Alplaus Home Town News September 2003
Editor/Publisher: Art Harris Reporter: Betty Vedder
Fall is approaching, but the lawns and gardens are responding to our September rains with spring-like growth. My rain gauge at 14 Hill Street measured 3 inches plus in the first four days of September quite unusual for Alplaus. There's no denying that the days are shorter now and the leaves are turning. It's time to enjoy the fall weather and get ready for what's ahead.
We were privileged to attend the boat launching ceremony at the Maritime Academy on June 20th. It was a grand affair with not one but two boats launched: An Alplaus Bateau and a Skiff. These boats were built by students of Capital Region BOCES at the academy on the bank of the Mohawk at the end of Maritime Drive (just down stream from the Alplaus Marina).
The boats are outstanding craft in construction and in operation as demonstrated at the launching. The bateau will be used by the Mabee Farm in Rotterdam Junction as part of their presentations of life along the Mohawk River in colonial times.
.AWH
A Public hearing was held on Wednesday evening, September 3, 2003, at the Glenville Town Board Meeting at Town Hall. This hearing concerned a proposed resolution before the board to post a weight limit of 4 tons for trucks on Bruce Drive in the hamlet of Alplaus. Such a limit would effectively stop such trucks from using Alplaus roads as a shortcut between Route 146/Glenridge Road and Maple Avenue/Freeman's Bridge Road/Route 50.
The volume and speed of truck traffic through Alplaus has seemed to increase in recent years. And more homes have been built on Bruce Drive, making it less suitable for such traffic. A better route for truckers would be to cross the river at Rexford on Route 146 and turn down Aqueduct Avenue and Maxon Road to Freeman's Bridge on Erie Boulevard/Freeman's Bridge Road. This route has been recently widened and straightened to be the best route into Schenectady from Clifton Park and Burnt Hills.
There were 25 Alplaus residents at the public hearing last Wednesday evening. Eight spoke from the floor expressing their concern for the safety of walkers and children along the roads of our village with these heavy trucks on our village streets. No one spoke against the proposed weight limit posting on Bruce Drive.
There will be action taken on this matter at the next town board meeting on Wednesday, September 17th. Your presence will encourage the board to take positive action for the safety of Alplaus residents.
Greetings!
I would like to introduce myself, I am Kate Greenslit and am working with Matt Hopkins and Cherri Vedder and will be operating Samuel's.
I grew up down the road in Vischer Ferry. I graduated high school locally and received my Bachelor's degree from Houghton College in western NY. After graduation I took some culinary and management classes at Schenectady County Community College. My fiancé, David Humphries, has recently moved into the Alplaus Community (43 Hill St.) and I can't wait to live in the community after our March wedding.
The plan for Samuel's is to be a coffee shop. We will offer coffee, espresso drinks, Italian sodas, teas and boba drinks (Taiwanese tapioca beverages). We will also offer tasty pastries and baked goodies.
As you may have seen, we have been doing lots of work on the building: putting up siding, painting the interior, tiling the floor, and lots more. But we still have many jobs to go including hanging windows, painting, fashioning molding and trim. Thanks to everyone who has given of his or her time and resources to help. If you are interested in helping, please contact Cherri, Matt or myself. We'd love to work with you. The donations that have been given have been put to good use! If you wish to give monetary support, please send checks to CDYFC, 293 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, NY 12110. Please write "Samuel's" in the memo and that money will be used to get Samuel's open.
We are working hard to get open within the next few months and look forward to meeting you all. I am really excited by the progress that has taken place inside of the building. Feel free to stop by and see the new look. I look forward to meeting you and your family!
Sincerely,
Kate Greenslit
Alplaus Sewer Information
The following is an update to the Alplaus Residents Association meeting in March, at which we discussed two options for sewers for those Alplaus homes that are without them. We have asked the Town to try to decrease the cost estimates provided at that meeting by 1) exploring adding some homes from Rexford to any new sewer district, 2) investigating possible funding from state and federal sources, 3) getting an additional estimate from another engineering firm, and 4) reviewing the entire proposal for any other ways that costs can be cut. Here are some basic facts about where we stand.
