The Advertiser 010523

Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park are looking for volunteers to assist with the Winter Festival event on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Events like these are not possible without the dedication of volunteers who love the park. The event is free of charge and will take place from 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM.

Love to be outdoors?

Assist local clubs with the polar plunge, fitting snowshoes for kids, helping people fill out snowmobile waivers, and much more. Prefer more of a front row seat? Assist with greeting visitors, registration, giving out brochures, etc!

To sign up to volunteer visit: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0a4daea72da4fb6-volunteering1#/ or check out our Facebook page. The park will offer two free snowshoe rentals and meal tickets for your donated time.

Join our crew of dedicated volunteers who make events like these happen!

Grafton Lakes State Park is located off of Route 2, twelve miles east of Troy, New York. Please use

By LANA BELLAMY

NEWBURGH — Within 20 minutes of arriving at the new casino in the New-burgh Mall, Christine Delong won $136. All from playing penny slots.

“You’ve got to do the ‘max bet,’” she said, pointing to the button on the slot machine on which she was playing a few yards from the casino entrance. Delong, 67, of Pleasant Valley, came to the Resorts World Hudson Valley grand opening with her son. They had been planning this trip for weeks. “We’re really excited to be here. And I love gambling.”

Delong finds peace when she sits down to play games, she said. Nobody bothers her, all other distractions melt away. She delights in the sounds, the spinning colors, the excitement in the atmosphere.

“I’m just doing my thing,” she said.

Delong and her son were among the nearly 1,000 people who awaited the casino’s grand opening Wednesday morning in the town of Newburgh. Resorts World, owned by the Malaysian-based corporation Genting Group, made a show out of welcoming its first guests. A red carpet was rolled out in the concourse in front of the entrance for local dignitaries and other VIPs seated in a roped-off section. Behind them, a long line of restless patrons wended through the mall to the main entrance. There were confetti blasters and a dramatic, traditional Chinese lion dance by Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute performers.

The casino project took about a year to complete, said Robert DeSalvio, president of Genting Americas East. He lauded the quick, yet thorough, approval process the business went through to open in the mall.

“Trust me, this doesn’t happen in every community,” he said. “So, my message is: If you want to open a business in New-burgh, do it. Because it’s a great place to have a business.”

Resorts World Hudson Valley cost about $50 million to build, and Genting has agreed to pay the town $3 million a year for hosting the casino. That arrangement includes a $500,000 payment Genting has already made to enhance police, fire and ambulance services, according to the Times Herald-Record.

Newburgh Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio credited the casino with saving the 40-year-old mall.

“If this entertainment center didn’t come here, this mall would probably have closed,” Piaquadio said during Wednesday’s grand opening. “It probably would’ve been open just on weekends as a flea market.”

The 60,000-square-foot

By ROBIN CATALANO

So how did an international luxury hotel brand end up building in a Hudson Valley hamlet?

“The Habitas brand doesn’t define itself through a particular location or climate, but rather by curating unique experiences,” Habitas CEO Oliver Ripley, who owns a home in New York City, wrote in an email. “We thought our next step was to spread our mission and ethos to a place one wouldn’t expect.”

In a departure from other Habitas properties, the hotel, which opened Dec. 1 in the hamlet of Staatsburg, is located within a home — the former Pawling House, built in 1761 by an Army major who fought in the French and Indian War. The structure burned to the ground in 1899 and was rebuilt in 1901 as a Georgian manor with neoclassical and neo-Baroque elements. It was extensively renovated in the 1990s when it was rebranded as Belvedere Mansion, an inn and wedding venue.

In 2017, the property was purchased by hotelier André Balazs, who owns the nearby event space Locusts-on-Hudson. He undertook a variety of renovations to prepare for opening it as a boutique hotel.

When the COVID-19 pandemic scuttled his plans, Balazs sold the property to Ripley, his friend.

The manor house at Habitason-Hudson has six guest rooms, with 16 additional rooms in satellite buildings called the Lodge and the Stone House; the latter has the largest rooms. With their blond narrow-plank floors, midcentury furniture, nubby textiles and uncluttered aesthetic, the spaces have a casual, millennial-meets-West Elm appeal.

Each room has a copy of the diametrically opposed classics “Winnie-the-Pooh” and “Lady Chatterley’s Lover,” and most have soothing views of the woods surrounding the property. None have TVs or phones, and room service is not offered. This is meant to encourage guests to have drinks at the moody bar or meals in the dining room, where tables are set close together to facilitate conversation. A variety of common areas, including two game rooms and an outdoor fire pit lit from 9 a.m. to midnight, are also meant to promote gathering.

A welcoming ceremony invites guests to disconnect from the outside world and im-

gambling hall features 1,200 slots and electronic table games. More than 250 full-time employees, all of whom are part of a union and earn an average of $72,000 a year with bene-

Habitas-on-Hudson, a new luxury, adults-only hotel just outside Rhinebeck, is the 10th global location and first in the U.S. for Habitas, a hospitality management group known for high-end glamping experiences in balmy destinations like Tulum and the Agafay Desert near Marrakesh.

Resorts World opens third N.Y. site, a 60,000-square-foot hall in a struggling shopping mall

Performers were on hand for the Resorts World Hudson Valley opening Wednesday. There were also confetti blasters and a dramatic, traditional Chinese lion dance by Wan Chi Ming Hung Gar Institute performers.

PEPE MOLINAS / HABITAS

International luxury glamping brand Habitas claims to uphold a sustainability ethos predicated on being “as minimally invasive as possible,” according to company CEO Oliver Ripley.

