fire Commissioners and representatives of our mutual aid companies enjoyed a fine dinner and humorous remarks and awards by Asst. Chief Steve Gabris.
Mutual aid companies represented were; Stratton Air Guard, Jim Acors; East Glenville, Scott Pike; Rexford, Randy Paquin; Thomas Corners, Tim Graves; and Beukendaal, Josh Walter. Representing the Glenville Police Dept. were Jack Purdy and Nick Macherone.
Humorous awards went to Joe Beaver, Carl Nappi, and Gary Hastings, as "The Alplaus Construction Company", Norm Mullins and Mike Sheppeck for their diligence in paper work, Jim Palmer for "Best Drill Attendance Improvement Gimmick" and Jim Majewski for "The Longest Drill".
Alplaus Fire Department High Point Winners:
(Non Firemanic Officers)
Chris Williams 50
Art Lyman 55
Gary Hastings 56
Bill Vedder 58
Don Cartwright 58
Jim Palmer 61
Carl Nappi 70
Bob Culver 71
Andimo Coppola 72
Tom Kiernan 77
Joe Beaver 78
By Barb Casey, ARA President 399-5714/ bcasey@skidmore.edu
It's a Date
The Alplaus Residents Association annual meeting will be held Thursday, March 25th at 7 pm at the firehouse. The Board has voted to increase membership dues from $1 per person per year to $3 per person per year, or $5 per household, so when you attend the meeting, please bring your dues with you so that we can continue to support Skye Farm camperships, support the Alplaus Fourth of July parade, and continue other activities.
Updates on various community activities and the presentation of the Citizen of the Year award will also be a part of our annual meeting.
We will likely also hold a meeting to discuss SEWERS only on Monday, March 15th, also at 7 pm at the firehouse. This will not be confirmed until I know that town officials will be able to come on that date. Flyers will be delivered to all homes announcing both meetings.
Please plan to attend both meetings, if possible. The current fact sheet about sewers is included below.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Installation and Upgrades
Alplaus Sewer System
Draft Fact Sheet as of 2/28/04)
As we move into the petitioning process, residents of Alplaus need to keep several things in mind:
1) The Alplaus Residents Association and the Town of Glenville continue to seek ways to further reduce these costs, including seeking government grants and low-interest rate programs, as well as talking to Rexford neighbors (including Glencliff School) about being added to the system. We are vigorously pursuing these options and are investigating sources of funding that might help lower-income residents.
2) The City of Schenectady has indicated plans to impose a $200 per home connection charge and to triple the usage rates it currently charges the Town of Glenville. These fees would affect everyone currently using the Alplaus Sewer District and any new homes that join the system, and significantly add to the costs that everyone will experience.
3) Alplaus has a serious situation that will need to be resolved one way or the other. Because many septic tanks are failing as residents wait for a resolution of this process, the Town of Glenville will need to take action whether or not our petition is approved. If we don't make a choice, a choice at higher cost may be made for us.
The new sewer system will be a gravity system that uses grinder pumps where necessary. Septic tanks will need to be filled and lines installed to each home. Homes that already have sewers have a gravity system, which will need upgrades and repairs for leaks and infiltration of ground water. Also, the present treatment plant will need to be replaced with lift pump(s) to connect into the Maple Avenue line.
Estimated costs associated with new sewer system installation
All costs are estimates, based on information compiled by Kestner Engineers, a consulting firm for the Town of Glenville, along with information developed by the ARA sewer sub-committee.
Total Project Cost $2,100,000
Debt Service per House $550/year
Operation & Maintenance $80/year
Usage $240/year
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Total yearly cost $770/year
This includes construction, operation & maintenance costs, and electrical service for pressure system only, and treatment charges (based on 80,000 gallons/year usage-households with one or two people can expect significantly less usage).
Installation (one-time costs)
Permit fee $500 to be paid through the construction bond
Connection charge $200 for ALL Alplaus homes
Filling Septic Tanks $450 (estimated) for 1000 gallon tank
Other issues associated with the new sewer system installation
Construction will entail driveway cuts; trees and shrubs removal and replacement
Plumbing from home to property line at $25/ft. If your home is 70' from road your cost would be $1750.
Quality of ground water and creek will be significantly improved by moving from septic to sewer system.
Projected improvements for existing system
Repair or replace leaking lines in existing gravity sewer
Decommission existing treatment plant and connect to Maple
Avenue line
The monthly covered lunch get together will be held on Tuesday, March 9th from 11:30 am until 2 pm. It is held in Fellowship Hall at the Alplaus Methodist Church and is open to the public. There are delicious foods prepared by professional cooks.
Everyone is welcome. Bring a dish to share if you can and plan for a pleasant afternoon with friends and neighbors.