Part of Alplaus is currently serviced by a sewer district and the other part of Alplaus utilizes individual septic systems.
The current Alplaus wastewater treatment plant will require substantial upgrades to comply with wastewater treatment standards.
Many of the individual septic systems are inadequate.
A new main sewer line runs the length of Maple Avenue and transports waste to the Schenectady wastewater treatment plant.
Alplaus residents have an opportunity to create a sewer district(s) that could hook up to the sewer line on Maple Avenue.
In order to create a sewer district a petition must be submitted to the Town of Glenville that has the support of more than half the total number of affected households and more than half the total assessed value of the affected households.
The Alplaus Residents Association (ARA) has a sewer committee that has been working with the Town of Glenville to identify the options for sewer systems and the cost of those options.
As soon as the proposals have been examined by the Town and cost information is available, there will be another meeting at the Alplaus Fire House. Everyone is encouraged to attend the meeting. In addition to holding a public meeting, the ARA will disseminate pertinent information to all households before residents are petitioned.
We will notify you as soon as the meeting is scheduled hopefully sometime within the next month or two.
In the meantime if you have any questions, feel free to contact one of the members of the committee.
ARA Sewer Sub-Committee
Name Phone E-mail
Barb Casey 399-5714 bcasey@skidmore.edu
Gary Withey 399-2428 gwithey2@nycap.rr.com
Art Harris 399-8320 arthur.harris@earthlink.net
Gray Watkins 399-0184 graywatkins@graywatkinslaw.com
Rick Fleming 384-3707 teachfleming@aol.com
September 1, 2003
Barb Casey, President ARA
We will have our next business meeting on September 22nd at 7:30 p.m. at the Alplaus Fire House.
We will be sponsoring a Glenville Ladies Auxiliary Association meeting on Sept. 24th.
If you are interested in learning more about us, please call Robin at 399-4911. We are always looking for new members
A new pastor arrived at the Alplaus Methodist Church as of the beginning of the summer. The Reverend Yohang Chun was born in Korea and educated in Drew University. He has worked for several years as a youth director for the Korean Methodist Church on Balltown Road. He has a wife, Joyce, and a darling two year old daughter named Melissa.
The regular morning worship service will begin at 10:15
a.m. on Sunday, September 7th. Sunday School will begin on Sunday, September
21st at 9:00 a.m. Everyone is warmly welcome to attend.
The luncheon will resume on Tuesday, September 9th in Fellowship Hall of the Alplaus Church. It will be great to get together again for good food, fun and fellowship.
Everyone is welcome to come, bring a dish to share if you
can. This is held between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
In a recent Gazette an article was entitled "Sheely doesn't mind hitting the road to satisfy his love for racing". As many of you know this is our neighbor at 244 Alplaus Avenue. Jeff began his stock car racing in the late 1970's and gained some notoriety in the early 1980's when he was driving on Friday nights at Albany - Saratoga Speedway. Jeff has raced locally for a number of years. He puts together his own stock cars at his own expense. He would like to get some sponsorship for his car but knows how to live without it.
Now he hauls to Thunder Mountain on Saturday nights, this
is out by Binghamton. He likes it there because everyone is equal and he
can be competitive. It might take some time but it's worth it. It's the
love of his life, along with his wife, Kim and his sons, Tucker and Dylan.
Harry Casey is planning to resume his clinic on Thursday, September 11th. As always it will be held at the Alplaus Fire House from 3:00 until 5:00 p.m.
It is very important to take good care of yourself so stop in to see Harry for a check up.
Alplaus Fire Station
A Gazette article was entitled "Nappi becomes Union tailback" which caught our attention. He is one of our own, son of Dianne and Carl Nappi. His Coach Audino said he appreciates Nappi's all - around excellence and attitude. "Chris has been a punt and kick returner for us, and he's capable of big plays. He is a complete back." Your Home Town News and community is mighty proud of you, Chris, keep up the good work!
This will be held on Saturday and Sunday, October 25th and 26th at 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Senior Center on Worden Road. Everyone, Town residents and Senior members, is invited to show their works or come to browse.