SLHS will be presenting the following public programs, from January to June 2023:

January 10th, Sand Lake “Show & Tell” Returns! Check your attic, your junk drawer, or that box on the top shelf of your closet – who knows what you’ll find? We’re looking for artifacts, photos, old documents of Sand Lake’s history – or yours. New for 2023: if you’ve been working on any locally-based historical research (a popular Covid pastime!) please share it.

February 14th, Edmonia Lewis. East Greenbush Town Historian Bobbie Reno will discuss Edmonia Lewis, noted American sculptor of mixed African American and Native American heritage, born right here in Rensselaer County. You’ve seen her on a postage stamp, now come hear her story.

March 14th, The Rensselaer Glassworks. Phil Bernnard of the National Bottle Museum will discuss Rensselaer Glassworks, one of Sand Lake’s early industries (and gave us “Glass Lake”).

Hear the history of the works, the succession of owners, and the technology of 18th and 19th century glassmaking. Phil is asking attendees to bring any “Glass Lake glass” specimens they have, too.

April 11th, Covid-19 History Project. Committee report and presentations and a sharing of experiences from the SLHS Covid History

38th Annual Ice Fishing Contest at Grafton Lakes State Park

Grafton Lakes State Park will host its 38th annual Ice Fishing Contest on Saturday, January 14, 2023 from 5:30 AM – 2:00 PM. Join in on the fun as several hundred anglers brave the cold temperatures for their chance to make a winning catch on several of the park’s ponds.

Registration begins at 5:30 AM and ends at 11:00 AM (or 12:30pm for youth) on January 14th in the park’s maintenance building, accessible via the Main Entrance. There is a $10 registration fee required for all participants ages 16 or older, with no fee for children under 16. All participants

Project. Let’s make Covid history! May 9th, Annual Meeting. Elections, annual report to the membership – and more! June 3rd, (tentative) Annual Gala. Final date and location to be announced. Don’t miss this highlight of our year!

June 13th, The Pretty Fantastic Mr. Fox. Albert Rodmond Fox, industrialist, glassworks owner, State Senator, mover-and-shaker, and the Fox who gave us Fox Mansion. Learn about one of Sand Lake’s early leaders and speculate on why we live in Averill Park and not “Foxboro.”

All SLHS programs (unless otherwise noted) are held at the Sand Lake Town Hall Courtroom, 8428 NY Rte. 66, Averill Park, beginning at 7:00 pm. More information at http:// sandlakehistory.org/. Like us on Facebook.

East Greenbush CSD Kindergarten Registration Information for

2023-24

The East Greenbush Central School District is now enrolling kindergarten students for the 2023-24 school year. To be eligible for kindergarten in September 2023, your child must turn five years old by December 1, 2023.

Kindergarten registration packets will be mailed to all eligible families in the district database during January 2023. If your child is not currently in the district database, please call the school your child will attend to have the registration packet mailed to you. The

16 and older must have a valid NYS fishing license to fish in the park at any time, including during the contest.

Big cash prizes are awarded for adults with 1st place fish and the longest length catch in all three categories of trout, walleye/chain pickerel, and yellow perch. Winning entries will receive gift cards and other prizes. Awards ceremony will take place at 2:20pm.

Tournament areas are located on Second Pond, Mill Pond, Dunham Reservoir, Shaver Pond, and Long Pond. Please note that due to preparations for our annual Winter Festival (January 21st), ice fishing is not permitted adjacent to the beach on Long Pond. In the case of soft ice, the Ice Fishing tournament will be post-

poned until Sat., Feb 4th.

Please use the park’s main entrance on Grafton Lakes State Park Way for this event. There is no entrance fee for this event. For more information, please call the park at 518279-1155.

38th Annual Winter Festival at Grafton Lakes State Park

Grafton Lakes State Park and the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park will host the 38th Annual Winter Festival on Saturday, January 21, 2023. The Winter Fest will feature outdoor events along with indoor exhibits, food vendors, and family-friendly recreational activities. The event is free of charge and will take place from 11:30 AM-3:00 PM.

Adults can join in a

packet will provide you with a list of all the documents you need to bring as well as all the forms you need to fill out prior to registration.

For more information, visit www.egcsd.org/ registration.

Greenbush Historical Society Presents Hampton Manor, the Past to the Present

Please join the Greenbush Historical Society on Sunday, January 22 , 2 PM, at the East Greenbush Community Library for an interesting presentation about Hampton Manor’s rich history and exciting future. Bobbie Reno, East Greenbush Town Historian and Society Board member, will discuss the historical events leading up to the present.

In 1812 the United States Government purchased a tract of land at Clinton Heights and established the Cantonment Greenbush as headquarters for the US Army Northern Division, War of 1812. When the government closed the Cantonment Greenbush, the property was subsequently sold.

In 1925 Cantonment Farm and Hathornden Estates were purchased by Harold Veeder who developed the property known as Hampton Manor in East Greenbush. Hampton Manor is a vibrant community in the town and home to many of its residents today. Because seating is limited, please call the library at 518-477-7476 to register.

guided snowshoe outing, learn to fish, or borrow snowshoes for a free demo around the park. For the kids, the Winter Fest offers its popular snow bowling hill, snowball toss, and ice skating, as well as horse drawn wagon rides. Other outdoor offerings this year include free snowmobile rides!

Warm up inside with balloon animals, crafts, community tables, and live animals. Refreshments will also be available for purchase.

