Alplaus Home Town News September 2002
Editor/Publisher: Art Harris Reporter: Betty Vedder
Alplaus Traffic Safety Committee
By Alice Culver
Fred Mastroianni, Chairman of the Town of Glenville Traffic Safety Committee, requested the Alplaus Residents Association to set up a local committee to work with him on concerns voiced at the annual ARA meeting. These concerns pertain to the traffic in Alplaus.
Members of the committee are: Alice Culver, Bob Culver, Brod Cutting, Gary Fisher, Jeff Sheely, Cheryl Tunny, and Chris Williams.
Mr. Mastroianni and Mr. Clarence Mosher, our town supervisor, met with the committee. Mr. Mosher has received word from Mr. Schmidt from the county that a traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Alplaus and Maple Avenues. This is to be done this fall. Tom Melander will ask to have it be a blinking light during the non-peak traffic hours.
Mr. Melander has done traffic studies on both Bruce Drive and Alplaus Avenue. He will present his findings at the town Traffic Safety Meeting in September. I will post a copy of his report at our post office.
In the spring you should have received "The Glenville Newsletter" in the mail. Inside the newsletter was a four page "Transportation Survey". If you didn't receive that survey or didn't fill it out, please pick up a copy at the Alplaus Post Office. Mr. Mosher has assured us that your comments and/or information that you check off will be used.
September Fall is almost here and the evenings grow shorter and cooler right on schedule. For many this is like a second New Year's: Back to the old grind of school and work after a summer of vacations and more fun than you can stand (almost!).
Added to our fall routines this year will be a time of remembering the terrible events of 9/11/2001 and those who lost their lives in them. May we all maintain extra vigilance to prevent such tragedy from occurring again. Extra time in security check lines and our support of the War on Terrorism are a small price to pay for added safety in the world today.
The effort to extend community sewer lines to all of Alplaus and hook up with the new line on Maple Avenue seems to have stalled over the summer. (See Rick Fleming's ARA report) You might want to talk to town and county officials about this issue if you feel strongly about it.
And good news about the campaign for a traffic light at the intersection of Alplaus and Maple Avenues. It will be here this fall! see Alice Culver's report on Page 1. .AWH
Art's new e-mail address: arthur.harris@earthlink.net
September is here already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, believe it or not, the Christmas catalogue mailings have started, along with election materials and our local school information. This makes for some over-stuffed mail boxes. Please check your Post Office Box for a yellow card indicating if you have a package or your box is just full to capacity. If anyone has any yellow cards floating around at home, please drop them back off to be reused.
I would like to thank again Terry McGovern for all his help in painting the exterior of the Post Office. We hear comments on a daily basis on how lovely the Alplaus Post Office looks. Another thank you to Mario Ciancetta who is always smiling as he tinkers and repairs odds and ends around here.
Our sales are still doing quite well. Please encourage co-workers, friends and family to use the Alplaus Post Office to support its existence, and remind them that this is an alternative to the long lines at the larger postal facilities. Plus we offer free coffee, beautiful artwork to look at and a little bit of history!!
Thank you again for your support.
Kathy Boyle
On June 11th, ten veteran aviation mechanics from this region were presented with the Charles E. Taylor "Master Mechanic" award in ceremonies at the Polish Community Center. The Taylor award program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation and is administered by the FAA.
Charles Taylor was the Wright brothers' mechanic and it was largely through his efforts, which included building the engine from scratch, that the Wright flyer made history at Kitty Hawk.
We were very pleased to hear that Roger Story was one of the ten persons from this region to receive this award. His name will be added to a national roster of mechanics that have more than 50 years of service in aviation.
On behalf of the HTN, Alplaus neighbors and friends, we congratulate Roger for his achievements.
Cassandra, who is one of our Alplaus teenagers, is this year's winner of the Foundation's Scholarship in Niskayuna High School. This award was presented for her outstanding leadership and scholarship.
She has served as editor-in-chief of the Warrior and has been published in 21st Century and Imagine, a national publication for the gifted. She was a principal trombone in the Empire State Youth Orchestra and was in the All-State Wind Ensemble. Cassandra also served as both elected and appointed representative for Niskayuna High School. She received the Harvard Book Award, Bausch and Lomb Award and was an A P Scholar with Distinction. She also won a regional first medal in both Sound of Music and Physics Lab events.
Needless to say, we are very proud and happy to report
of her outstanding performances. We wish her the very best and continued
success with her education at Harvard University this fall.
Our long time friend and neighbor has very recently moved to Norwood Nursing home in Troy for the time being. Bob has had failing health problems for quite a while and now needs special care and attention.
Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with him.
It was with sincere sorrow that we received the news of Ted's death. The Schwarz family has been a very important part of our lives here in Alplaus. Ted and Louise left wonderful memories among us along with three sons, Ted, Carl and Peter.
Ted, Jr. passed away in August. He had a long and courageous
battle with diabetes. We express our caring thoughts to his wife, Darlene,
brothers and children and those who were very close friends.
"The Yankee Doodle Entertainers" will present their 2002 show immediately after lunch at the Meal Site on Friday September 13th at 1 PM. This is a senior group who perform musical entertainment at centers in the local area.
Reservations for lunch at noon are necessary and can be
made by calling the Meal Site at 393-1946.
This is a popular weekend event held on Saturday and Sunday, September 28th and 29th from 1 until 5 PM each afternoon. There are entries from the Town of Glenville citizens.
It takes place at the Senior Center, 32 Worden Road. Refreshments
are offered in an area for the viewers to relax, socialize and discuss the
entries of the show.
As many of you know, Eddie Casey, son of Harry and Kathy Casey from 316 Alplaus Ave., is a Glenville policeman working here in our area. The New York State Police Olympics was held at the Boy's Academy in Albany and from this event Eddie received a silver medal for weight lifting.If you see Ed riding around in his police car, don't panic, just say "Hi" and congratulate him.
Harry and Kathy's other son, Chris, has been working and living in Florida, but has now accepted a new job locally. He and his wife will be moving back this fall.
The Alplaus Fire Company Commissioner's meeting will be
held this month on Monday, September the 16th at 7:30 PM. These meetings
are open to the public.
Harry Casey will resume his clinic in September on Thursday the 12th He will once again be stationed at the Fire House from 3 until 5 PM.
Be sure to stop in to check your pressure and have a chat
with Harry. He gets bored if he doesn't have many of his friends and neighbors
in, so stop by and keep him happy.
Alplaus Fire Station
The covered dish luncheon for September will not be held this month because of the busy beginning fall schedules. This is the regular lunch that is held at the Alplaus Church in Fellowship Hall.
The luncheons will resume in October on the second Tuesday
of the month.
Ladies Auxiliary
We will have our first meeting after our summer break on September 23rd at 6:30 PM at the firehouse. It will be a covered dish supper so everyone should bring a dish to share.
Our first order of business will be to analyze how we fared on our flea market and garage sale in June. By all accounts we did record breaking business. We thank all those who assisted for making it possible.
With those proceeds and those from the sweatshirt sales, which have also done well, we are investigating purchasing a sign for the firehouse.
We will also begin planning for the Halloween party and parade at the firehouse as well as a blood drive for the Red Cross. Check these pages for the date of that blood drive which we are hoping to hold this fall.
If you are interested in joining us or in learning more
about us, please contact Robin Driskel at 399-4911.
Greetings from the Alplaus Resident's Association.
After a wonderful summer it's back into the routines of school and work. The parade, block party, and services were all excellent events, and kudos to all those that worked to make sure that everything went smoothly. There are two main issues that everyone should be aware of.
Sewers! Movement on this issue seems slower and slower but the Town of Glenville is getting to the final stages of a proposal to be brought to the residents for a vote. Each homeowner in the affected area will have the opportunity to vote yes or no. A majority of households and a majority of assessed valuation must vote yes in order for the project to proceed. We are still hopeful that this project can be installed next summer.
The Alplaus Run Around is in jeopardy. The ARA is in dire need of someone to coordinate the event. The event is scheduled to be held on October 26th. If, however, the ARA does not have someone that can donate some time to coordinating the event, we will be forced to postpone it. Please contact me by Monday September 16th if you are willing to take charge of this event. If we do not have a person to direct this event by this date we will be forced to cancel the entire event. There are people that assist with the event, but this event needs a person in charge. Please call Rick Fleming at 384-3707 if you are willing to take on this task.
Rick Fleming, ARA President
From Harry Casey's Home Page: Alplaus Weather
August 2002 Summary
(Harry's weather data unavailable at press time.)
September 2002 Moon Phases
The Old Farmers Almanac for Sept. 2002
Forecasts for Region 6: Upstate New York
As you all know, the stock market has not been in the greatest shape lately. It seems that, because of current economic conditions, many companies are contemplating mergers and acquisitions. Here are a few to keep an eye on:
FAIRCHILD ELECTRONICS and HONEYWELL COMPUTERS. (The new company will be called Fairwell Honey Child.)
POLYGRAM RECORDS, WARNER BROTHERS, and KEEBLER. (The new company will be called Poly-Warner-Cracker.)