If you do needlepoint, crochet, knitting, woodcarving, wood working, sculpting or sketch and paint in charcoal, pastels, watercolor, oils or any medium we would love to have you display your talent at our art show. You don't have to be a senior to display.
Entry forms will be available at the front desk in the
Center or call Betty at 399-0427 to pick one up.
by Betty Vedder
On the past Fourth of July, Bill and I had a very pleasant surprise to greet Bucky Bounds at our front door. Bucky and his wife, Sandy lived on Second Street here in Alplaus several years ago. They were friends of many and active neighbors in the community. What was even a greater surprise; they had Sheepy Christiance with them.
Way back when, the Christiances were a very prominent family in our hamlet. Sheepy was born and brought up here and, as a teenager, found his wife to be. She was a local girl named Barbara Delong whom we called Bobby. They were a devoted couple and close friends to many of us. When we saw Bobby wasn't with them they said she had passed away in April with cancer. We were shocked and so sorry to here the news. Sheepy has returned to Florida where he has been living with his daughter.
We who knew them can share many memories of them. Some were most sorrowful
but many were most pleasant and joyful. We were very fortunate they were
an important and meaningful part of our lives.
Many years ago the building, which is now Samuels, was owned by Bob and Marian Morris. Bob operated it as a grocery store and was well known for his excellent meat produce. When he became ill they sold out and moved to Florida where he passed away.
Marian remained in Florida, only to come back to visit occasionally. We recently received word that she had been ill for some time and has passed away. I know there are some who can remember these folks and feel sad as I do. They were such good people to live with and that's what Alplaus is all about, not only then but also now. There's a great group of people to live with.
As many of you know, Gray Watkins enjoys participating in the athletic contest of Pole Vaulting. He just seems to fly through the air with the greatest of ease! Each year, for some time, he has entered the Empire State Games to come in first within his age group.
This year it was in Buffalo where Gray set a new record
of 12 feet 2 inches for his group. He certainly can be proud of his accomplishment.
Now we know he will not brag about it, he is not that type. We friends and
neighbors can brag about him so let's do it. Congratulations, Gray, we might
say you just can't keep a good man down and you have proved it, we sincerely
are very proud of you.
CHURCH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his five-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said:
"Glory be unto the Faaaather. and unto the Sonnn..... and into the hole he gooooes.."
SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write and they won't let me talk!"
BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found", the boy called out.
"What have you got there, dear?"
With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear."
YMCA
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in
the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks,
with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched
in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen
a little boy before?"
TAlplaus Fire Departments Calls-August
Calls by Date & Time for August 2003
Date Time Call Type Location # Fire Fighters FF-Hrs
30 AUG 2003 19:29 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 9 6.0
27 AUG 2003 17:49 False Alarm Fire Route 146 9 2.9
26 AUG 2003 21:56 Vehicle Accident Alplaus Avenue 8 6.8
26 AUG 2003 17:36 Medical Emergency Maplewood Drive 8 4.2
23 AUG 2003 00:50 Vehicle Accident Maple Avenue 4 3.2
22 AUG 2003 09:11 Vehicle Accident Glenridge Road 5 2.5
21 AUG 2003 13:54 Medical Emergency Maple Avenue 7 1.6
21 AUG 2003 10:58 Medical Emergency Glenridge Road 4 2.5
17 AUG 2003 12:44 Medical Emergency Woodcrest Drive 6 2.6
16 AUG 2003 09:28 Medical Emergency Hill Street 7 3.5
11 AUG 2003 07:56 Other Emergency Maple Avenue 5 5.7
07 AUG 2003 21:08 Grass/Brush Fire Maplewood Drive 11 2.2
07 AUG 2003 14:39 Other Emergency Glenridge Road 6 4.8
04 AUG 2003 21:03 Other Emergency Glenridge Road 25 9.5
04 AUG 2003 09:50 Medical Rescue Glenridge Road 5 3.2
03 AUG 2003 12:44 Other Fire Acorn Drive 11 3.9
02 AUG 2003 17:03 Vehicle Accident C/O Glenridge & Hetcheltown Roads 9 4.2
01 AUG 2003 22:16 False Alarm Fire Glenridge Road 8 4.2