The Polar Plunge, benefitting Our Lady of the Snow Parish’s food pantry, kicks off the main events at 11:30AM. As always, the Plunge includes a playful prize for the silliest costume offered by the Friends of Grafton Lakes State Park, so start planning your January beach

attire! To pre-register for the Plunge, please call Ray Dozois for more information at 518-663-5648, or call the park welcome center at 518-279-1155.

Note that this year’s Ice Fishing contest is being held on the weekend before, Saturday, January 14th. Please call the park for more information: 518279-1155.

Grafton Lakes State Park is located off of Route 2, twelve miles east of Troy. Please use the park’s main entrance on Grafton Lakes State Park Way for this event. There is no entrance fee for this event. For more information, please call the park at 518279-1155. A full schedule of events will be available in early January on the park’s website (parks.ny.gov).

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News From Averill Park CSD

Rudy Winkler, a U.S. Olympian and the American record holder in the Hammer Throw, visited Algonquin Middle School. Winkler, a 2013 graduate of APCSD, stopped by some of his old classrooms, visited with former teachers, and spoke with students. A big thank you goes out to Mr. Winkler for the visit, and for giving our students a real-life example of where hard work and dedication can take them!

The Averill Park High School Jazz Band and Treble Choir performed at the Empire State Plaza. Everyone did an outstanding job and represented our school district very well!

Mr. Kaedy’s U.S. Military History class hosted a breakfast for area military veterans. Students made the breakfast and interacted with their guests. We thank all veterans for their service to our country!

As always, for the latest news from the District, please visit our website – averillpark.k12.ny.us. You can also follow AP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Submitted by Dr. James Franchini, Averill Park CSD Superintendent Tutors Are Needed in Rensselaer County

Literacy Volunteers of Rensselaer County needs volunteer tutors in Rensselaer County and Albany County, and you can help!

As a tutor you can develop new skills, make friends, and see how your efforts make a difference

in your community. Would you like to help someone to read and write, or to speak English as a new language?

We can train you. A tutor training workshop starts on January 21 at the Albany Public Library. To find out more, join us for a Volunteer Opportunities Information Session via Zoom at 12:00 noon on January 10

Contact mhellerlvorc@ aol.com to register. Visit the website for more information: www.lvorc.org Notice DeFreestville / North Greenbush

A Public Hearing is scheduled for January 12, 2023, at North Greenbush Town Hall, Main Avenue, Wynantskill, NY, at 6:45 PM to consider the following Planned Development District (PDD) amendment:

Quackenderry Commons PDD: This is a proposal for significant development in the DeFreestville area behind Berkshire Bank, CVS and Stewarts between Bloomingrove Drive and Exit 8. Size: Approximately 24.5 acres.

Proposal: Two five-story mixed use buildings with retail, office, dining and commercial space plus 253 residential rental units. Bldg. #1: 152 apartments; Bldg. #2: 101 apartments. Total parking spaces: 596 spaces.

Traffic Impact: With 253 residential rental units and 596 parking spaces, it is likely local traffic volume will be affected.

The current proposal shows two project driveways; one accessing the CVS driveway and the other accessing Bloomingrove Drive further north.

The present Bloomingrove Drive / CVS / Stewart’s three-way intersection is a busy intersection in this area. A new ambulance facility driveway on the west side of Bloomingrove Drive is also proposed for this area.

Additional Impacts: Impacts on municipal services such as police, fire and ambulance can be anticipated. With 253 residential rental units, an influx of children into the East Greenbush School District can also be anticipated.

DeFreestville Area Neighborhoods Association, Inc. Visit us at www. danainfo.org

Poestenkill Residents

Are you connected? Are you on the federal broadband map? We need everyone to participate in the national broadband census to confirm the accuracy of their broadband service-millions of dollars in federal funding are at stake. All it takes is checking for your home or business address on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) national broadband map. Your location and internet services offered at that location

will be displayed. If the information is incorrect let the FCC know by submitting a challenge in order to update the map.

An accurate map will help New York State get its fair share of federal funding for broadband internet. The deadline is January 13, 2023, please visit: https://Broadbandmap. fcc.gov

Thank you, June Butler Poestenkill Town Board

Lebanon Senior Citizens

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

For the months of January and February the senior meetings are just one meeting on the third Friday at 1 pm.at the new Lebanon firehouse.

If New Lebanon school is closed our meeting is cancelled. 45 of us just enjoyed our Christmas party at the Whitestone Cafe.

Not a member ? Think about joining us.

January meeting we are planning a chili cooked to warm you from the inside out. February we will enjoy soup and sandwiches at our meeting.

We are in the planning stages for our 2023 adventures. Interested? Want more information? Call Mary Defreest at 5187330009 or attend our next meeting.

East Side Seniors

Our next meeting will be on Jan. 10, 2023 We hope to have many members or wannabees to join us for planning up coming activaties. We have more details on, the June 4th-June 9th trip to Wildwood,and furture trips.

Dessert will be served and games of choice will be played. It will be a good time.

From the Desk of Janice Hannigan Kerwin, North Greenbush Town Clerk

We are collecting new or homemade scarves, hats, gloves and mittens, along with socks & pajamas to give to those in need this winter.

Please stop by the North Greenbush Town Hall located @ 2 Douglas Street Wynantskill, New York and place your donations under our Christmas Giving Tree located just outside the doors of the Town Clerk’s Office.

The closest entrance for the Town Clerk’s office when dropping off your donation would be the entrance by the Gazebo in our back parking lot.

Please help us keep someone a little warmer this winter by donating

to our Christmas Giving Tree.