3M and GOODYEAR. (The new company will be called MMM Good.)
DENNISON MINES, ALLIANCE, and METAL MINING. (The new company will be called Mine All Mine.)
MOTOROLA AND ENRON. (The new company will be called Moron.)
By Gray Watkins
Standing at the end of the runway, waiting for the breeze to shift to his back, he gripped the pole and closed his eyes, visualizing the scene he had witnessed so often before.
It was just before dark on a warm summer evening, and he was walking on the edge of town, watching the lights come on in the houses of his neighbors. The streets were quiet and the birds sang softly, nestled in the lush green trees, hidden by the leaves that floated and danced in the cool sweet air.
A feeling of strength and calm swept over him, making his muscles taut, energized for the familiar event he had trained so long and hard for. His mind's eye played out the dream he had dreamed a thousand times, as he imagined himself walk faster, then run, tensing his every fiber, straining against gravity until he willed himself into flight, soaring up above the trees and rooftops, feeling the cool wind in his face. He swooped down past the town square, along Main Street where a couple walked with their young child. As the child looked skyward, she exclaimed: "Mommy, Daddy, look-there's a flying person!" Before the parents could focus on the swiftly-moving figure in the darkening sky, he soared up again and away towards the hills outside town. Back on the runway, his eyes blinked open as he felt a gentle hand of support at his back. The breeze had shifted to assist his approach. He breathed in and out three times, and toed the take-off mark, lifting the long pole, ready to begin his run towards the bar raised high above the expectant crowd at the end of the runway.
He paused for one more long moment, allowing his dream to continue, as his imaginary counterpart swept low over the hills, flying briefly alongside a hawk returning from her evening hunt, eyeing one another in silent respect and admiration.
His dream sequence ended as he returned to the edge of town, flying low through a crystalline blue sky, descending until he could run, then slow to a walk, finally resuming his evening walk, no one except the little girl having witnessed his brief joyous flight.
Refreshed by his dream, he took one final deep breath, and began his run. Each step was measured, so that he would take off from the same point every time. He increased his speed with every step, knees up, head held high, as he approached the box where he would plant the pole.
At full speed, he raised the pole high above his head, planted it in the box and drove himself forward, feeling the pole bend in a wide arc, as he dropped his head backward, briefly suspended upside down.
The energy stored in the pole was suddenly released as the pole unbent, throwing him skyward, up and over the bar for a delicious instant of weightlessness, before the inevitable pull of gravity brought him down into the pit.
The polite applause from the crowd reminded him of the goal he had achieved: a new record in the 50-54 year old age group at the Empire State Games. He smiled and hugged his family and thanked God and thanked the officials and other competitors who had waited through the long hot day while the bar was slowly raised. His smile was not of pride but of satisfaction that he had, once again, been able to live his dream, if only for one joyous moment.
Alplaus
Fire Department August Calls
Date Alarm Time Situation Found Street Respondents Fire-Fighter Hours
08/02/02 10:19 Medical emergency Valleywood Drive 6 2.5
08/04/02 02:53 Medical emergency Glenridge Road 9 3.9
08/07/02 18:49 Medical emergency Glenhill Road 10 10.7
08/11/02 09:11 Medical emergency St. Anthony Drive 9 4.8
08/11/02 23:25 Medical emergency First Street 6 3.3
08/12/02 11:14 Mutual Aid Scene Air National Base 9 2.1
08/12/02 15:14 Medical emergency St. Anthony Lane 8 4.4
08/14/02 16:16 Mutual Aid Standby Alplaus Fire Station 10 5.5
09/17/02 22:09 Grass/Brush Fire Maritime Drive 7 3.5
08/20/02 16:44 Car fire Glenridge Road 10 2.5
08/21/02 19:36 Other emergency Glenridge Road 11 3.9
08/24/02 14:19 Medical emergency Glenridge Road 5 2.9
08/29/02 22:00 Other emergency C/O Alplaus and Bath 6 1.9
08/30/02 08:18 Grass/brush fire Hetcheltown Road 6 4.9
08/31/02 05:30 Medical emergency St. Anthony Lane 8 5.0
08/31/02 07:05 Grass/brush fire Hetcheltown Road 12 40.2
This annual event will be held on Saturday, October 5th at 6:00 PM. The
meal is prepared by Mary Ann's Catering Service. They put on a very plentiful,
delicious and special fall buffet.
The Tri City Banjo Band has been scheduled for entertainment following the feast. The tickets are $10 and are available at the front desk of the Glenville Senior Center.