EDITOR/PUBLISHER Art Harris
HTN web address: http://www.alplaus.org
HOME TOWN NEWS
ALPLAUS,
NEW YORK 12008
April
2005 Vol. 129 No. 4
_________________________________________________________________________________
Glenville
Senior Events
by Betty Vedder
On Wednesday, April 13 from 4-7 pm the Scotia Rotary will
be holding a Brooks Chicken BBQ. It will be held at the Center on 32
Worden Road. Tickets may be purchased at the door for take outs
or eat in. It is, of course, open to the public.
On Thursday,
April 21st at 2 pm the FIREBIRD PUPPET show will be put on. It will be
during the school vacation. Tickets are $3 per person age 5 and up. They
must be purchased in advance at the Center.
On Sunday May 1st
at 1 pm there will be a Way Down South covered dish. Following the meal
the entertainment will feature the Swing Shift Quartet; this also is open to
the public. Reservations can be made by calling 393-1946 at the Meal
Center. This also is open to the public, come join us with a dish of food to
share for an afternoon out.
Any further
information needed, please call Betty at 399-1377.
Community Luncheon
The Alplaus Community Luncheon at Alplaus United
Methodist Church will be held on Tuesday, April 12th, 11:30 am to 2 pm in
Fellowship Hall. It is open to the public and an event to look forward to with Good
Food and Good Fellowship.
Bring a dish to share if you can and come
join us in any event.
What's inside
On the Hill……………………………………….2
Alplaus Fire Department Calls - March………2
Alplaus Explorer Post 885…………………….3
From Aal Plaats to Alplaus……………………3
Alplaus Post Office News……………………..3
Alplaus Historical Society……………………...4
Orabell Kline Wood….…………………………4
The Auxiliary……………………………………5
FAQ's about Samuel's…………………………6
Alplaus Residents Association News.............7
Annual ARA Meeting Highlights……………...8
On the Hill
"Spring" took on a very personal meaning
last Monday when we found water creeping across our basement floor. This was a
"high water" spring in Alplaus with many of us dealing with damp
basements and soggy yards. It's hard to imagine watering the flowers when you are
pumping out the basement!
We are
glad to welcome Betty Vedder's contribution on senior events in this month's
Home Town News. She promises to keep us informed on this news front.
This
year's ARA meeting was well attended and full of discussion on important issues
- sewer extension, proposed area development, traffic control, and more.
Barbara Casey has written an in- depth review of the meeting and some
background information.
Matt Hopkins and Cherie Vedder have given
us background information on Samuel's that should answer any questions you may
have about what's going on in the old Alplaus Store; including when Samuel's
will open.
__________________________________________________________________________________
Alplaus Fire
Department
Calls for March 2005
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Date
|
Alarm
Time
|
Incident
Number
|
Call
Type
|
Location
|
# Fire Fighters
|
Fire
Fighters Hours
|
|
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01
MAR 2005
|
17:20
|
000027
|
Medical Emergency
|
Wood haven Drive
|
6
|
2.7
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|
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03
MAR 2005
|
13:20
|
000028
|
Medical Emergency
|
Mountainwood Avenue
|
4
|
1.6
|
|
|
03
MAR 2005
|
17:48
|
000029
|
Medical Emergency
|
St. Anna Lane
|
5
|
2.7
|
|
|
04
MAR 2005
|
11:27
|
000030
|
Medical Emergency
|
Glenridge Road
|
3
|
1.1
|
|
|
06
MAR 2005
|
13:19
|
000031
|
Medical Emergency
|
Glenridge and Bruce
|
11
|
5.1
|
|
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15
MAR 2005
|
05:07
|
000032
|
Medical Emergency
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Bath Street
|
7
|
3.5
|
|
|
15
MAR 2005
|
10:45
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000033
|
Medical Emergency
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Woodcrest Drive
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2
|
1.7
|
|
|
18
MAR 2005
|
05:54
|
000034
|
False Alarm Fire
|
Glenridge Road
|
5
|
119.8
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|
|
18
MAR 2005
|
18:06
|
000035
|
Medical Emergency
|
Bath Street.