If you should have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call my office @ 518-2834306, Monday – Friday, 8-4 and I would be happy to assist you in any way that I can.

If you would like me to come to you anywhere in our town, just call the office and I can set up a time and day that is convenient to gather your donations.

Save

The Date –“Cookies and Carols” Program,

January 8, 2023, from 2:00-3:30 PM

First United Methodist Church of East Greenbush, 1 Gilligan Rd. You are invited to attend our traditional Cookies and Carols event and finish the festivities of Christmas with an afternoon of beloved carols, poems, stories, and delicious cookies shared with friends.

The Sanctuary Choir along with Coffee House performers and a harmonious sing-along will be held in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, January 8, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:30. All are invited to this relaxing afternoon. Hope to see you there.

Kiwanis Pasta Dinner On PauseResumes March 11

The Sand Lake Kiwanis Club wants to inform the community that we will not be holding our monthly pasta dinners during January and February.

The Kiwanis Community Pasta Dinner fundraiser will resume on Saturday, March 11th from 4PM

to 7PM at the West Sand Lake Fire Hall on Rt. 43.

Cost: $10 for adults, $5 for Kids (10yrs. & Younger). Meals will consist of pasta, meatballs, salad, bread, beverage & dessert.

We will look forward to once again preparing delicious pasta dinners for you and your family in March.

All proceeds will support Kiwanis community projects.

Latham Colonie Columbiettes Jan. Buffet Breakfast

The Latham-Colonie Columbiettes are hosting a Breakfast Buffet on Sunday, January 8th, 2023 from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the Latham-Colonie Knights of Columbus Council, 328 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, N.Y. 12110.

Menu includes; Scrambled Eggs, an Omelet Station, Home Fries, Corned Beef Hash, Bacon and Sausage, Pancakes and French Toast served w/Warm syrup, A Variety of Cereals and Juices, Bananas and Hot Tea, Coffee or Hot Chocolate.

*$12 Adults, $6 Children (5-10) and under 5 Free!

www.lathamcoloniekofc.com/dinners&events

VFW Pancake Breakfast

Start off the New Year with a Delicious Breakfast while supporting your

local Veterans! Sunday Jan 15, 2023, 9 am to 11 am. Eat in or take-out.

Breakfast includes Buttermilk Pancakes, French Toast, Scrambled Eggs, Bacon, Sausages, Home Fries, Corned Beef Hash, Toast, Coffee, Tea, Water and Assorted Juices.

Adults - $12.00, Children 6 to 12 - $5.00, Children Under 6 – Free.

We will also have a drawing. Donations are always welcome and very much appreciated!

Please order in advance before Sunday’s Breakfast for take-out by emailing us at VFWpost7338@gmail. com or calling 518-4777770 and leave a message with your name, number and the desired pickup time. There is no one at the Post to return your call.

Your message is forwarded to another number which is checked the day before the breakfast.

Valley Falls VFW Post 1938 Breakfast

The monthly breakfast at VFW Post 1938, Poplar Avenue, Valley Falls, NY 12185 will be held on Sunday, January 8 from 8 - 11.

The date change is due to the first Sunday of the month falling on New Year’s Day. Menu includes eggs cooked to order, french toast, pancakes, sausage, bacon, potatoes, biscuits with sausage gravy, fruit, juice, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.

Cost is $12 (age 13 and over), $6 (children 5 - 12), free (children under 5).

Brooks Bar-B-Q

What’s better in the middle of Winter than Chicken BBQ?

The Sunday School of Center Brunswick United Methodist Church, 990 Hoosick Road, Troy is having a Brooks Bar-B-Q, Saturday, January 7, 2023, 2-6 pm. This will be a pick up only event. Menu includes: Chicken, Baked potato, vegetable, rolls, drink and dessert. Chicken dinner $15.00, Half a chicken only $7.00. Call Jill at (518) 2582164 to reserve your meal.

Glendora Vegeterian Club

Do you think it’s right to take a baby calf away from its mother and put it in an enclosure so that the calf will be anemic and make good veal? I don’t . Do you think it’s right to steal the calf’s milk made by the mother to nourish?

I don’t. Do you think it’s right after 8 pregnancies to send the mother to the slaughterhouse by electric prods in the rectum? I don’t. Do you think it’s right to imprison cows in urine and feces? I don’t.

Do you think it’s right for people to eat organs that have been immersed in urine and feces for years?

I don’t.

Yours in truth, Glendora

Google Glendora Folsom

East Greenbush Community Library

We offer programs for adults, teens & kids. For a full listing of programs and to register, visit us at https:// events.eglibrary.org or call 518-477-7476. We’re open Mon/Fri 10-6; Tue/Wed/Thu 10-8; Sat 10-5; Sun 1-5. The library is located at 10 Community Way, E. Greenbush NY 12061.

The Winter Reading Challenge is on now through Feb. 26 for all ages! To participate, stop in or visit us at https:// eglibrary.org/winter-reading-2023.

The Friends mini book sale is on year-round! See the sale display in the main library next to the public computers. Selections are refreshed often. Check out the themed collections at the main entrance, the selection changes monthly.

1/16, 10:30 am: MLK Day: Join us for a showing of the movie Selma (PG13). Register.

1/19, 1 pm: 3rd Thursday Movie Matinee: Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (PG). Register.

