News and Notes

News & Notes

Grocery store brings fresh food to South End

At the end of December, the South End Grocery Coalition led by BlueLight Development Group and The African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region held a ribbon cutting for South End Grocery at 106 South Pearl Street.

The ribbon cutting took place one year after successfully purchasing the former McDonald’s property for the project, which will be a full-service operation offering fresh produce, deli and fish products, dry and nonperishablecgoods, beverages, frozen goods and merchandise from local farmers and restaurants.

“The South End food desert is over,” said Travon T. Jackson, president of BlueLight Development Group and executive director of The African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region. “With the fortitude of our partners, BlueLight has successfully set forth the first charitable partnership of its type in Albany – a Black-owned, farmto-store affordable grocery subsidized by syndicated philanthropy.”

Natasha Pernicka, executive director of the Food Pantries for the Capital District praised the operation.

“[The South End Grocery] is the solution to food deserts,” she said. “This model works!”

Transitions opens Albany campus

Transitions recently announced the opening of its new campus located in Albany, which will allow the organization to provide more high school-aged and young adults with autism and learning differences the necessary tools and support to live happy, productive lives. Through these services, students, parents, and caregivers can feel assured that a fruitful adulthood is within reach.

Prospective and current students can anticipate receiving the same services at the new campus that are offered at other campuses, including Mayfield and Cobleskill. These services include but are not limited to two- and four-year college and career support programs, weekend experiences, independent living, and much more.

Transitions is a program of the Arc Lexington that prepares teens and young adults with autism and learning differences for college, careers, and life. The Transitions curriculum and learning environments are specially tailored to give all students equal opportunities to learn and thrive. To learn more, visit or call (518) 775-5384, www.transitionsusa.org or email admissions@transitionsusa.org.

Transitions staff and students celebrated the opening of a new Albany campus in late December.

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or let them choose the music.

Having random talks about whatever is making Rebecca, Olivia or Benjamin happy or concerned helps me stay in touch. They make decisions without my input, and I want them to have all the information and support possible. Because we have phones that co-mingle our contacts, I have put in so many numbers for all types of help. My goal is to have these numbers available for them or their friends. If they ever need any of these hotlines, I pray they will use them. I have listed some of them at the end of this article.

This month Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca are celebrating their birthdays! They always ask about the day they were born around their birthdays. Harlan and I tell them about the day from each perspective. Each child has their own story. Each child has their own birth-minute. Each child has their own NICU story. Benjamin, Rebecca and Olivia have so many stories that belong to just them individually. I love my children so very much and they each hold a piece of my heart that belongs to only them.

Helpful resources

• Brain Injury Associates of America: (800) 444-6443 • Mobile Crisis: (518) 292-5499 • National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233 • National Eating Disorders Association: (800) 931-2237 • National Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-4673 • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255 • Poison Control: (800) 222-1222

Jennifer Steuer is an Albany mom whose busy household includes her husband, Harlan, and 15-year-old triplets Olivia, Benjamin and Rebecca. Follow her on Instagram: jennifersteuer.

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