The clinic this month is scheduled for Thursday, March 11th from 3 until 5 pm. Harry will be waiting at the Alplaus Firehouse with his implements to take your pressure.
This is an activity he has been performing for many years.
It's his labor of love for his friends and neighbors. He is well experienced;
you can trust him and be very thankful for his service.
Alplaus Fire Station
There will be a pot luck dinner at the Alplaus Church on Saturday, March 6th at 5:30 p.m. The program's purpose is to learn more about the local Boy Scouts, after school programs, M.Y.F., Samuel's, Teens actions and camperships.
Everyone is invited to attend, bring a dish to share and a friend. It has been suggested to bring a canned or packaged food for SICM Food Pantry. This is optional. Place settings will be provided.
A "Think Spring" covered dish dinner will be held on Sunday, March 21st. This will be held at the Glenville Senior Center on Worden Road at 1:00 pm. This is actually the first day of spring so we're planning on a beautiful day with no snow, sleet or rain.
Roger will be there early with his familiar music to dance by. Following the meal the program will feature the Sweet Adelines who are dedicated to learning and singing the American art form of barbershop harmony.
The covered dish events are sanctioned by the Meal Center and put on by the Social Committee, membership is not required, we do appreciate for those who are attending to sign up or call the Center at 393-1946. This gives us a number for set up for.
We do put up some extra places for those who decide to
come at the last moment. Come join us for a most enjoyable afternoon, please
bring a dish to share.
On Tuesday, March 2nd a Presidential Primary Election will be held at the Alplaus Firehouse. The polls will be open from noon until 9:00 p.m. Registered Democrats are the only ones who can vote, it is not for any other party members. Non-Democrat friends and neighbors can stop in to say "Hello" but cannot vote at this time.
We do urge those of you who can vote to stop by and take
advantage of your right to choose the people you feel are best qualified
for the position they are seeking.
Dorothy and Richard Ziegler are proud to announce the birth of their first grandchild. Zoe Emma Ziegler was born December 17th in Boston. She was 8 lbs. and 12 oz.
The proud parents are Ricky and Denne Arruda Ziegler. They live in Marlboro, Massachusetts. Best Wishes to all of our Alplaus friends. Love from Dorothy and Richard Ziegler.
Ted and Louise Schwarz made had an impact on the youth of our community during the years that they lived in Alplaus.
Their son, Carl, followed their example when he made a large donation in memory of his parents to the Alplaus Methodist Church, and designated that the money was to be used for youth programs in the Church and open to all youth of the community, independent of their affiliation.
A committee was formed to work with Carl and Kelly Kissane from Burnt Hills who was hired as the director of the program. Through her hard work the program was started last fall for any interested Middle and Senior High School students. Then the elementary program was started and that program now has the number of students in it that can be handled at this time. Cherrie Vedder has recently been hired to help with the Middle and Senior High students.
Although Carl moved from Alplaus to Rotterdam and last fall to Delmar, he has been the driving force behind the programs and also a member of the Board of Trustees at the Church.
Carl has accepted a job offer in Buffalo. He and his wife Barb will be moving there soon.
Although he moved from Alplaus, he kept returning evenings during the week to work on the racing car with Jeff Sheely and then going to the races on weekends. He attended the July 4th activities here regularly.
Alplaus has been a special place for Carl and he has assured us that he'll keep in touch and keep Alplaus and the Church in his prayers.
The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
The French eat a lot of fat and drink red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
The Japanese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
The Italians drink excessive amounts of red wine and also suffer fewer heart attacks than the British or Americans.
CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you
Fire
Department February Calls
Calls by Date and Time for February 2004 (through 2/24/04)
Date Alarm Time Call Type Location # FireFighters FF-Hrs
03 FEB 2004 12:16 Medical Rescue Alplaus Avenue 5 2.9
06 FEB 2004 09:32 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 4 1.9
09 FEB 2004 11:48 Medical Emergency Bruce Drive 5 1.2
12 FEB 2004 17:37 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 6 2.2
12 FEB 2004 18:58 Medical Emergency Bath Street 6 2.7
13 FEB 2004 08:39 Vehicle Accident Glenridge & Hetcheltown 5 2.6
14 FEB 2004 18:55 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 4 1.6
16 FEB 2004 20:17 Medical Emergency Alplaus Avenue 9 3.5
16 FEB 2004 21:03 Vehicle Accident Maple Avenue 7 3.9
19 FEB 2004 17:05 Medical Emergency Mountainwood Drive 7 4.0
20 FEB 2004 09:56 Medical Emergency St Jude Lane 5 1.8
20 FEB 2004 10:35 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 7
3.2