1/21, 11 am-1 pm: Preschool Fair. Do you have a toddler or preschool-aged children? Are you looking for a great place for your child to learn and play? Come to the li-

brary to meet with and talk to staff from local preschools and other early learning and play opportunities from all over Rensselaer County! The whole family is welcome--we’ll have toys out for children to play with while their grownups gather information. No registration is required.

1/22, 2 pm: Historical Society: Town Historian, Bobbie Reno presents The History of Hampton Manor – Past & Present. Register.

1/23, 10:30 am-5 pm: AARP SMART Driver Course. See the calendar for details and to register.

1/24, 6 pm: Make 2023 A Great Year: Planning Camp 2023, presented by Julie Ann Price, professional planner & Notions database designer. Register.

January at Rensselaer Public Library

NY’s Hero the Erie Canal- Saturday January 14, 1 PM. Learn about the Erie Canal from conception to creation from a comic book point of view. Participants will make their own canal-themed comic strip. Presented by Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site. Ages 6 and up. Please call the library at 518-462-1193 to sign up.

Meet Your Muslim Neighbors- Thursday January 26, 6 PM. Stop by for tea and refreshments at this friendly social gathering. Get questions about Muslim people answered. For all ages. No sign-up needed.

The Library is located at 676 East Street, near the train station. For more information, visit RensselaerLibrary. org.

Church of the Redeemer

January 8 service will be at 9:00. Following the service, we will have coffee hour and socializing.

Hot Mess Crafters meets Wednesdays at 10:00, weather permitting. Later in the day, at 2:00, there will be Bible Study where we are studying how the Holy Spirit guides and helps us.

Thrift Shop is closed until February 2.

The Church of the Redeemer is an Episcopal church located on at the corner of Third and Catherine Streets. There is handicap parking, a ramp in front, and a parking lot in the rear.

Fr. Robert Haskell may be emailed at rhaskell2@ nycap.rr.com

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The Averill Park School District has begun the process of registering boys and girls for the 2023-24 Kindergarten Classes. If you, or someone you know, has a child who will be 5 years of age on or before December 1, 2023 please contact the district registrar at 674-7050 extension 7201 to make sure that the child is listed on our school census. This will guarantee that you will receive all upcoming kindergarten information by mail. Registration paperwork will be started online and completed by appointment with the district registrar at the district office at the Averill Park High School during the month of February. Registration hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3:30 PM. Registration forms are accepted by appointment. All paperwork must be completed by 02-28-2023.

New York State Public Health Law, Section 2164, requires certain immunizations (shots) to enter kindergarten and attend school. Please check with your health care provider as soon as possible to make sure your child has all the needed immunizations. They are listed below.

Required Immunizations for Kindergarten (Number of Doses)

*Polio 4 (3 doses if 3 rd dose received after 4 th birthday)

*Hepatitis B 3

*Diphtheria/Tetanus/Pertussis 5 (4 doses if 4th dose received after 4th birthday)

*Measles/Mumps/Rubella 2

*Varicella (Chicken Pox) 2

Age Requirements

Children who are five years of age on or before December 1, 2023 are eligible to attend Kindergarten this September. As a parent you have an option to enroll your child in school at age five or withhold your child until the school year in which he/she turns six. Children born between 7/1/17 and 6/30/18 must attend kindergarten in the coming school year. Children born between 7/1/18 and 12/1/18 may attend during the 2023-2024 school year or may wait until the following year.

SKYHIGH Community Center Ushers in the New Year with Classes and Programs for Everyone

Our Community Center located at 27 Lake Avenue in Averill Park has an array of classes and programs planned for elementary school kids, teens, adults and seniors that start in January and continue through the winter months. And there will be more exciting programs and classes to come.

Here’s the initial lineup:

• Let Your Artistic Talent Shine with John Hebert, for teens - starts 1/3

• Wholehearted Yoga with Jen Glasser, for adultsstarts 1/8

• Monthly Open Mic Sessions with Patrick Ryan, for all ages and talents - on 1/11 & 2/15 & 3/8

• Quilters Group with Joan Pasquarelli, for teens and adults - starts 1/11

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• Parent & Child Foam Ball Tennis with Coach Joe Behson - starts 1/18

Hula Hoop It Up, exercise fun for adults and teens with Kerri Stern – on 2/4 & 2/11

REAL ESTATE / HOUSE OF THE WEEK

Maple Avenue, Selkirk

his Victorian-style home contains three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a lot of charm. Country-mouse touches are seen throughout, from the small shed that houses the hand-operated water pump and the woodpost fence leading to the house, to the texture on the fireplace in the dining room. There are also features that you won’t see on every listing, including a summer kitchen and a barn on the 1.6 acre property.

GRAFTON

the park’s main entrance on Grafton Lakes State Park Way for this event. There is no entrance fee for this event. For more information, please call the park at 518-279-1155. A full schedule of events will be available in early January on the park’s website (parks.ny.gov).

The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which are visited by 78 million people annually. A recent study found that New York State Parks generates $5 billion in park and visitor spending, which supports nearly 54,000 jobs. For more information on any of these recreation areas, call 518-474-0456 or visit parks.ny.gov connect with us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.

fits, have been hired to work at the casino. It is the third Resorts World casino in New York — the other larger, casino-hotels are in Monticello and Queens — and the ninth video-lottery facility in the state.

While Delong was raking in cash at the penny slots, across the floor another avid gambler, Amy Swart, had already lost $100. Asked about her strategy for making up her losses, she laughed and said: “Keep gambling!”