|
5
|
1.3
|
|
|
23
MAR 2005
|
12:18
|
000036
|
Other Fire
|
Habel Lane
|
4
|
2.8
|
|
|
25
MAR 2005
|
20:06
|
000037
|
Medical Emergency
|
Brookside Avenue
|
4
|
1.8
|
|
|
27
MAR 2005
|
03:34
|
000038
|
Medical Emergency
|
Woodcrest Drive
|
7
|
3.2
|
|
|
27
MAR 2005
|
16:26
|
000039
|
Medical Emergency
|
Acorn Drive
|
4
|
2.0
|
|
|
28
MAR 2005
|
17:32
|
000040
|
Public Service
|
Hill Street
|
6
|
7.5
|
|
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29
MAR 2005
|
06:37
|
000041
|
Public Service
|
Acorn Drive
|
4
|
7.1
|
|
|
31
MAR 2005
|
09:14
|
000042
|
False Alarm Fire
|
Glenridge Road
|
2
|
0.4
|
|
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Aplaus Explorer Post 885
by Kathleen Sheppeck
For the past several months the Explorer members themselves
have taken on the responsibility of preparing this column and I think you’ll
agree have done a really nice job. This
month it’s my pleasure to share with you a bit of what they’ve been
accomplishing lately. In preparation
for upcoming water rescue drills they completed the swim qualification the
first week of March. The very next week
was the Red Cross recertification class for CPR, AED (Automatic External
Defibrillator), and First Aid. At their
monthly business meeting they expressed their intention to once again
participate in the Exploring Weekend to be held at the NYS Fire Academy in
Montour Falls this July. They will
begin fund raising activities for this trip in the coming months. Look for more details in future HTN editions
and on the sign in front of the Firehouse.
As always, we
appreciate the community support. The
Explorers represent the future of the Fire Company and we need them as much as
they need us.
From Aal Plaats to
Alplaus
Written by Mrs. Novella Spoonogle (date
unknown)
How
Aal Plaats changed its name to Alplaus.
Told to me by Mrs. Harry Schermerhorn whose father Alexander McBride and
Joseph Hanigan saw the need of a Post Office.
They wrote to Washington. The
reply was the name would keep them from making the request on account of the
spelling making a mixup in mail and if they could simplify the spelling. They, Mr. McBride & Mr. Hanigan, decided
to pronounce it the same and spell it Alplaus.
Washington granted the request.
The
mail came out on the D & H train.
The Post Office was in Hanigans hay & coal office [Atlantic Crane,
209 Alplaus Ave]. John Oliver was the
post master and tended the mail, he worked for Mr. Hanigan . He, Mr. Hanigan, was a hay buyer, coal &
fertilizers.
Some of the families who rec’d mail was McBrides,
McDougall, Marsh, Cooper, Berning, Hanigans, Stevens, Olivers, Bath, LaGrange,
Merrick, Diggins, Bouk, Klines, Browns, Palms, Clute, Birch, Martins, Kohring,
Bradt, Flansburgh.
Original copy resides in the
Efner Library, Schenectady Historical Society
Clifford W. Hayes
_______________________________________________________________________
Alplaus
Post Office News
The computer system in Rexford is now in the process
of updating all pertinent information for post office box holders. The required
form has been put in all post office boxes. Please fill out and return the form
to me as soon as possible. We are also required by the postal service to have
two forms of ID. I have a list of acceptable ID info. If you allow anyone else
to collect your mail I will need ID from them too.
Over the
years and moves much of the information on the old forms is no longer relevant.
We have post office box information going back over 40 years. So the update is
definitely needed.
Box rents
due as of March 1st 2005 will be REDUCED. The new rate will be $24 for the
small boxes and $36 for the large boxes annually.
New 2005 stamps are coming in. The new love
stamp is very beautiful. If you have a special event coming up and would like a
special stamp let me know so I can make sure I have them in stock. (Disney
stamps, Dr. Seuss, Happy Birthdays and love stamps are just a sample of the
stamps used for weddings, children's birthdays and baby showers). Kathy
Boyle, APO Postmaster
Alplaus
Historical Society
by Bob Culver and Kathy Boyle
(March 31 Report to
ARA Annual Meeting)
Since the winter of 2004, when
the Alplaus Historical Society was formed, we have had meetings approximately
every other month.
We have held interviews with some longtime
residents, done research, collected photographs, news articles, and
brainstormed ideas. We have also been in the process of passing out a one page
questionnaire to each household, in the hope that we can gather more
information and create a file on Alplaus houses, people and properties. One of
the goals of the historical society is to put together some form of publication
of all the information we collect. If you have visited your local library or
bookstore, you have probably seen books on Clifton Park, Burnt Hills, and
Saratoga, to name a few.
With development all around us, it seems
even more imperative to collect and record things now. All the information we
have collected is stored at the post office. Some of the photographs are also
on display. People are welcome to come and explore the many photos and news
articles during the post office hours.
We are always looking for new ideas, and
people to contribute. We hope this is just the beginning, and the Alplaus
Historical Society will continue to grow in members and history in the upcoming
years. Information about the historical society may be obtained from Kathy at
the post office.
Orabell
Kline Wood
by Cliff Hayes
I had the pleasure to visit with Orabell, who is 86
years young, at her senior apartment in Scotia recently. Orabell is a former
Alplaus resident who was raised on Glenridge Road & lived most of her adult
live in the Alplaus area.
Orabell’s
grandfather, John Henry Kline, owned much (160 acres) of what was farmland
where the Woodhaven area is located now and boarded by the Alplaus Kill. His
name appears on the 1890 county directory. The old farmhouse, long gone, was a
2-story structure with 6 bedrooms with bathrooms added by Orabell’s father,
Edward. The farm included a sawmill, cattle, and peach and apple orchards.