She was looking for her favorite game, Queenie. She won $1,300 with a $1 bet when she played it a couple of weeks ago at Saratoga Casino Hotel. Swart, 61, of Saugerties, has been gambling for 20 years and still finds a thrill in trying to hit it big. Like Delong, Swart had been planning her opening-day trip for about a month. She came with her husband and friend. The new casino, she said, had thus far met her expectations.

“It seems bright and cheery and fun,” Swart said. “And if I hit, it’ll be even more fun.”

Grafton Food Pantry

Polar Plunge

Polar Plunge on Saturday, January 21, 2023 at Grafton Lakes State Park’s Annual Winter Festival.

Proceeds to Benefit Grafton Food Pantry. Check-in starts at 11:00 AM, Plunge at 11:30 AM

Prepaid registration required and limited to the first 100 people. Check-in and plunge will be near the beach.

Donation fee of $25 includes t-shirt, $15 entry without shirt. We recommend a robe/towel and slip-on footwear.

Heated changing rooms are available a short distance away. For more information or to confirm registration call Ray at 518-663-5648, leave message if no answer, or email to kofc14164@gmail.com.

Registrations must be received by Jan. 11 to guarantee t-shirt.

Registration form also available at Grafton park website. Or find us on Facebook K of C council 14164.

Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus Council 14164 and mail entry to: Polar Plunge c/o Ray Dozois, 210 Keefe Road, Troy, NY 12180.

Looking for Baseball Umpires

CAPITAL DISTRICTCapital District Baseball Umpires Association is looking for new members for the 2023 season. Training classes are now forming.

Please call Bob Umholtz at 518-986-5987 or go to cdbua.com for more information.

n If you have seen or own a particularly interesting home for sale to feature, send the address to lhornbeck@timesunion.com

n For more real estate stories, sign up for the Places & Spaces newsletter: timesunion.com/ newsletters/realestate/

The home was built in the 1880s, and includes a barn on the property, seen above. There are three bedrooms, like the one at left, and a three-season porch, below. The dining room houses a gas fireplace, below left.

ROBERT KRISTEL-PRODUCTION HOUSE / PROVIDED BY GLOBAL MLS

This Victorian-style home sits on 1.6 acres and features gardens, a koi pond and in-ground pool.

JHS REALTY GROUP, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 03/18/21. Office: Rensselaer County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 40 Allen Street, New Hyde Park, NY 11040. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Kinstin’s Boutique LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on October 25, 2022. Office location: Rensselaer County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to 995 Stony Point Rd, Castleton, NY 12033. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

merse themselves in Habitas-on-Hudson. On a recent visit, Mario Velazquez, corporate pre-opening general manager for Habitas, demonstrated the ceremony, which drew on Native American and indigenous Mexican cultures.

First, guests were asked to choose an “animal totem.” Then Velazquez lit a piece of charcoal and sprinkled it with copal — a resin derived primarily from a tree endemic to Central and South America. As the smoke spiraled up toward the ceiling, guests were instructed to set their intention for their visit.

Habitas-on-Hudson General Manager Michele Alfonso said the welcoming ambience extends to the 32 staff members. “A lot of companies say they’re a family, but this is rarely true. Habitas is made up of a true community of people who are focused on providing an amazing experience for guests,” Alfonso said, pointing to daily staff lunches in the on-premise restaurant, Social, as an example of the inclusive philosophy.

Social is billed as a locally sourced farm-to-table restaurant. Addressing the region’s notoriously short growing season, Ripley said, “Our menu is adapted to

NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY.

NAME: Grunt Works Design & Development LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on November 18,2023. Office location: Rensselaer County. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of process to 938 Broadway, Rensselaer NY 12144. Purpose: For any lawful purpose.

Notice of Formation of Sound Therapy Shop LLC Arts. of Org. filed with Secy. of State of NY (SSNY) on 9/26/2022.

Registered Agent location: Albany. SSNY designated as agent of LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: 34 Wildwood Drive, Pearl River, NY 10965. Purpose: any lawful activity

Notice of Formation of the above Limited Liability Company (“LLC”). Articles of Organization (DOM LLC) filed with the Secretary of State of New York (“SSNY”) on November 15, 2022. Office location, County of Albany. SSNY has been designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail a copy of any such process served to: WGB HOLDINGS, LLC, 27 Mount Riga Avenue, Latham NY 12110. Purpose: Any lawful act. Willa’s World LLC, Arts of Org. filed with Sec. of State of NY (SSNY) 11/14/2022.

RAY’S AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTER, LLC. Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 10/19/22. Office: Rensselaer County. SSNY designated as agent of the LLC upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY shall mail copy of process to the LLC, 25 North Street, Troy, NY 12180. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

SLANTE VALLEY, LLC Arts. of Org. filed with the SSNY on 11/02/2022. Office loc: Rensselaer County. SSNY has been designated as agent upon whom process against the LLC may be served. SSNY shall mail process to: Denes Laplante, 600 Muitzeskill Road, Schodack Landing, NY 12156. Purpose: Any Lawful Purpose.

Cty: Rensselaer. SSNY desig. as agent upon whom process against may be served & shall mail process to 2107 Bridle Path, Austin, TX 78703. General Purpose

use seasonal ingredients that are sourced from local providers and neighboring farms.” The current menu features ingredients such as squash, root vegetables and beef, with eclectic, nonlocal additions like epazote and lemongrass. It has plant-based, gluten-free and nut-free options. The restaurant is open to the public every day.

In the coming months, the guest experience will expand into yoga, mountain biking, hiking, breath work, cooking classes and bonfires with storytelling and s’mores. A wellness center, planned for spring, will offer massages, facials and other spa services.

One of the pillars of the Habitas brand is a “sustainability ethos” predicated on being “as minimally invasive as possible,” according to Ripley. But the company offered few specifics about what that means at its Hudson Valley location. Because the property had already been renovated, Habitas focused on giving the mansion’s dark spaces a bright face-lift, such as the Aegean-blue columns on the front porch and adding soft landscaping using native species.

Several renovation and construction projects at the property are planned for 2023, including glamping sites, creating a “beach” around the property’s pond, and

Rensselaer Plateau Alliance January Speaker Series

RPA

Many

the

We will talk about the biology of the streams

the Plateau, how culverts interact with the watercourses, and the regulatory setting at the Federal level regarding replacement, rehabilitation, and restoration of culverts and stream crossings. The discussion will include several local examples, including the July 2021 flooding events. Pre-registration is required. The suggested voluntary donation is $5, though any amount is welcome. Head over to rensselaerplateau.org/ events to register and receive the zoom link or reach out to Dan Morse at dan@rensselaerplateau.org for more information.

NASSAU FIRE DISTRICT #1 Office of the Commissioners

Please take notice that the organizational meeting for the Nassau Fire District #1 of the Town of Nassau, County of Rensselaer New York, will be held on the 7th day of January 2023 at 10:00 am on that day at 26 Chatham Street, Nassau, NY 12123

This notification is being given to the news media pursuant to the provisions of Section 94 of the Public Officers Law of the State of New York.

By order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Nassau Fire District #1 Mary Wrobel Administrative Officer Nassau Fire District #1

renovating the carriage house and a small building on the water.

Ripley declined to answer questions about sustainable construction methods and whether the property had filed an environmental impact statement with the town. Michael Dupree, chair of the Hyde Park Planning Board, said in an email that the last approval for construction projects on the site was a few years back, when Balazs was still the owner. The hotel’s other sustainability initiatives involve prohibiting single-use plastics and reusing toiletry bottles, Ripley wrote.

Habitas-on-Hudson, which is about 8 miles from the Metro-North station in Rhinecliff and an 18-minute drive to the MTA station in Poughkeepsie, wants to appeal to guests beyond its existing fan base of international travelers, including New York City weekenders and local residents looking for an immersive getaway.

“Habitas guests have a unique opportunity not just to disconnect but to reconnect,” Ripley said. “Our programming fosters experiences where individuals are able to learn about themselves, others and the surrounding culture rather than just hearing about it.”

warmly invites you to Culverts and Aquatic Organism Passage on the Plateau with Andy Dangler and Melissa Toni as part of our January Speaker Series. Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 7pm on Zoom

different agencies fund, permit, and deliver projects involving culverts under roadways. This discussion covers the Federal level of involvement in culvert replacement and the incorporation of Aquatic Organism Passage through

culverts.

on

Twelfth Night Returns to Crailo and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Sites!

Join us for an evening of merriment! On Saturday, January 7, 2023, Crailo State Historic Site will again welcome visitors for its annual Twelfth Night Celebration. From 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. the site will host an open house with Yuletide decoration, live music, reenactors, hearthside cooking by a crackling fire, 17th & 18th century inspired refreshments and other Dutch Albany traditions! In addition, the Marketplace Museum Shop will be open, as well as our museum exhibits. Then cross the river, where the celebration continues at Schuyler Mansion’s “Salutations of the Season!,” with 18th-century inspired refreshments, live music, wassail toasts around the bonfire (weather permitting), and a good time for all! Special Combination Admission to both sites: $8 adults/ $7 seniors and students/ $2 children under 12. Single site admission also available.

Twelfth Night, or the Feast of Epiphany, was one of the traditional holidays celebrated by the Dutch and English of 17th and 18th century New York. Falling on January 6th, this was the final holiday of the season, marked by unsurpassed feasting and revelry. Come and celebrate with us! Snow date: Sun., Jan 8th, 4:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Once part of the Van Rensselaer family’s vast landholdings, today Crailo tells the story of the early Dutch inhabitants of Albany and the upper Hudson River Valley. Located at 9 ½ Riverside Ave in historic Rensselaer, the museum is open by appointment Nov – Apr. For further information about this and other site programs and events, please call (518) 463-8738, visit www.parks. ny.gov, or find us on Facebook.

Dear City of Rensselaer Residents

The Mayor is inviting you to subscribe to the “City Newsletter”. We understand not everyone is connected on social media and we want to make sure everyone is informed about the exciting things that are happening in the City of Rensselaer.

Some of the information to be included in the City Newsletter will be updates on new and/or existing developments within the city, up to date contact information for all City Departments as well as a list of upcoming events and meetings.

If you would like to start receiving the City Newsletter directly to your email, please send your name and address to info@rensselaerny.gov

We look forward to keeping you informed and updated on all the things happening in the City of Rensselaer.

Mayor Michael Stammel

Rensselaer Plateau Alliance

Presents January Nature Book Club

You are warmly invited to RPA’s Nature Book Club, with Rama Hamarneh, PhD. One evening a month, we will meet on Zoom to discuss a book we have read, and the work’s relationship to nature. We will explore multiple aspects of nature in literature - represented through multiple genres and authors from around the globe.

January’s meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 31 at 7pm on Zoom. The Zoom link for each meeting will be sent out to the book club email list a few days before the meeting. The book club is free to attend, and

all are welcome.