Orabell had brothers Fuller, Floyd (Skip), Ray, and a sister Trudee. A sibling
died at 5 years.
Orabell
graduated from Alplaus School in 1933. I showed her the picture, which was
obtained by the historical society. She recalled everyone by name in the
picture. Many of her greatest memories of school were the playgrounds (proposed
empty-nester development) during lunchtime. When it was time to return to
class, Mrs. Coldwell, the principal, would ring the school bell.
As a
young girl, winter activities were skiing on the vast farmland of the Kline’s
with many friends from the village. Orabell’s mother served hot chocolate. The
most picturesque part of the skiing was the beauty of the 1st and 2nd
falls of the Alplaus Kill. In the summer, horseback riding at the Governor’s
Inn (Yates house) was enjoyed.
I only
knew Fuller & Skip from the appliance business they owned at 62 Glenridge
Road (now apartments). They sold and serviced the new magical box called a
television set back in the 1950’s.
Orabell’s
father & brother Ray built the house at 181 Maple Avenue where she and her
husband resided until 1946 followed by her Aunts. Fuller also has built homes
for his own living quarters.
The Kline family was well represented in
the Alplaus area during the 20th century. I thank Orabell for the pleasant visit.
Ladies Auxiliary
Happy Spring! As the rains
recede and the sun gets warmer our beautification committee, headed by Kathy
Boyle, Elizabeth Burke and Kim Sheely, will be busy making Alplaus even more
beautiful and colorful with new plantings around our Fire House and Post
Office.
Over the past several
months members from the Auxiliary and the community-at-large have made 45 lap
quilts to be distributed to wounded soldiers from New York State. Helen
Robinson and Elizabeth Burke have done a tremendous job organizing and
energizing this effort. Many thanks to all of you that contributed your time,
talents and materials to this project. We will keep you posted about scheduling
additional quilting bees in the fall.
We
are continuing to collect items for the Schenectady Domestic Abuse Shelter. A
box is at the Alplaus Post Office and your contributions are very much
appreciated. Copies of a wish list of things needed for the shelter can be
found in the Post Office.
The Auxiliary is once again sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive. It
will be held on Friday, May 13th from 2-6 pm at the Alplaus
Firehouse. Giving blood is a way to give back! Your donation could help your family, a friend, a neighbor, or
even yourself and it takes less than 30 minutes of your time. 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 but
we can only guarantee you no wait if you make an appointment. If you need any
more incentive, delicious cookies will be provided to each donor! Please call today.
The Village Wide Flea Market and Garage Sale will be Saturday,
June 4th, so mark your calendars and keep this event in mind as you do your
spring-cleaning!
We recently replenished our Alplaus Sweatshirt supply in the
Post Office as we sold out after the Reunion last fall. Please stop by or call
in your order to (518) 399-8048.
Our next business meeting will be Monday, April 25th, at 7:00 pm
in the Alplaus Post Office.
The
Auxiliary is open to all women
who live within the fire district and 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.
.
______________________________________________________________________
Frequently Asked Questions About Samuel's
by Matt Hopkins and Cherie Vedder
With the opening of Samuel's less than a month away
(May 1st), Cherie and Matt have collected a bunch of the most frequently asked
questions about Samuel's for the Hometown News.
Q: "Who owns the building?"
A: The building is owned by Capital District
Youth for Christ. CDYFC is a local chapter of a 60 year old national (and now
international) Christian youth ministry much like the YMCA. Matt, Cheri, Jen,
and all of the Samuel's employees are all YFC staff.
Q: "What are your hours going to be?"
A: Regular
retail hours: Sun- Thurs 6:00 am to 9:00 pm, Fri & Sat 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
Q: "Why bother, do you guys really like
coffee that much?"
A: It has been a lot of work and certainly many
years in the making and we have often asked the "why bother" part of
this question many times along the way. YFC's mission is to love kids where
they are, and our vision is to create a place where kids want to be. Experience
tells us that creating a "teen center" with smelly couches does not
draw kids. And seeing how many kids hang out in the coffee bars in Saratoga and
at Starbucks in Niskayuna birthed the idea of Samuel's. Being Alplausians
ourselves, we wanted to make sure that it was a place that fit into Alplaus and
that it would not ever be an eyesore. By going big and opening for more than
just after-school kid hours we expect that it will be more valued in the
community. Business during those non-kid hours will be essential to supporting
the high standard we have set for it.
Q: "Who are all those people who have been
helping out?"
A: Some are your neighbors, some are folks
connected to YFC from throughout the Capital District, and some are friends of
ours who have caught our vision and all have become friends along the way.
Q: "How will you deal with parking?"
A: Beyond the visible parking up front and the
two spots directly across the road, the Fire Commissioners have agreed to have
overflow parking at the firehouse. This agreement is contingent on always
leaving space for firefighters should a call come in, not conflicting with
events at the firehouse (parties, meetings etc.). The tenants in the apartment
next to Samuel's will begin parking in the rear of the building once we o