For January 2023, we’ll read All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot. All Things Bright and Beautiful is the beloved sequel to Herriot’s first collection, All Creatures Great and Small, and picks up as Herriot, now newly married, journeys among the remote hillside farms and valley towns of the Yorkshire Dales, caring for their inhabitants—both two- and four-legged. Throughout, Herriot’s deep compassion, humor, and love of life shine as we laugh, cry, and delight in the portraits of his many varied animal patients and their equally varied owners.

This book is available through the Upper Hudson Library System in physical format, on Hoopla via the library as an ebook and audiobook, at Market Block Books, and through other book sellers. Head to rensselaerplateau.org/rpa-book-club for more information.

A Day of Animal Tracks:

Jan 14: Two Sessions - Register for one or both

Explore some of the pristine lands around Dyken Pond Center and follow the sign, tracks and trails of the many diverse animals that live here. Deer, turkey, grouse, bobcat, fisher, fox and coyote are just some of the species that call these woods home. Learn from experienced and certified tracker Dan Yacobellis, how to read the signs they leave behind to find out where they sleep, what they eat, how they avoid detection and what is most important to them at this time of year to make it through to spring. Even get a glimpse into their subtle ways of communicating with each other and learn how to interpret their language.

Two sessions: 9 to 12 and/or 12:30-3:30. Come for one or both $25 per session; $22 members

Preregistration required at www.dykenpond.org or call (518) 658-2055 or dykenpond@gmail.com for more info.

Tracking is a slow and studious pursuit and generally looses the interest of young children pretty quick. Children 10 and up with a passion for learning and some patience, are welcome. While tracking, we often spend long periods of time stationary in discussion of the sign, so dress for a full day in the woods and then add 2 layers!

Raise Your Voice Singing Competition Sponsored by CASA

The 8th Annual CASA “Raise Your Voice” Singing Competition which will be held June 29th, 2023, will be holding auditions on May 2nd and 3rd, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church, 603 State St., Schenectady, NY. We need to advertise now for Teens and Young Adults, ages 13-24 so they can schedule appointments for the auditions.

It would be very helpful to have it run more than once. Singers will be competing in one of two categories: Show Tunes, Theatre, & Opera-or-Rock, Pop & Country(no profanity). Solo or Duo performers can qualify. Top 25 Finalists will perform at Proctors for the chance to become the winner! Cash prize and trophy for the First and Second Place Winners in each category!

This is a major fundraiser for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Abused and Neglected Children). To schedule an appointment for an audition, please call the Center for Community Justice at 518-346-1281 ext. 330 or 518-709-6288 or email rvaughn@theccj.org.

Call for Singers

Capital Community Voices Inc., an SATB volunteer, non-audition, not-for-profit choral group, is seeking singers in all voice parts for its May concert, “Broadway Nights”. Weekly rehearsals are Tuesdays at 7 pm at Green Meadow Elementary School in East Greenbush, beginning January 10, 2023. Call 518-370-5434 for more information.

Events at Troy Public Library, 1/8 – 1/14

Troy Public Library (Main) is located at 100 2nd Street, Troy, NY. The Lansingburgh Branch is located at 27 114th Street, Troy, NY. All events are free and open to the public. Registration may be required and are designated with an “RR.” Call (518) 274-7071 with any questions or to register.

Lego Brick Builders – Mon., Jan 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m. (Lansingburgh) & Wed., Jan 11, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Main) Join us for some lightly structured Lego fun; build off a theme or get creative! Legos provided. For ages 5 and up. Children under 7 must have a caregiver present at all times.

Family Game Night – Mon., Jan 9, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (Main) Head to the library each week for family game night in the Young People’s Room. Play our board games or bring your own!

Adult Craft Monday: Teacup Bookmark DIY – Mon., Jan 9, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Main) Join us every second Monday of the month for Adult Craft Mondays. Get crafty this month with scissors, glue, and scrapbook paper as we make adorable teacup bookmarks to brighten up your next read. All materials (and hot tea) will be provided. RR Haiku Highway – Tues., Jan 10, 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (Main). The beginning of a four-week workshop in the practice and history of haiku poetry. Participants will meet once a month, with continuing sessions on Feb 14, Mar 14, and Apr 11. RR

Adult Yoga – Wed., Jan 11, 5:30-6:30 p.m. (Lansingburgh) A class that is focused on a gentler style of hatha yoga practice. All skill levels are welcome, modifications will be provided. Please wear loose/comfortable clothing and bring your yoga mat.

Fibers in the Morning, Thur., Jan 12, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. (Lansingburgh) Join us for a weekly stitching group.

Storytime Learn and Play – Thur., Jan 12, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m. (Main) & Fri., Jan 13, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. (Lansingburgh) We will share stories, songs, movements and more! For children ages 0-5 with a caregiver.

Community Caregivers

Community Caregivers, a Nonprofit agency, has continued to expand in Rensselaer County! We have over 50 clients but not enough volunteers to serve all of these nice people. Are you looking to help someone in your community remain living independently with a little assistance from you? We need your help!

Our volunteers can take someone to the doctors, grocery or other errands as well as visiting and calling. We have a simple orientation process. Call Heidi Buono, Rensselaer County Service Coordinator, at (518)366-9173 or Meredith Osta, Volunteer Coordinator, at (518)4562898, if you would like to volunteer. To learn more or donate to our agency, see Community Caregivers.org.

the Rolling Stones got it right—time is on our side!

Renewal by Andersen’s professional installers are experts at installing windows year round, and especially in winter. They’ve long understood that a great window is only as good as the installer behind it, and an efficient, swift, and professional installation is even more important during the frigid winter months.